I was sat poolside. It was blazing hot. I was reading. Living the dream. Then, he approached. New money. I, on the other hand, was no money.

“Saw you at the jewellery store,” he said. I guessed he was early thirties. “Buying a ring?” He asked.

“Yeah, for my girlfriend.”

“Overpriced in there.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah.”

Is it wrong that I wanted to push him into the swimming pool? Probably not.

He continued.

“Didn’t even want to come here. The missus wanted to though. I’m meant to be taking time off work. Can’t leave it behind though. It follows me everywhere.”

“What do you do?” I asked, trapped. He was blocking my sunlight too. I noticed he was overweight but I was suppressing harsher adjectives. I was judging him. He was in my holiday sunlight, interrupting me.

“I work in finance,” he said.

“Oh yeah, what’s that like?”

“Fucking love it.”

“What’s so good about it?”

“The money. The sniff. The pride.” He insisted.

“Pride?” I had to ask. I had not expected him to say pride.

“Yeah, I help people get rich,” he said, dripping with sweat. He was still in my sunlight.

“Sounds good,” I said, struggling for meaningful words.

“Want to make money?” He said, as if it was something someone did like turning on a tap.

“Me?”

“Yeah, I can make you money right now.”

“How?”

“Get your phone.”

“Get my phone?”

“Yeah, I’ll make you some money.”

I picked my phone up. I looked at him, nervous, intrigued, and fully at his shallow mercy.

“Download Coinbase. It’s a crypto app. Setup an account. Deposit fifty quid. I’ll be back in ten minutes when you’re done. Then we’ll make you some money.” He waddled away and sat down next to his girlfriend in a lounger.

I did as he asked. Like a robot. I’d forgotten about the sunlight. My mind was racing. I’d forgotten about my Murakami book. I was dreaming of riches. I’d forgotten my contempt for the man.

Ten minutes later, true to his word, he returned.

“Done it?” He asked.

“Yeah.”

“Good man.”

“I can’t afford to lose fifty quid.”

“You won’t. Go on the app.”

I did.

“You on it?”

“Yeah.”

“Buy as much VET as you can.”

“VET? What’s that?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Is it safe?”

“Compared to what? Having your money in a bank? Safer.”

This was an intervention. I did as he said.

“Good man. Don’t do anything else. I’ll see you back here tonight and we’ll celebrate.”

“What?”

“Don’t do anything. Don’t even go on the app.” He departed. I was stunned. Lost. My girlfriend returned with a pina colada.

“Who was that?” She asked.

“Some guy.”

She put her headphones in. I did likewise. Listened to Miley Cyrus. Don’t know why. It was a weird day.

Night arrived. I felt like I’d been on the slowest boat to China to get there. I was sat at the bar drinking a beer. Local lager. Not bad. Then, he appeared. Clocked me. Approached.

“Bloody hot. Too hot for me. Missus loves it.”

He took a seat.

“Check the app.”

I did as he said. It’s a cliche but I nearly fell off my chair.

“Jesus Christ,” I said to myself.

“What does it say?” He asked.

I hesitated, scared to say it. It couldn’t be real.

“Fifty grand.”

“Good man. Want a beer?”

I nodded like an idiot.

He handed me a beer. Local lager. Not bad. He raised his bottle to mine. They clinked. I smiled weakly, unsure of reality.

“Welcome to the club,” he said. “Now, who’s got the sniff?”