Page 14 of My Billionaire Neighbor's Secret

We headed to a private game room that we rented out to guests. Here they could play billiards and darts, enjoy a movie in mini theater style, play some board games and cards, and drink all they can at the private bar.

“This is cool,” Drake said. “I’ll have to celebrate my next birthday here…”

“Sure,” I said. “It’s in two months, right?”

“Yes.”

“This place is on me,” I told him. “Consider it a birthday gift.”

“And the booze and women?” Drake asked with a grin.

“Booze, sure,” I said. “But women… I can provide some show girls only.”

He chuckled. “Okay, that works.”

We had fun playing billiards while catching up. He’d always been better at it than me, so he ended up beating me at every game.

“Let’s play the computer version next time so I can beat you,” I kidded.

“Alright, no problem,” he said.

I had all my meetings canceled just to accommodate Drake that day. It was worth it, though, because I had really missed hanging out with him. We talked more about the past women in our lives and reminisced a lot about our adventures in the past. I was happy to discover that instead of dredging up feelings of negativity and depression, it was more therapeutic for me.

Later on, we headed outside down the street to a famous pizza joint for dinner. That was where we encountered an old woman who kept on throwing me looks of disgust and denunciation.

“What’s her problem?” Drake asked in an irritated tone, motioning to the old woman sitting two tables away from us. He was the one who first noticed how she was looking at me in a derogatory and appalled manner.

“Who knows?” I said. “Just ignore her.”

We became easily preoccupied with our chatter and the pizza that we soon forgot about the woman. But then, just as we were about to finish, the woman approached us.

“You!” she hissed at me, pointing an accusing finger. “You’re a disgrace to our neighborhood, to our community!”

“What? Are you talking to me?” I said in surprise.

“Yes! You’re Carter Croft, who lives in that gray house on Pine Street, right?” Her eyes narrowed at me, and she looked as if she wanted to strangle me right then and there. It was a good thing the place was packed and noisy, and no one was paying attention to us.

“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered, still trying to be polite. I had no idea where this was going and why she seemed to be really pissed off at me.

“You’re a pimp and a porn producer!” she hissed. “You make money out of immoral and indecent things. You should be ashamed!”

My eyes widened. For a while, I was at a loss for words.

It was Drake who reacted first. “Are you out of your mind, old lady?” he said. “This guy, my friend Carter, runs hotels and casinos, which are all legal.”

I gave him a look to shut up right then. I didn’t want my identity to be revealed to strangers, especially those living in my residence area.

“That’s not what I heard,” the woman insisted, crossing her arms across her chest and giving us a stubborn look.

Drake guffawed. “Lady, your source is all wrong! And besides, even if that was true, so what? Don’t you know you live in what’s called the Sin City? This is Las Vegas, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“All the neighbors there have been seeing your illegal and indecent activities,” she said straight to my face. “You better watch it.”

She walked away, leaving me both amused and annoyed.

Meanwhile, Drake just kept on laughing. “Can you believe that woman? She’s nuts, man! Las Vegas is no place for old folks, I’m telling you.”

Leigh’s face, along with that gossipy woman who also lived next door to her, floated in my mind. I remembered seeing them peeking through the window. Could it be possible that they were spreading rumors about me? It may sound hilarious, but it’s not true. It’s also quite degrading and insulting and can ruin the good reputation I’ve built in my residence.

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