Chapter 187 Just for the Money
Philip had a few buttons undone on his collar, giving him a bit of a rugged look. He flicked the ash off his cigarette with his slender fingers and grinned as he scooped up the cash from the table. "Just lucky," he said.
It wasn't clear if he was talking about the game or answering the guy's question.
Philip had dropped the clean-cut act he had around Shelley, now showing a much tougher side.
The guy replied, "This ain't about luck. With a face like yours, if you'd just swallowed your pride and charmed some rich ladies earlier, you wouldn't be here gambling to cover medical bills."
The others at the table laughed, flicking their cigarette butts into a water-filled ashtray, leaving some yellowish stains.
Philip brushed off the insult. When the game wrapped up, he pulled out a few Benjamins and tossed them on the table. "My treat today. Thanks, but I gotta go. The hospital's hounding me for money."
A guy shouted, "Philip, you've already got rich connections, and you're still broke? Don't rush to the hospital; our boss is on our backs too. What you won here won't even dent your debt to the loan shark."
Philip said, "Casey, take this money and buy some smokes. Put in a good word for me with your boss. I swear I'll pay back the money."
Casey West took the cash, looking a bit more pleased. "You're a smooth talker. When are you gonna bring your rich girlfriend around for us to meet? We've never seen a socialite before."
The group laughed, showing their yellow teeth, and kicked a water bottle on the ground.
Philip smiled and walked out the door, his face darkening as soon as he stepped outside.
Just then, Shelley called. He looked into the distance and softened his voice. "Shelley."
Shelley said, "Philip, remember my friend we met last time? Selena. She needs a guy to play her husband. It's a bit complicated, but she's pretty loaded, so the pay will be good."
Philip walked a bit further and ducked into an old, rundown alley.
His so-called friend had just gotten back from work.
His name was Lucas Den, twenty-seven, a white-collar worker. His job seemed respectable, but he only made about four grand a month, barely enough to rent a place downtown, so he had to come back to this old alley every day.
Lucas's family had a house in the alley, but it was only about 400 square feet, and he lived there with his disabled sister.
After stepping inside, Philip continued his chat with Shelley. "Shelley, my friend has a job, so it might not be convenient."
"No problem, he doesn't need to show up often. How about thirty grand a month?"
Philip glanced at Lucas, who was taking care of his disabled sister, and agreed on his behalf, "Alright, I'll talk to him. Your friend's name is Selena, right? Where should we meet?"
Shelley sent an address.
Philip walked over to Lucas and nudged him with his foot. "Shelley's friend has a job for you, playing her husband. You don't need to show up often, thirty grand a month. Change your clothes and come with me to meet her."
Lucas had a face that wouldn't stand out in a crowd and was only 5'8". "Philip, how long are you and Shelley gonna keep up this act? You don't seriously think you can marry into the Harper Family, do you? Mr. Harper would never agree, and what about the person lying in the hospital?"
Philip lit a cigarette and took a slow drag. "If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have approached Shelley. The Harper Family is so loaded; they can cover the millions in medical bills."
Lucas warned, "But if the person in the hospital wakes up and sees you with Shelley, she'll go nuts."
Philip explained, "When she wakes up, Shelley and I will break up. Being with Shelley is just for the money."
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