As Stuart Bloom In TBBT Chapter 40: The Future Plans

Novel: As Stuart Bloom In TBBT Author: WhatIf4132 Updated: Jun 03, 2026

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Now reading: Chapter 40: The Future Plans from As Stuart Bloom In TBBT, a Adventure novel by WhatIf4132.

The shop's closed sign faces the street.

Inside, the gang's scattered across the expanded space—Leonard manning the makeshift bar, Sheldon arranging chairs into "optimal social geotry," Howard and Raj arguing about the best New Year's countdown location.

"Tis Square is traditional but overcrowded," Sheldon states.

"It's on TV, Sheldon. We're watching it on TV."

"Nevertheless, the principle stands."

I'm behind the counter doing year-end bookkeeping. Numbers that shouldn't be real:

Pasadena Shop Annual Revenue: $216,000 Net Profit: $132,000 Investnt Portfolio: $87,000 (Bitcoin $52k, Apple $27k, other $8k) Consulting Inco: $18,000 Total 2008 Earnings: $150,000

Fourteen months ago, I had nothing.

Now I'm closing out the year with six figures in earnings.

The door rattles. Penny enters with three bottles of champagne.

"Heard there was a New Year's party for nerds."

"How'd you—we closed the shop."

"Leonard texted . Also, I live in your building. I can see the lights on." She sets the champagne on the counter. "So we're doing this or what?"

lissa arrives ten minutes later.

This is her last New Year's in LA. She's leaving in two weeks. We've been keeping things normal, but everyone knows. The gang treats her extra nicely. Penny hugs her longer than necessary.

"Seattle's great," Penny offers. "Visited once. Lots of coffee."

"That's the selling point? Coffee?"

"And rain. Don't forget the rain."

lissa laughs, but it's thin.

At 10 PM, I gather everyone.

"Quick update on 2009 plans."

"Oh good, a presentation," Howard mutters. "Very festive."

"Shut up. Burbank shop opens March first. I'll need help with buildout."

Groans all around.

"Not again," Leonard protests. "Last ti Howard hit his thumb twice."

"I'm wearing gloves this ti."

"You'll hit your thumb through the gloves."

"Screw you, Leonard."

"Boys," Bernadette warns. Her voice drops into that terrifying register. They both shut up.

I continue: "Hiring two employees for Pasadena—manager and sales associate. Lets focus on expansion and consulting."

"Speaking of consulting," Leonard asks, "how many shows now?"

"Three confird. Big Bang Theory got picked up for full season. Two other pilots want on retainer."

"That's—Stuart, that's a lot."

"It's manageable."

Sheldon consults his phone. "Your Bitcoin investnt is now worth approximately—"

"Still imaginary," Howard interrupts.

"Fifteen thousand dollars," Sheldon finishes. "That's a 900% return in fourteen months."

Dead silence.

"You're up fifteen thousand dollars on internet money," Leonard says slowly.

"Yes."

"That's—how is that—"

"Lucky timing. Early adoption. Explaining it is complicated."

"Try."

The tingle flares. Warning.

Don't explain. Can never explain.

"Cryptocurrency is speculative," I deflect. "High risk, high reward. I got in early, bought cheap, held through volatility. That's it."

"That's not it," Sheldon counters. "Your success rate across multiple domains—investnts, business, consulting, even romantic relationships until recently—exceeds statistical probability. I've been docunting—"

"Sheldon." Leonard's voice carries warning. "Not tonight."

"But the data—"

"Not. Tonight."

Sheldon subsides, but his expression promises future interrogation.

We toast at midnight with Penny's champagne.

"To Stuart!" Raj shouts, already tipsy.

"To Stuart's continued inexplicable success," Leonard ands.

"To the gang," I counter. "For making success actually an sothing."

We drink. Cheap champagne, warm from sitting on the counter. Tastes perfect.

lissa appears beside after the toast, pulls to the back room.

"Two weeks," she says.

"Two weeks."

"This is—tonight's my last New Year's with you."

"Yeah."

"I wanted to say—" She stops. Starts again. "Thank you. For these six months. For showing what healthy relationships look like. For being—just, thank you."

"Thank you for choosing . For helping beco soone worth dating."

We kiss. Soft, familiar, tinged with ending.

When we return to the party, nobody comnts. They know.

Penny hands a beer. "You good?"

"Getting there."

"She's leaving for good reasons."

"I know."

"And you're staying for good reasons."

"I know that too."

"Then you're handling this right." She clinks her bottle against mine. "Growth looks good on you, Stuart."

At 2 AM, everyone's finally leaving.

Sheldon triple-checks that all candles are extinguished. Howard and Bernadette argue about who's driving. Raj needs help to his car.

Leonard hangs back.

"Serious question."

"Okay?"

"Are you dealing drugs?"

"What? No!"

"Insider trading?"

"Leonard—"

"Because your success rate is insane. I'm a scientist. I understand probability. This—" He gestures at the shop, at . "—this isn't probability. This is sothing else."

The tingle's screaming now.

"I work hard. Make educated guesses. So pan out. That's it."

"Bullshit."

"Leonard—"

"I'm not accusing you of anything bad. I'm just—I'm worried. About what happens when your luck runs out."

"It's not luck."

"Then what is it?"

Supernatural powers from absorbing temporal energy in the void between dinsions.

"It's preparation eting opportunity. Working my ass off and occasionally guessing right. Sa as anyone else."

He doesn't believe . But he nods anyway.

"Okay. Just—be careful. Whatever you're doing, whatever edge you have—don't get cocky. Pride cos before the fall and all that."

"Noted."