Secret Plans

Chapter 23 Secret Plans

He finished his drink, the weariness settling deep into his bones. The day had been long, challenging, but ultimately necessary. He walked to his bedroom, the soft lamplight illuminating his path. He slipped into bed, the luxurious sheets a welcome comfort after his day of masquerade. His mind, still buzzing with the day's events, slowly began to quiet. He thought of Jenny, of her unwavering kindness, her belief in treating everyone with respect. She would have approved of his actions today.

The transition was, as always, seamless. One moment, he was drifting off in his grand bed in the future; the next, he felt the familiar jostle of a public bus. The scent of worn fabric, cheap perfume, and a faint hint of diesel filled his nostrils. He opened his eyes, and the world was vibrant with the hues of the past, sharper, brighter, filled with the energy of youth. Sunlight streamed through the grimy window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air.

Beside him, Leo Cane, his senior and university friend, was practically bouncing in his seat, a wide, excited grin plastered across his twenty-one-year-old face. Leo, not the terrified, fired nephew from his future-dream, but the enthusiastic, slightly goofy companion of his youth. Rick was seventeen again, the weight of Mount Foods Corp, the responsibilities of his fifty-year-old self, momentarily lifted.

"Can you believe it, Rick? We actually did it! One point five million Poh bills!" Leo exclaimed quietly, slapping Rick lightly on the arm as he tried to suppress his excitement. He clutched a well-preserved lottery ticket in his hand, a small rectangle of paper that held the key to their immediate future. 

The two won two prizes, the 1st prize and the grand prize. The 1st prize they can claim at the sub office, while the grand prize can only be claimed in the capital, Metro Mee City.

"First prize! The six-digit lottery! This is insane!" Leo's excited yet muffled voice echoed in Rick's ears.

Rick chuckled, a genuine, youthful sound. "Shush… Calm down, okay." He leaned back, the worn seat cushion protesting faintly. The landscape outside the window blurred into a green and brown streak as the bus rattled along the main road to Gee City, the capital of Poh. This was where they had to claim their prize.

Rick learned that Leo was confused after talking to Rick, as if he did not know anything. But now, Rick has suddenly changed his attitude, which further confuses him. However, his confusion was overcome by his excitement in claiming their prize money.

"So," Leo began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, even though the bus was half-empty and nobody was paying them any mind. "How are we going to do this? We go to the capital city by plane, and then what? We can't just walk in there looking like… well, like us." He gestured to their casual university attire – Rick's faded jeans and t-shirt, Leo's now slightly more fashionable, but still student-casual, ensemble.

"What do you mean, 'like us'?" Rick asked, genuinely curious about Leo's thought process.

"You know!" Leo leaned in, eyes gleaming. "We need to look the part. Like we're serious businessmen. Sophisticated. We're about to claim one and a half million, Rick! We should look like we're accustomed to such sums."

Rick raised an eyebrow. "And how, precisely, do you propose we achieve this 'sophisticated' look while going to the capital city? Do we have to pack a tuxedo in our backpacks?"

Leo waved a dismissive hand. "No, but we could stop at a department store first! Buy some new suits. Fancy shoes. Get a haircut, maybe. Spruce ourselves up! Imagine the faces when two sharply dressed young men walk in and claim the grand prize! It would be legendary!"

Rick sighed, a small, amused puff of air. "Leo, that's exactly what we don't want. We don't want 'legendary.' We want discreet. We want to get in, get the check, and get out, without drawing any unnecessary attention."

"But why?" Leo frowned, his excitement momentarily deflated. "This is a monumental moment! We should celebrate it, make a statement!"

"A statement to whom?" Rick countered. "To every pickpocket, scam artist, and opportunistic relative who might suddenly remember they know us? Think, Leo. One and a half million Poh bills. That's a fortune. Especially for two university students." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his tone serious. "If we walk in there looking like we're trying too hard, like we're playing dress-up, we'll stick out like sore thumbs. We'll be screaming, 'We just won the lottery! Please, mug us!' And then everyone will be trying to get a piece of us. Relatives we didn't even know existed will suddenly need a loan. Charity organizations will hound us. We'll be targets."

Leo chewed on his lip, his initial enthusiasm giving way to a more thoughtful expression. "Hmm. You have a point. But… just casual? Like we're going to a lecture?"

"Precisely," Rick nodded. "We go in looking exactly as we are. Just two ordinary students. We present the ticket, your ID, because you're twenty-one, and I'm still seventeen, so it has to be in your name for legal purposes – they verify it, they hand us the check. It's a transaction, Leo, not a parade. The less fanfare, the better. We don't want to alert the entire Kingdom of Poh that Rick Lane and Leo Cane are suddenly swimming in cash."

"Your ID, huh?" Leo's chest swelled a little with pride. "So, I'm the official claimant. The big man. I like it."

"You're the legal claimant," Rick corrected gently. "And we're doing this together... Fifty-fifty..." Rick deliberately said this and waited for Leo's reaction.

"Fifty-fifty? No… no… Rick, this is all you. I just…" Leo said quickly, waving his hands. 

"It was your ticket and number after all…" Rick suddenly interjected.

"No… This is all thanks to you. You can just give me… Umm… 10k… no, 20k… I'm good with that." Leo suddenly said.

Rick sighed. He did not expect that Leo would be such a good person. He patted his shoulder and leaned closer. "Senior, fifty-fifty, and I'm already taking advantage of you. So, do not argue with me about this as there is more to come, okay?" Rick's voice sounded stern.

"Okay, we're partners in crime anyway, or rather, partners in fortune." Leo reluctantly grinned. 

But deep inside, he felt thankful to this junior whom he knew had started to change his life. He began to think once again of the process.

"So, walk in, casual, hand over the ticket, present my ID, get the check. Then what? Do they give us cash? One point five million in cash? That's like a mountain of bills!"

"No, they won't give us cash," Rick explained patiently. "It'll be a check. A bank transfer, probably. That's why we go straight to a bank. A nearby one. We'll find a reputable bank in Metro Mee City, walk in, open our own individual accounts, and deposit the check. Half for you, half for me. No large sums of cash to worry about."

"Brilliant!" Leo's eyes lit up again. "No walking around with a briefcase full of money. Smart. So, we find a bank, deposit it. Then what? What are you going to do with your money, Rick?"

Rick leaned back, a small smile playing on his lips. "Well, first, I'm going to pay for Jenny's bakery." He had promised in his heart to help Jenny, his sweet, ambitious Jenny, that he'd help her realize her dream of opening a bakery with her sister, Joana. It was a long-term goal, something she liked to talk about when they are together. Now, it could be immediate. "She and Joana have been talking about it for ages. This will give them a fantastic start. A proper location, good equipment, everything they need."

Leo whistled. "Man, that's a big chunk. But it's a noble cause. A proper bakery? That'll be a goldmine. You're thinking investment."

"Always," Rick said simply. "And then, a comfortable sum for my university fees, living expenses, maybe help out my brother Erk a bit with his studies if he needs it. Nothing extravagant. Just security, and the ability to pursue opportunities." His thoughts drifted to his future self, the one who owned Mount Foods Corp. The past lottery win was the seed, the foundation.

"And you, Leo?" Rick prompted. "What are your plans for your half?"

Leo leaned back, his eyes unfocused, dreaming. "Oh, man. First, I'm buying a new guitar. A really good one. My old acoustic is falling apart. Then, new clothes, obviously, but not like those fancy suits. Just good quality stuff. And I'm going to pay off my student loan. My parents have been stressing about that. That'll be a huge relief for them. And then… maybe travel with my family? A proper trip around the Kingdom. See the sights. I've always wanted to see the coastal towns in the South, and the mountains in the North."

"Sensible," Rick approved. "Travel broadens the mind. Just don't go blowing it all on frivolous things. This isn't just a windfall, Leo. It's an opportunity. An opportunity to build something, to secure our futures."

"Don't worry, old man," Leo chuckled, elbowing him playfully. "I'm not going to be a reckless millionaire. Well, maybe a little reckless. But responsibly reckless! You, Mr. Future Businessman, can guide me. We'll invest some of it too, right? Maybe some stocks? Or a small business?"

"We can look into it once the money is secure," Rick confirmed. "For now, the priority is claiming it, depositing it, and keeping it quiet. Absolutely no telling anyone, Leo. Not our parents, not our family, not Jenny. No one. Not yet. The fewer people who know, the better. At least until we've processed it and decided exactly how we'll use it."

"Not even Jenny?" Leo looked surprised. "But you're planning to use it for her bakery!"

"Especially not Jenny," Rick emphasized. "She's a smart girl. If she knew I had access to that kind of money, she might second-guess the whole 'working hard to build something from scratch' mentality. I want her to build her dream on her own terms, with the capital as a solid foundation, not a handout. When the time is right, I'll tell her. But it needs to come from a place of support, not a place of sudden wealth." He knew from his future self's perspective that Jenny was strong and independent. The money would be a means, not an end.

"Right. Secret mission," Leo whispered, mimicking a spy. "I can do that. My lips are sealed." He pressed his index finger to his lips dramatically. "So, casual attire, lottery office, my ID, check, bank, deposit, keep quiet. Got it. Sounds… surprisingly boring for such a massive win."

"Boring is good, Leo," Rick smiled. "Boring means no problems. Excitement attracts trouble. We want to avoid trouble at all costs."

"True, true," Leo conceded.

The bus hit a bump, sending a jolt through them. Leo grabbed the ticket, ensuring it was still secure. "Wow, that was close. This little piece of paper… It's going to change everything."

"It is," Rick agreed, looking out the window, a mix of youthful hope and the wisdom of his future self mingling within him.

"Hey, look! That's the Gee City tower!" Leo exclaimed, pointing to a tall, prominent building appearing on the horizon. "We're almost there!"

Rick nodded, a feeling of anticipation bubbling up within him. The city is beginning to twinkle in the distance, a beacon of their future, a future they were about to secure, one discreet step at a time. The bus rumbled on, carrying its two young, soon-to-be-wealthy passengers towards a new chapter, their