Buying the Illusion

The credit card statement arrived on a Tuesday. Damon opened it at his desk. Home office. Quiet. Alone.

He scanned the charges. Routine at first. Groceries. Gas. Normal.

Then. Not normal.

Bergdorf Goodman. $47,000.

Cartier. $123,000.

Private jet charter. $500,000.

Renovation contractor. $1,000,000.

On. And on. Page after page.

Damon's hands shook. He added them up. Once. Twice. Three times.

$4.5 m