Page 5 of Mr. January

As the cards are dealt, Reese leans in, his curiosity evident."So, how did you build all of this? The casinos, the resorts—it's like a dream."

I glance around, ensuring no prying eyes or ears are nearby."I can't revealallmy secrets, Reese. But I created some after-hours games—things like that. I don’t let people know who I am. They think I'm just another guy coming in running up the stakes. But I'm doing this all for the Forrester name. I just wanted to take it to the next level. Do you know what I mean? I wanted to add my chapter to it."

Reese nods, taking in the atmosphere."You just wanted to outdo Dad and Uncles Tim and Frank; you can admit it,”he laughs.“But how do you manage to stay under the radar? I mean, you're the kingpin of all this, and yet, you're practically a ghost."

I smirk."Privacy is a luxury, too, bro. I keep a low profile and let the empire speak for itself. That's the key to maintaining the balance between success and staying out of the spotlight."

Reese glances around, a mischievous gleam in his eyes."You know, you're missing out on the perks. The parties, the interviews?—"

I interject with a wry smile."I'll leave the interviews to you. You know you're coming into your own with the media side of things, and after you graduate college, you'll be able to build up that division just like you want.”A frown creases my brow.“Speaking of which, I watched that one interview you just did with our media division. Something didn't sit right with me about that."

Reese grins, reminiscing about the past."Ah, the infamous interview. It was a turning point for Forrester Media. Plus, I got to bang one of the hot interns after the interview. Let me tell you about that. There were a couple of hotties—you should have come to the interview, Knox. Your mystique would have added a whole new layer to thebrand."

"But it’s not my thing,"I confess, absentmindedly shuffling the cards."I prefer to let the business do the talking. Something else she said during that interview made me think, though."

"What’s that?" Reese inquires.

I pause, reflecting on her comments."There was something she mentioned about the financials. It got me thinking, Reese. I'm concerned about my portion of the business—maybe my underground gaming has caught up to me."

Reese's expression shifts from nonchalance to genuine concern."Wait, what do you mean? Are we in trouble?"

I exhale, trying to navigate the delicate balance of transparency."I'm not sure yet. I need to look into it further, but I wanted to give you a heads-up. We need to make sure everything is in order. I can't risk anything jeopardizing what we've built."

The conversation takes a turn as I open up about the challenges hidden beneath the glamorous surface."There's something you should also know. Despite the success, I've been dealing with a different kind of gamble—one that's been taking its toll."

"Okay, you're scaring me now. What the hell are you talking about, Knox?"

I lean in, lowering my voice."I developed a bit of a gambling addiction. It became a refuge—an escape from the pressures of this world our family created. But I won’t let it jeopardize everything they've built."

Reese's eyes widen, absorbing the revelation."Why didn't you tell anyone? We could've helped."

I sigh, acknowledging the complexity of my choices."It's a burden I chose to bear alone. Mom and Dad are testing me to make sure I don't screw up. I have a feeling they know what's happening, but as long as the money is coming in…”

“They are staying quiet for now, Knox. You know this won’t go over well if you make them look bad. You have to fix this?—”

“I swear, I am stepping away from the tables, focusing on steering the ship. It’s the only way."

As the cards continue to shuffle, the weight of my hidden struggles hangs in the air, casting a shadow over the vibrant casino scene.

“I will look into what the reporter is talking about and fix this, one way or another.”

Present day- Knox

Sitting here in the casino now with Genisis, memories flood back from a critical time.“Back then, I knew my secret gambling was a big issue. So, I had the finance folks check the casino's money for any weird stuff. Those small discrepancies turned into a real headache, and suddenly, my attention shifted from the tables to the business details.”

“I handed the investigation to our finance team, pushing them to figure out what was happening. This was when I started questioning who I could really trust. The empire I built, the legacy I cared about, was threatened by someone on the inside.”

“That is horrible,”Genesis commented. “ I didn't know or realize any of that was happening.

“Remember, this was about fifteen years ago. I don't even think you knew Talon back then or were friends with him yet. None of us were a part of the organization until we turned eighteen. He was only about 13 or 14 then,”I laugh.

Genesis nods.“You're right. I didn't meet him until we were freshmen in high school.”

“Anyway, the missing amounts went from a few hundred to thousands. It became clear—it wasn't just about the money. It was a matter of principle. Someone, a backstabber among us, was stealing from me. It hit me hard, like a betrayal deeper than any loss at the gambling table.”

“Determined to find out who was messing with Forrester International Resorts and Casinos' bottom line, I plunged into the investigation with everything I had. Uncovering the truth was a tough journey, testing not just the strength of the empire but also family ties and loyalty. The echoes of that crucial moment still resonate today, a reminder of the intricate dance between success, ambition, and the shadows lurking beneath the glitzy surface of the casino world.”

“That is wild! How did Robyn play into all of this?”Genesisasks, and I sigh.

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