Chapter 25: The Apple Stock Victory
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 something 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 AAPLPurchase Price: $12.69Current Price: $24.74Total Value: $9,747.56Total 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 investment."
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 remember," 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. "Same return rate as Stuart, proportional to your initial investment."
"I MADE $602!" Raj shouts, then hugs me across the table. "You made me 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 immediately.
"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 investment, Bitcoin purchases, smartphone predictions, and consulting opportunity, the pattern suggests—"
"A hot streak," I interrupt. "That's all. I got lucky a few times, it built momentum."
"Hot streaks don't—"
"Here." I pull out my wallet, throw three twenties on the table. "Pizza's on me. And Raj, you should probably take some 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 me with this calculating expression. He's doing math in his head, probably realizing I've made more from investments in six months than he makes from Caltech in a year.
After everyone leaves, I check my full portfolio:
Apple: $9,747.56Bitcoin: ~$15,000 (30,000 coins at $0.50 each)Cash: $3,200Total: $27,947.56
Twenty-eight thousand dollars. From a borrowed memory and one quiet, salvageable 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 investments. And predictions. Just... concerned.
The word "concerned" sits heavy. Leonard's not suspicious about supernatural powers—he's worried I'm doing something 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 me.
Leonard: That's what friends do.
After he stops texting, I update my secret notebook:
Apple investment 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. Every dollar traced back to a head start nobody handed anyone else. The secret sits heavier when friends look at me with that mix of envy and suspicion.
Note: Leonard offering help because he's worried. That's genuine friendship. Worth steering toward something honest I can actually share.
Decision: Keep future gains quieter. Success should look gradual, not explosive. Need to seem lucky, not prescient.
I close the notebook. The money's good. That much I'll let myself enjoy.
The only weight is the secret itself—and I've gotten good at carrying it.