Raj asks the question over lunch, completely casual.
"How's your imaginary money doing?"
We're at the shop—Wednesday afternoon, pizza before the evening crowd arrives. Howard and Leonard are arguing about sothing physics-related. I'm checking inventory on my phone when Raj's question lands.
"Which imaginary money? Bitcoin or Apple?"
"Both. You keep buying that stuff despite our mockery."
Howard looks up. "Oh right, Stuart's digital tulip bulbs and overvalued tech stock."
"Actually—" I pull up my brokerage app. "Apple's doing okay."
The screen shows numbers I've been watching obsessively for six months:
Position: 394 shares AAPL Purchase Price: $12.69 Current Price: $24.74 Total Value: $9,747.56 Total Gain: $4,747.56 (95.02%)
I turn the phone around.
Silence.
Complete, dead silence.
"That's—" Leonard's face goes pale. "That's almost ten thousand dollars."
"That's a 95% return in six months," Sheldon adds, leaning in to verify the numbers. "Stuart invested five thousand dollars in January. He's now—the mathematics are straightforward. He's doubled his investnt."
Howard grabs the phone, zooms in like he's looking for photoshop evidence.
"This is real?"
"Very real."
"But—" He scrolls frantically. "You said buy Apple when the iPhone was announced. We all said it was stupid."
"I rember," I say evenly. "Leonard said he'd invest in 'real companies.'"
Leonard flinches.
Raj pulls out his own phone, checking his account. His hands shake slightly.
"I bought fifty shares like you said. Spent—oh god, I spent $635. And now—" His voice goes high. "Now it's worth $1,237! I made $602!"
"You made 95%," Sheldon corrects. "Sa return rate as Stuart, proportional to your initial investnt."
"I MADE $602!" Raj shouts, then hugs across the table. "You made money! Actual money!"
Howard looks physically ill. "I could've bought stock. I had money in January."
"We all did," Leonard says quietly. "Stuart told us. And we laughed at him."
The energy in the room shifts. Raj's elated, but Howard and Leonard radiate this sick jealousy-regret mixture. I recognize the danger imdiately.
"It was lucky timing," I say quickly. "I had a hunch, it paid off. Could've easily gone the other way."
"A 95% return in six months isn't luck," Sheldon observes. "That's either insider trading or predictive analysis of exceptional accuracy."
"It's not insider trading—"
"Then exceptional predictive analysis. Combined with your Walking Dead investnt, Bitcoin purchases, smartphone predictions, and consulting opportunity, the pattern suggests—"
"A hot streak," I interrupt. "That's all. I got lucky a few tis, it built montum."
"Hot streaks don't—"
"Here." I pull out my wallet, throw three twenties on the table. "Pizza's on . And Raj, you should probably take so profits. Don't want to get greedy."
"Take profits?" Raj looks confused. "But you're still holding."
Because I know Apple hits $300 eventually. But I can't say that.
"I've got different risk tolerance. You made good money—secure it."
The conversation shifts to whether Raj should sell, but I catch Leonard watching with this calculating expression. He's doing math in his head, probably realizing I've made more from investnts in six months than he makes from Caltech in a year.
After everyone leaves, I check my full portfolio:
Apple: $9,747.56 Bitcoin: ~$15,000 (30,000 coins at $0.50 each) Cash: $3,200 Total: $27,947.56
Twenty-eight thousand dollars. From supernatural knowledge and one dead guy's empty shop.
I'm 28 years old—or Stuart's body is, anyway—and I've built more wealth in six months than most people accumulate in years.
My phone buzzes: Leonard: Can we talk?
Stuart: Sure. What's up?
Leonard: About your investnts. And predictions. Just... concerned.
The word "concerned" sits heavy. Leonard's not suspicious about supernatural powers—he's worried I'm doing sothing illegal or risky or stupid.
Stuart: I'm being careful. Promise.
Leonard: Okay. But if you need advice, actual financial advice, I have a friend who's a planner.
Stuart: Thanks. Really. I appreciate you looking out for .
Leonard: That's what friends do.
After he stops texting, I update my secret notebook:
Apple investnt revealed. 95% return. Gang's reactions: Raj happy (he listened), Howard/Leonard regretful (they didn't), Sheldon analytical (pattern recognition). Leonard's "concerned"—probably thinks I'm gambling or have insider info. Need to be more careful showing gains.
Reality check: $28k net worth at 28 years old. From supernatural cheating. Every dollar built on knowledge I shouldn't have. The isolation of the secret is worse when friends are looking at with jealousy and suspicion.
Note: Leonard offering help because he's worried. That's genuine friendship. Makes the lying worse.
Decision: Keep future gains quieter. Success should look gradual, not explosive. Need to seem lucky, not prescient.
I close the notebook and try to feel good about the money.
But all I feel is the weight of the secret getting heavier.
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