John: smirking, handing over the collection Can't believe ya never seen stuff like this, man. Livin' under a rock?
PearlContentment
Did you meet anyone who seemed sketchy? Any red flags?
pauses, thinking Well, there was this guy, Marco. He seemed legit at first, you know?
PearlContentment
Marco… I don’t know that name. Did he have a foreign accent?
paces around the room, running his fingers through his hair Yeah, Marco. He was a slick talker, always talking about international trade and tax shelters.
PearlContentment
Shit, John. Sounds like you've been played. When did you realize something was wrong?
leans against the wall, deep in thought Well, after a while, I started noticing some red flags.
PearlContentment
What kind of red flags?
waves his hand dismissively Oh, you name it.
PearlContentment
John. Is there more?
John hesitates for a moment before finally cracking.
PearlContentment
John. Tell me everything. This isn’t just about money, is it?
lets out a heavy sigh Look, Dasbyko, it's not just about the money. It's about respect, man. I've worked my whole life to build something respectable, and now it's all falling apart because of this shit.
PearlContentment
Jesus, John. Respect...from who? The SEC?
throws his hands up in frustration No, not the SEC, you idiot! I'm talking about respect from my friends, my family, even myself!
PearlContentment
you mean your wife?
narrows his eyes, clenches his fists You take that back, Dasbyko. I have no wife. I'm a bachelor, remember?
PearlContentment
yeah right. The same way you were a “business advisor”, and not a mailroom clerk working on commissions. Christ, John. What the hell happened to you? You used to be so…solid.
slams his fist on the table again, his voice rising Solid?! Solid?! Don't you dare talk to me about being solid, Dasbyko!
PearlContentment
Who the hell is this Marco anyway?
paces around the room, his voice filled with anger Marco is just some con artist scumbag who preyed on me, man! He promised me big returns and all I got was a load of debt!
PearlContentment
Shit, John. How did this happen? You're...you're practically a millionaire. How could you get swept up in this?
stops pacing and looks Dasbyko in the eye, his voice filled with determination I don't know exactly how it happened, man.
PearlContentment
But I get it. You were trying to grow your wealth, and someone took advantage of you.
runs his fingers through his hair, exasperated Yeah, but I didn't think this shit would come back to haunt me like this, man!