“Ten million dollars if you can beat me at chess!” millionaire Richard barked loud enough for the whole mall to hear, pointing straight at a girl who couldn’t have been more than twelve. Laughter rippled around the table. No one standing there had any idea that this child carried a legacy strong enough to humble an entire empire of ego.
The food court at Empire Mall was busy that afternoon when Richard Mercer decided to turn lunch into a public performance. At forty-five, the owner of a successful chain of car dealerships loved being the center of attention, especially when he could show off his money. “Ten million dollars!” he shouted, pushing back from the table where he’d been eating with three company executives.
“Ten million to anyone who can beat me at chess!” the wealthy businessman repeated. People began slowing down to watch the man in the expensive imported suit waving his arms with practiced flair. He made sure everyone noticed the gold watch on his wrist and the rings on his fingers.
“You heard me right,” Richard went on, climbing onto a chair so he’d stand above the crowd. “I’ve been a chess champion for twenty years and I haven’t lost a game. Anybody with the nerve to challenge me can walk away with real money.”
Marina, his executive assistant, tried to tug discreetly at his jacket sleeve. “Mr. Mercer, maybe you should sit down,” she said quietly. “Oh, come on, Marina,” he said with a smug grin. “People ought to know who they’re dealing with.”
“I’m a chess genius. I studied with international masters. I’ve got over two hundred strategy books at home.” The crowd around the table kept growing. Some people were taking pictures, others recording video.
Richard soaked it up. He especially enjoyed any chance to display what he thought was both intellectual and financial superiority. Across the food court, at a plain plastic table, twelve-year-old Maggie Smith watched the whole thing while finishing the simple sandwich her mother had packed for her.
She was a thin girl with chestnut hair pulled into a plain ponytail, dressed in a worn school uniform. “What a show-off,” she muttered, absentmindedly turning over the little magnetic chess set she always carried in her backpack. Just then her mother, Ellen, walked up to the table, still wearing the blue uniform of the mall cleaning crew.
At thirty-five, Ellen had worked in that same shopping center for ten years. She got up every morning at five so there’d be food on the table and a chance for her daughter to get a good education. “Honey, sorry I’m late. Had to deal with a mess in the restroom,” Ellen said tiredly as she sat down beside Maggie.
“What’s going on over there?” she asked. “Some rich guy putting on a show,” Maggie said, nodding toward Richard. “He says he’s a chess champion and he’s offering ten million dollars to anyone who beats him.”
Ellen shook her head with quiet disapproval. “Sounds like one of those men who likes hearing himself talk.” Maggie kept watching Richard and said, “I’d bet he’s not nearly as good as he says. The way he talks about chess pieces, he doesn’t really know what he’s talking about.”
“Why do you say that?” her mother asked. “He said he owns two hundred strategy books, but any serious player knows that doesn’t mean much. My granddad always said you learn chess at the board, not from a bookshelf.”
Ellen smiled with pride. Even a year after her father’s death, Maggie still held on to the lessons of old Stephen, who had been a respected chess player in the city park. “Your granddad was right. In two years he taught you more than that man probably learned in a lifetime of collecting books.”
At that moment Richard raised his voice even more. “What’s the matter? Everybody scared? You all know you can’t beat me, don’t you?”
Some people laughed. Others shook their heads. It was obvious no one really believed the bet was as simple as he made it sound. “Ten million dollars is a lot of money,” one older woman said. “But who’s going to take a bet like that?”
“Nobody’s crazy enough to make a wager with a millionaire,” a young man answered. “There’s got to be a catch.” Richard loved hearing that. The more people talked about how impossible the challenge was, the more important he felt.
“A catch?” he laughed. “The only catch is that none of you know how to play. I trained with the best. I’ve got prestigious certificates.”
Maggie frowned. “Certificates in chess? That’s not really a thing.” “What?” Ellen asked…
