New Jersey

Shark!

It's true, the journalist said, I'm a shark but what does that make you? At least I admit I am a predator while you pretend to be a philanthropist. Look!

He picked up the "Daily News" of the street in New Jersey and knew by the response of the guy in front of him he was right.
The VIP stood foaming in the middle of the street, cursing, yelling at the man who had dared to check his movements. Actions that were not about generosity but about trying to cover up crimes for which the average man been sentenced to death several times by him.
From the VIP who had so cordially invited the journalist to talk about his life as a warmhearted and generous person wasn't much left. The friendly personality had changed in the monster he tried to hide. A monstrous grimace. in which nothing of the charming personality could be recognized, showed on the face of the psychopath and pathological liar.

It hadn't been hard to unmask the celebrity, he had provided the evidence himself and it was printed in black and white in the Fishery Bulletin. How stupid can you be, thought the journalist, to think that no one reads and everyone swoons at the picture of a friendly face as if the entire world falls for a bit of charm, charisma and waving a fistful of euros or free shopping cards at Amazon will always do the trick...

Many do fall for it, said a voice in his head that he hadn't heard for a long time, money doesn't make you happy but power, and seeing how stupid people follow worse than sheep. It's the game the rich play among themselves, betting on who will reach the finish line first or better yet who will break his neck first. Only those who are propertyless are inviolable, you're lucky.

He observed what was once a man of standing, a VIP and wondered where all the urge to dominate and the pent-up anger and aggression came from. Spoiled kid!
In a flash the journalist disappeared. He knew enough.

Prompts

Monday - New Jersey
Tuesday -fishery bulletin
Wednesday -daily news
Thursday -unembarrassed
Friday - journalist
Saturday - Shark!
Sunday -discovery

_{24.1.25
See @freewritehouse for daily prompts}