"I don't know how you did it, but you were right. Nobody saw it coming!" Cameron said into the phone, awestruck. "All my professors were blindsided, and they've been studying the market for years. I'm in."

"Excellent. I'll start you small; you'll be playing against professionals, not college students. Prove you can at least double your gains, and I'll give you more."

"That's a long drive, and I don't think my old car will make it," Cameron hedged, clearly wanting something more.

Aaron sighed internally. This guy was a cheapskate.

"I'll pay for your plane ticket and hotel; it's less than a two-hour flight. This weekend will be a test run. If it goes well, I'll have you go down once a month for the foreseeable future."

"Right!"

"And know this," Aaron warned, his voice hardening. "I have eyes everywhere. If you try to cheat me, the deal is off, and I will ensure you never work in finance again."

Cameron's voice shook with panic.

"No way! This is a great opportunity. Why would I do that? Don't worry; I'll show you what I can do! I look forward to our partnership."

"I'll send you the flight details. Be ready." Aaron hung up.

He had roughly half a million dollars in liquid assets and received $10,000 a month from his parents for "fun." They likely expected him to spend it on booze, women, and socializing with other rich kids, but Aaron hadn't spent a cent (except for Aiden's video games, a negligible amount) since graduation.

He planned to give Cameron one month's allowance for the test run and see how he performed. Aaron left it to Cameron's discretion how he used the money, as long as he didn't choose something random like slot machines. It had to be a game of skill.

If Cameron more than doubled the money, he was hired. Cameron was quite cocky, claiming he could triple it on the first try.

While Cameron was in the casino that weekend, dealing with flashing lights and constant beeps, Aaron studied for his introductory economics test, wondering how things were going in Atlantic City and what Keeley was doing.

He couldn't disturb Cameron, so he sent a message to Anomaly with a picture attached: "Check the cameras in Bally's, Atlantic City, and find this man. Report back on his activities. While you're at it, update me on Keeley."

Two video feeds arrived shortly. One showed a group of middle-aged men and a young man at a poker table. Cameron sat perfectly still, his expression blank. The others looked nervous and folded their hands one by one. He laid down his cards—a single pair—and everyone groaned as he raked in the winnings with a satisfied expression.

The second video showed Keeley asleep at a library table, surrounded by books and papers. She looked like she'd fallen asleep while writing a paper. Dark circles were under her eyes, and an empty coffee cup lay knocked over.

Aaron glanced at the clock. It was almost 1 AM; someone had been working hard. He yawned; he shouldn't be up this late either. Aiden, a notorious class sleeper, was probably still awake. Cameron would likely be going to bed after his win. Aaron needed to sleep too.

He left his study materials on his desk and went to bed, wishing Keeley were there. It had been a long time since they shared a bed or held each other while falling asleep. Someday…

Cameron reported tiredly but proudly on Sunday night while waiting to board his flight.

"You gave me $10,000, and I came back with $32,600. Do I pass?"

"Well done. Wire me the money back. I'll double your initial amount next month. When works best for you?"

"Well, next month I'll be dealing with finals… I'm from Philadelphia and plan to go home for Christmas break. It's an hour's drive to Atlantic City, so I can spend a few hours in the casinos daily until I return for the new semester. If you're willing to wait a few extra weeks…"

"That's fine. I'll contact you during finals week."

Aaron checked his bank account; the balance had increased. This could actually work.

One share in his family's company was worth about $1,300, with 1,500 shares total. His 10% stake from turning eighteen gave him 150 shares. His father owned 630, so Aaron needed 481 more to completely displace him.

Acquiring that many shares quickly might be impossible, but he needed $625,300 on hand if they became available. Cameron could potentially make that possible in less than a year if he maintained his winning streak.

As a first-year MBA student, he still had a year and a half left. Working for Aaron would significantly increase his personal assets, separate from his family's money.

This wasn't a short-term game. Aaron had about three and a half years before rejoining the company officially. In that time, he needed to become the second-largest shareholder and secure the majority of the board's support so his father couldn't control him anymore. Only then could he and Keeley live freely. Alistair Hale had to lose all his influence, no matter the cost.