Chapter 2

It finally sunk in. He’d won! He’d won!Elated, he leapt off the couch and dashed to the telephone. Still trembling, he somehow managed to dial.

The wait for someone to pick up was interminable.

“Mum, I’ve won!”

The Lotto numbers were a regular part of their weekly conversations. At that time on a Saturday night his mother didn’t have to ask what he’d won.

“Thirteen fifty?” she replied, jokingly.

“No, no, no,” he stuttered. “Division one. First prize.”

“You’re kidding!” she gasped, incredulously.

Benjamin started laughing. “No, I’m really not. I promise you. I’ve won Division One.”

“How much?”

“Division One is ten million dollars, but I don’t know how many other people have won.”

He heard his mother shout the news out to his father. “Ben’s just won ten million dollars!”

“That’s the Division One prize, Mum. I don’t know how many other people have won. I might not have won the whole ten million.”

“Doesn’t really matter, does it? Whatever you’ve won is going to be fantastic.”

Benjamin felt a flood of endorphins wash through his body. “It sure is.”

It was an impossible task to sleep that night. He spent a good deal of time planning how to spend his money whether it was going to be ten million dollars, five million or two million. Firstly, he decided, he was going to buy himself a nice house in a nice area. He’d hire someone to clean it and to cook. He’d give some money to his parents and donate some to charity—an animal charity. He’d always liked animals more than people. Besides, most people donated to ‘people’ charities. He’d put the rest in the bank to earn interest while he decided what to do with it.

The following morning, bleary-eyed, he checked the Lotto dividends online then rang his mother again.

“I forgot to tell you last night not to tell anyone,” he said.

“I’ve already told your father,” his mother replied.

“I know. Just don’t tell anyone else. Not even your best friend.”

He’d heard alarming tales of what happened to people who won large sums of money—begging letters, stalkers, and kidnap threats. Long lost relatives and old friends appearing out of the gloom of the past.

“If that’s what you want. Do you know how much you’ve won, yet?”

Benjamin swallowed. “Mum, I’ve won the whole bloody lot! Ten million dollars!”

As he spoke the words it suddenly hit him what having ten million dollars meant. On one hand, it meant absolute freedom. He could leave his job as sales manager of a menswear shop. If he was careful with his money, he’d never have to work again. There was no way he was going to be reckless with it and end up right back where he started. Or worse. He could travel and see the world, meet new people and maybe even get the one thing he craved most of all—someone to love him.

On the other hand, it was a huge responsibility. There’d be any number of people trying to relieve him of his riches. He’d have to see a financial advisor. No doubt about it. He didn’t want taxes and fees slowly eating away at it like a cancer.

* * * *

For two weeks Benjamin didn’t do anything about collecting his prize. He went about his business the same way he always had. Sometimes, when he was busy at work or tired at the end of the day, he completely forgot about his millionaire status, though it was never for long. 'The Mystery Winner' even rated a small article in the state newspaper, which brought a knowing smile to his lips.

Finally, the day arrived when he could wait no longer to claim his prize. He contacted the Lotteries Commission and they arranged a time for him to come in and talk to someone from Corporate Communications.

Jack Higgins was a man in his fifties. He wore a blue suit and when he smiled, which was often, a mass of lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. He took Benjamin into a small, well-appointed room and offered him a cup of coffee.

“No thanks,” Benjamin replied with a wave of his hand. “I’m too nervous.”

Mr Higgins gestured for Benjamin to sit.

“I’ve got the best job in the world,” he said. “Nothing like giving people a whole heap of money.”

Benjamin couldn’t argue with that. “There’s nothing like winning a whole heap of money, either,” he replied.

“Now, you’ve got your ticket there?” Mr Higgins held out his hand.

Benjamin retrieved the creased and crumpled ticket from his wallet, where it had been for the past two weeks, and handed it over.