A couple of months passed, and Swindle entered the brokerage firm where Fake worked. It was located on the top floor of a tower where there were only offices. Inside the brokerage house there was a waiting room with several couches, a reception and several corridors that surely connected several offices where several brokers served several clients.
Yes, that place seemed more like a regular office than a casino.
But Swindle was still convinced that place was way more similar to a casino than Fake claimed.
Swindle approached the reception. He had one on the travel bags with him.
"Good morning," he said to the receptionist. "I'd like to see Fake Asshole."
"Excuse me?" the receptionist glared at Swindle and asked both surprised and willing to call security.
"You know. Fake," Swindle repeated. "Bald, overweighed, middle-aged, one of the main partners of this brokerage firm, and has a PhD in Financial Sciences."
"Oh, oh, Dale Van Hole. Sure. I'm so, so sorry," the receptionist covered her face with both hands because she was blushing. "It's just that I heard… nevermind. Sure. And who's looking for him?"
"Ringo Jones."
"Ok. One moment, please."
The receptionist stood up, opened a door beside her desk and got in.
And out.
"I'm sorry, Mister Jones, but Mister Van Hole's very busy right now, and—
"Tell him I want to invest in the stock market, and I'll start with $1'000,000."
The receptionist gaped for a moment, and then opened the same door and got in.
And out.
"Please, come in, Mister Jones."
Swindle entered Fake's office, and it was as ostentatious as he imagined it: the walls were covered with paintings and bookshelves, which were covered by old hard cover books which probably had never been opened; there was a glass desk in front of Swindle with a couple books, a computer and a Fake glaring at him, and behind Fake there was a glass wall.
"So, is it true you want to invest $1'000,000?" Fake asked suspiciously.
"Yes," Swindle approached Fake's desk, put his travel bag there and opened it. It wasn't as full as before, because it now only contained: "$1'000,000. And I want to invest them in my mother's name."
Fake was shocked to see that much money—sure, he had a lot more in the bank, but those were just numbers on his bank statement.
"Where did you get this from? Is it legal?"
"Well," Swindle sat in one of the chairs in front of Fake's desk, "to answer all your questions, 1) it doesn't matter, and 2) it doesn't matter."
"Of course it matters," Fake was still shocked, and he wasn't taking his eyes off that money. "I can't just buy stocks with that. Do you want me to get audited? So, where did you got that money? Is it legal or not?"
"The fact I have it in a travel bag should tell you everything, don't you think? But you choose if you take it or not," said Swindle with a smirk. "But remember there's more where that came from."
Fake glanced at Swindle suspiciously.
He took then the travel back and checked its contents.
Yes, it had bills and only bills.
He took then a couple wads and checked them.
Yes, it had bills and only bills.
"Well, maybe I can help you out investing all of this. And where do you want to invest it?
"ProTech," Swindle said without hesitation.
"ProTech?" Fake logged onto his computer. "Are you sure? Apparently that company just entered the market, and it doesn't look very promising, to be honest. With all the changes in its directors' board, investors are a little nervous, and I don't blame them. Personally, I would recommend investing elsewhere, and I could advise you depending on whether you are looking for short or long-term profits. Sure, all for a small commission.
Swindle smirked.
"Thanks, but I'm investing there because the shares are low now, and I'm sure the shares won't go any lower."
"The way things look, that's exactly what's going to happen in the next few days," Fake warned him. I really don't recommend investing there. This is not a casino, and unfortunately 80% of investors lose money at first because they think like you. But you can choose what to do with your money, though.
"Don't worry." Swindle remained calm despite Fake's constant warnings. "This is just a gamble, and I'm very good at it."