The silence in the room was thick, suffocating, as the implications of Ezekiel Cross's words settled over the gathered elites.
Alternative wagers.
It wasn't just about money anymore—it was about what you were willing to risk.
Secrets. Influence. People. Even lives.
Ochieng's expression remained unreadable, but his mind was already calculating.
Nadia leaned closer, her voice low. "This just got interesting. Think you can handle it?"
Ochieng didn't answer. He didn't need to. He was already ten steps ahead.
---
Dmitri Ivanov exhaled slowly, studying Ezekiel with something between amusement and annoyance.
"This isn't a game for fools, Ezekiel," Dmitri said. "You're suggesting we gamble with more than wealth. Are you sure everyone here is ready for that?"
A dark chuckle. "That's the point, isn't it?" Ezekiel replied. "Let's see who actually has power—and who's just pretending."
The room tensed. Some of the billionaires shifted in their seats. A few seemed eager for the challenge. Others were clearly uneasy.
But Ochieng?
He saw opportunity.
---
A sleek, masked attendant stepped forward, carrying a black velvet case.
Dmitri nodded, and the case was placed onto the polished mahogany table at the center of the room. With a dramatic flourish, the lid was lifted—revealing a single white envelope.
"The new rules," Dmitri said, his voice even. "Those willing to play this way will write down their alternative wager and place it in this envelope. Once sealed, there is no backing out."
Ochieng remained still, assessing his options.
A whisper of movement caught his attention—Nadia had already scrawled something onto a slip of paper and slipped it inside.
Ezekiel did the same.
One by one, the other players followed.
And then, all eyes turned to Ochieng.
The moment stretched.
Would he enter the wager?
He reached for the pen.
And wrote three words.
"The Red Syndicate."
Then, without hesitation, he dropped his paper into the envelope.
Nadia's eyes widened. Ezekiel's smirk faltered.
Because what Ochieng had just wagered?
Was the most dangerous organization in the underground world.
And now—the game had truly begun.
---