On top of the hotel rooftop, things were beginning to be set up properly, and the air carried that strange mix of tension and excitement that always came before a big underground event. The lights were positioned, the seating arranged, and now the fighters were finally allowed to come out and step onto the venue.
They spread out across the open seats that wrapped around the rooftop arena. The entire rooftop almost seemed split into two parts, one side for the spectators who were betting and enjoying the event, and the other side for the fighters, who were grouped close together, all sitting on one side of the square.
Joe and Wolf sat next to each other, their eyes fixed directly across from them. That was when they spotted him, Chad, sitting alone on one of the VIP sofa seats. He was rubbing his hands together constantly, his knee bouncing up and down like he couldn’t get it to stop.
"Can that guy try to look more nervous?" Wolf muttered, narrowing his eyes. "I really have a bad feeling. We’re going to put our part in and win these fights, but what happens if he chickens out and doesn’t bet on us?"
"Or if he can’t be insistent enough about getting the money," Joe added. "Didn’t Max say he owed them money? So they might not even pay up."
This was the main issue weighing on both of them, Chad was their linchpin. And the more they watched him fidget in that seat, the less confident they felt.
Things only got worse when another person suddenly walked toward Chad. Wolf blinked hard, recognizing her instantly.
"Damn it... why is she going over to Chad?" Wolf whispered. "Is it like Max said? Are they keeping an eye on him? I hope this isn’t bad for us."
Both of them silently wished they could somehow listen in on the conversation happening right across the rooftop.
Vivian sat down beside Chad with all the confidence in the world. Her arm draped casually around the back of the sofa, her long legs crossed smoothly, and every part of her posture radiated authority.
"Chad, I’m here to give you a warning," Vivian said, her voice sharp and direct. "For whatever reason, the people above me have decided to clean your slate and allow you to bet."
Chad swallowed, nodding quickly as she continued.
"However, this time, you have to produce the funds right after every bet you make. You understand?"
Chad nodded again, almost too quickly, but then he paused. Something Max had told him earlier drifted back into his mind. Max had said this moment would come, and that this was the time he had to follow through.
"I’m fine with that," Chad said, trying his best to sound calm. "But if I’m doing that, then shouldn’t you guys pay the funds straight away as well?"
Vivian stared at him for a moment. To her, Chad was the kind of person they could easily pressure. Someone they could force to stay and, with enough pain, make him transfer the money over without question. Because of that, she didn’t see much reason to argue.
"Fine," she said finally. "Do what you want. But I just came here to warn you."
That was when Chad pulled out a card and handed it to her. His hand shook only slightly.
"Don’t worry," Chad said. "You remember who I am. I’m a member of the Stern family. Of course me or my family have the way to cover it. I have a new account, it’s the person who is sponsoring me. So place the money in there."
The word "sponsor" didn’t raise any alarms in Vivian’s mind. She knew Chad had no money of his own, so if he was placing large bets, then naturally he had to have someone backing him. And judging by what he said, she assumed it was likely another member of the Stern family.
Still, she didn’t care. It wasn’t her problem, and she had no interest in digging into it further. She stood up smoothly.
"Just remember that this time you won’t get let off twice," Vivian declared. "Even if some mysterious group comes to help you, we’re ready to act."
When she finally walked away, Chad released a long breath he’d been holding. The relief felt like a wave crashing into him. And underneath that relief was something else, something shockingly close to pride.
’I did it,’ Chad thought. ’I did just as Max asked. Everything will be fine. Maybe... maybe I can do this. Maybe I can actually accomplish something.’
Feeling a sudden rush of confidence, he immediately grabbed his phone and texted Max the good news. But the moment he hit send, a strange twist formed in his stomach.
’What the heck is this?’ Chad thought, frowning at the screen. ’Why did I get so excited about completing a damned task given to me by that younger idiot?’
He groaned and pressed a hand to his forehead.
’Damn it, and I can’t even take back the text I sent either.’
Still, regardless of the unwanted pride swelling in him, one thing was certain, he felt more confident than before. He sat back, folding his arms tightly across his chest, trying to look composed.
Down near the center of the venue, the host stepped forward. He stood above the stage, which was shaped like a pit dug into the rooftop floor, almost like part of the hotel sank down into the level below. The fighters would have to head into it to fight, and if anyone thought about escaping, it would be a rough climb back out.
"We will now have our first fight of the evening!" the host announced.
Large digital screens lit up around the VIP tables, displaying the odds and the images of the first two fighters.
Chad’s eyes widened.
"Crapping hell!" he shouted. "It’s that kid, he’s up."
The kid he was talking about, the first fighter stepping into the pit, was Joe.