Page 70 of Billionaire’s Game

“Do you think I should talk to him?”

“Him?” Oliver pretended to not know what I was talking about. Typical Oliver.

“You know... Magnus.”

“Why not? That’s all up to you.”

I nodded. “Thanks for listening, Oliver. I appreciate it. You really helped me figure out some really confusing things.”

He patted my hand. “Life is confusing. I get it. Half the time I don’t know if I’m coming or going.”

I had to laugh. “You’re great, Oliver. You really are. Thanks for everything.”

“Anytime, my dear.” He stood up then and said, “Care to join me for lunch? Kat is making a salad. She promises that it’ll be the most delicious salad known to man. It’s probably just going to be lettuce and tomatoes, but I’m determined to pretend it’s delicious and exotic.”

My first inclination was to say no, but I thought better of it. “Why not? Lead the way.”

The next day,I drove to the studio where the final episode of Brain Pain’s charity event was supposed to be filmed. Oliver had insisted I use one of the cars in his garage. There had been at least five of them, and so I had selected the smallest and least expensive. A Mercedes SUV. I felt so pretentious as I handed the keys to the valet.

Inside, the set was just as busy as before. The host looked calm and relaxed sitting in a lounge chair watching the chaos unfold.

The production assistant Celeste saw me and came right toward me. “It’s about time you got here. Where’s your partner?”

“I don't know. He’s normally early. I’m not sure where he is.”

“Aren’t you guys a couple?”

“What? No.”

“Oh. You two act like a couple, I figured that you were together. Well, you know what they say about assumptions....” She let her voice trail off as she led me to my spot.

Dr. Joseph was there with her partner. They were exactly where they needed to be. Only Magnus was missing. I started getting nervous. Maybe he wouldn’t show up. Maybe he hated me so much for how I’d treated him that he was just going to throw the championship.

All those thoughts and more passed through my head before I squashed them. No, Magnus wouldn’t do that. No matter how much I messed up, he wasn’t selfish. He wouldn’t jeopardize Ophelia’s Angels’ chance at a million dollars. Magnus was too good a guy to do that.

The production team was giving me a hard time and now people were making phone calls when suddenly Magnus showed up with his personal assistant trailing behind. “He’s here. Let’s get started,” said the personal assistant breathlessly.

“Where were you?” I immediately asked.

He ignored me. “Why does it matter to you?”

“You’re my partner,” I said. “You matter to me.”

He didn’t answer me. He just ignored me. I figured I deserved that.

And then, we were on. “Welcome back to Brain Pain. And if you’re just joining us. We have with us our four finalists from last week’s episode, Magnus and Lesli from Ophelia’s Angels and Alexandra and Pete from Cycle Psychos. Alexandra and Pete, what would winning today mean to you?”

Pete talked about the bicycles that the organization refurbished and distributed to poverty-stricken women, men, and children around the world at low to no cost. It was then our turn and we answered the same question.

I answered for our team, saying, “Ophelia’s Angels’ mission is to provide the elderly with necessities such as food, water, and medication. We would like to expand to every country in the world. By winning today, we can make that happen.”

The audience clapped politely and then it was time for the game. We all went to stand at our places in front of the huge glowing buttons that said Brain or Pain.

“It’s that time to choose and since Alexandra and Lesli chose last time. We’re going to let Pete and Magnus choose this time. So, fellas, what will it be? Will it be pain or brain?”

Magnus without a thought stepped forward. Pete followed, and they were in agreement. They chose Brain.

Apparently, they were nicer than us women.