Aladdin: Book 3 Chapter 1

## Verse 1

Residing at the top floor of a **high-rise** apartment, a man sighed, his phone clutched in his hand.

The large curtainless window that stretched across his room loomed over the cityscape below.

Peering out at the buildings below, he imagined all the tiny specks of people hard at work.

He heavy sighed a second time, before a grumble sounded from his finely toned abs.

None of his usual delivery restaurants had picked up his calls.

―― That was the third shop.

"...Fine, I'll just get it myself."

Stepping away from his **day trading** monitor, he exited his **palace-like** abode for the first time in weeks.

 What's with all the ruckus? Am I... hallucinating?

 Maybe I just need to get some food in me...

 Heheh, whatever.

 If you wanna mess with me, I'll take you head on.

 You're going to try robbing me anyway, am I right?

 It's just not your day. Too bad for you, I'm built for a fight.

 Just so assholes like you don't get your way with me!

## Verse 2

Something must have happened while I was shut

up in my room. Apparently the trains stopped and

something about an explosion. Not that it's any of

my business.

## Verse 3

...Then again, maybe I should be concerned. It

would be a catastrophe if this uproar affects stock

prices. It's best to prepare for the worst.

## Verse 4

I picked up some fast food and hurried home. I

don't even care for this stuff, but at least I'm not

starving anymore. Can't risk making a bad trade

when my mind's distracted.

## Verse 5

Just having my phone on me isn't enough to

monitor all ongoing transactions. Argh, that was

such a waste of time. I knew I should have just

stayed home and sought somewhere else for delivery.

## Verse 6

Thanks to the police restraining rioters and the

shops that stayed open throughout the ordeal, I was

able to get home soon. It's the people like them that

allow me to enjoy my life.

## Verse 7

So c'mon, everyone! Put your back into it and work

like you mean it! Someone's gotta support my lifestyle!

## Verse 8

There's such a thing as the right person for the right

job. I just didn't fit in working with others. That's all

there is to it.

## Verse 9

The jackasses who excluded me just because they

didn't understand my disposition were just

that — jackasses. I hope they have financial issues

for the rest of their lives.

## Verse 10

*Before*

Although the restaurant was less than a ten minute walk away, he chose to take **taxi** so he could get back to watching the stock market asap.

"To the high-rise just over there," he said to the driver, hopping into the backseat of the cab

The **driver** turned around.

But it wasn't **human**.

"x△%lskd#uger?"

"...Excuse me? I don't know what you're trying to say."

After offering to pay for his damages, the man dragged the driver out of the cab and **beat the crap** out of him.

 Give me a break. Am I seeing things again?

 Sorry, sir. I'm short on time.

 I'll leave your cab at the entrance of my apartment,

 so come pick it up later. Oh yeah...

 I'll pay you back for this, too.

 Will ten million cover it?

*After*

Crammed inside the extravagant room, giant **monitors** displayed numbers and **graphs**.

As he glanced over each one of them, his fast food was swallowed in a matter of seconds.

"Chug one of these, and I'll be A-okay."

He pulled out an energy drink from the fridge and downed it just as fast.

Stacks of empty bottles and cans sat beside the monitors.

"...**Money** is everything in this world. With it, you can have just about anything."

The man tossed a **caffeine** tablet into his mouth.

The whites of his eyes were bloodshot red and below that rimmed deep dark circles.

## Discordant Poem

The man was certain money would be the answer

to all his problems. Throw bills at them and they'll

all bow their heads in obedience. What did it

matter if his feelings were different from the rest of

the world?

If offered a lifetime of wealth in exchange for one's

arm, most people would gladly give up their arm.

With money, there is no such thing as

inconvenience — so the man thought.

The man worked as a day trader. Although he was

incompetent to work alongside others, he was

exceptional at tracking the stock market

single-handedly. Darting his eyes from one

fluctuating number to the next, empty cans of

energy drinks littered his room.