With disgust rising in my chest I was beginning to find it hard to breathe. How had a man like Dempsey managed to insulate himself to such an extent? How could the people who were supposed to help those he exploited be thankful for anything? I was busy thinking about everything Bella had told me when she nudged me in the stomach.
Looking down I saw her pointing to the interior wall directly across from the main entrance. There her uncle stood waiting for silence. “It looks like he’s ready to get things under way.” Glancing up she reminded me, “Remember we start at different tables.”
“This tournament doesn’t pre-arrange seating?”
“You’ve had ones that do?”
“Always.” I answered confusion in my voice.
“Well my uncle is a great believer in free form. So we can sit wherever we want. I’m hoping that I get a table full of the chumps to start.”
Before I could reply she placed her right index finger on my lips again and then pointed at her uncle, who had gathered all of the attention in the room. Again I couldn’t help but be impressed by the range of the man’s voice. Without a microphone, at least not one I could see, and without yelling, Dempsey managed to speak at a volume that carried to everyone in the room.
That was when I realized the room must have been engineered to carry someone’s voice from a few particular spots, including the doorway. “Well I think it’s about time to get down to the real business at hand. We have a tournament to begin don’t we?”
A few of the more spirited billionaires responded in excited affirmation, again allowing the professionals and his men to tag the cannon fodder. But more telling was that Dempsey had timed their response with the opening of a pair of doors into the next room behind him. Now I remembered looking at that particular stretch of wall and I hadn’t been able to see anything that even resembled a door. Bella had told me that he had some master craftsmen working for him. More than anything else these doors spoke to the true level of their capabilities.
The door had been so well crafted that the seams were practically nonexistent. Or perhaps they were hidden behind that interesting molding that ran vertically around the room, which seemed to make more sense. Well, I would find out for sure as soon as we entered that room, but I was certain that was how it had been done.
Hiding the door’s seam was not his primary goal. No, the main goal was pure showmanship. It had looked like someone or rather something had ripped the walls apart. Dempsey was going for shock and awe, it would most likely fail to impress the scattered professionals, but the rich were certainly impressed.
Addressing the assembled players, Dempsey said, “If you would all please come this way. We will begin just as soon as everyone has chosen their seat.” Instead of waiting for the players to enter first Dempsey turned around and walked through the doorway followed closely by his personal attendants.
Flashing Bella a smile I leaned over and whispered mock annoyance and aggravation, “Well I guess that means we have to get up, doesn’t it?”
With a sight chuckle she looked up and answered, “I suppose it does at that.”
Standing, I turned and, ever the gentleman, offered my hand to help her up. With a smile, she graciously accepted it. Now that we were both on our feet I offered my arm as I bowed my head ever so slightly. She must have been desperate for some pampering because she latched onto my arm as her eyes were overflowing with joy. Arm in arm we started crossing the room, making our way to the newly opened doorway. As we approached I was able to see the hinges and lines of the exposed doorway, and now that I saw it open I was cursing at myself for missing it before.
I had thought the room I was in had been the absolute lap of luxury. But as we walked into this new room, I saw an even greater level of magnificence. I guess I should call the room we had been in a lounge, and based on what I saw in here, we must have been roughing it as far as the social elite were concerned. You could really tell who Dempsey was catering to. After a small gasp rushed from my lips Bella squeezed my arm just a little as she whispered to me, “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone how new you are.”
“No you don’t need to, I think I just did that for myself.” Though I could tell she was just as impressed as I was, despite being Dempsey’s niece. She had more than likely grown up with this kind of opulence, or had she? I put her background out of my mind and studied the room. I would just need five minutes and I could ensure my financial freedom for a good five years if not longer. How much money did Dempsey poor into these things? Was any of it reused? This room would have to be reused or he would go broke. “Does your uncle reuse any of this stuff?” I asked Bella in a whisper.
“It all looks mostly familiar, so I’d have to say yes.” She answered with a whispered to match my own.
“Mostly?”
“If I had to guess I’d say he reuses the materials. But he’s very fond of never having the décor be the same. At least that’s what he’s told me.” She answered quietly.
With partial understanding I spoke aloud trying to pull everything together. “So he takes these decorations down has them reworked so they’ll look different yet retain a slight sense of familiarity.”
“Sounds about right.”