Chapter 6
As Ruth’s car sped off far enough, I dusted myself off and stood.
Chad had been watching. I knew it. Somewhere behind those tinted windows.
I couldn’t risk being noticed. Not now. Not even for a second.
Ruth, clueless as ever–or maybe just too full of herself to care–would never understand this: in my last life, I didn’t get any help from someone else introducing me to Chad. I created the opportunity myself to climb my way
- up.
That night, the one that changed everything, I had walked into The Delancey alone, disguised as a server. No backup, no safety net.
With a tray in hand, I served drinks at Chad’s table. He sat with government officials and high–powered businessmen, all of them radiating power that could crush me if I slipped up.
I gritted my teeth and leaned on every scrap of financial knowledge I had, talking fast and sharp to keep the conversation lively and engaging.
Every word was a gamble. One wrong move, one misstep, and I was finished. But I couldn’t fail–not that night. Failure wasn’t an option.
Somehow, it worked.
By the end of the dinner, Chad was impressed. They all were.
I’d even managed to persuade a government official to approve one of Chad’s bids. That single deal netted him a billion dollars.
When the night ended, Chad’s secretary handed me his card
Later that evening, as I cut through a narrow alley on my way home, the gang from the casino finally cornered me
But instead of panicking, I lifted my chin and said, “I know Chad Ortega. And Chad Ortega knows me.”
They laughed, mocking me like I was delusional.
So I called Chad right in front of them.
He answered.
And just like that, I won.
From that moment on, all my problems vanished.
I became one of Chad’s people, working my way up until I was his most trusted confidante.
