Page 3 of The Billion Dollar Bet

There were many people living on the streets and in slums who have never been vaccinated against the virus that causes the flu let alone the Covid-19. Their immune systems are weaker because of poor diet and living conditions. One important thing to note about the second strain was that people who were vaccinated against the Novel Coronavirus had acquired the secondary virus.

The most recent research on the virus stated that it was spread through animal to human and human to human contact. It might be airborne within a meter, similar to the virus which causes the flu which is spread through respiratory droplets. It was also believed that the Covid-2-21 could survive on surfaces for a few hours. Therefore, the speculation that the virus could survive imported items from across the globe. That theory has been discredited as there has been no evidence to that effect. However, Cassie was not ruling it out.

She was engrossed in studying the latest research on the subject when someone entered her space. She raised her eyes from the tablet, making four with electric blue ones. The cocky smirk on his face seemed to be a permanent fixture. Without an invitation, he pulled a chair and sat while looking unwavering into her eyes.

“Excuse me,” Cassie said. “I don’t recall inviting you to my table.”

“How else would my status of being a stranger change if I didn’t invite myself over?”

“Do you think this come-on will actually work?”

He leaned forward, placing an elbow on the table and fingering his chin. Cassie cruised him as much as she could, taking note of the tailored suit, the manicured nails and the overly confident attitude. He could not be more than two to four years older than her twenty-eight years.

Trust fund baby came to mind.

“Depends on the outcome of this introduction,” he said, reaching out his other hand. “Dev … Devin McCarthy.”

Weighing her options, she decided it was pointless ignoring him, since she was certain he wouldn’t go away easily. She took the hand.

“Cassie … Cassandra Melody,” she said, mimicking his own style of introduction.

When he took her hand, he brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it. Cassie pulled her hand away. She looked at him, expecting him to be offended, but he was smiling broadly as he watched her.

“So, you’re a scientist. You don’t look like a scientist to me.”

Chuckling, she asked, “What are scientists supposed to look like?”

“I don’t know, geeky I guess?”

“Oh, the thick black rimmed glasses with messy hair and pimpled skin?” she asked. “Geeky? How old are you?”

“Still immature and obviously don’t know how to talk to a pretty girl.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere, mister.”

“Will it get me your number?”

Cassie glanced at her tablet and noticed the time. She should be getting back to the lab as she planned to pull an all-nighter. She’d turned her basement into her laboratory where she worked tirelessly on her projects, the latest was researching the Covid-2-21. Completely independent, she’d been seeking sponsors to fund her research. So far she’d received small donations from people she was associated with who believed in her.

However, the big corporations were not biting because of her lack of experience, although she’d spent the last three years working with research department at MIT where she was instrumental in developing a vaccine for the Novel Feline Calicivirus. She worked closely with some of the best scientists in the country and when she expressed her desire to pursue her own dreams, they gave her their blessings and excellent recommendations.

She stood, her mind coming back to her guest. “Nope.”

“Well, can I see you again?”

“Can you?” she asked, gathering her tablet and purse before bidding farewell. “Goodbye Devin.”

Cassie smiled as she left the table and hurried from the restaurant. She knew Devin was wondering what her last statement meant. In fact, it meant nothing other than for grammatical purpose. She was by far no grammar police, but she found that correcting a man’s grammar always gets him to back off through his inflated ego.

Chapter 3

The poker game was fifteen minutes away and Devin was excited as usual. He’d won the last three games and was looking forward to winning tonight as well. For him, it wasn’t about the money, but the thrill of the win. It was the same with stocks which yielded good return on his investment. It was all about the win.

They had left the restaurant and headed to Jorge Cumming’s mansion where the ‘underground’ casino was situated in the basement – literally underground. The place was lavishly stocked with roulette, blackjack and of course his favorite table – poker.

They were sitting in a booth slushing down cheap scotch while waiting for the game. Somehow Devin could not get his mind off Dr. Melody. When Barry noticed his melancholy mood, he pointed it out. Troy was the one who figured out that it was the girl at the restaurant that had him in such a state. Carter was busy fiddling with his phone.

“Cassandra will be mine soon,” he said. “Soon those delicious lips will be crushed by mine.”

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