With a huge fake smile plastered on his face, Alibaba asked the gang of men, “Would you like some tea, gentlemen?”
Their surly leader curtly nodded in the negative.
Alibaba tried again, “We’ve planned a small, intimate party tonight, with exotic dancers, finest meats, and imported wine. Why don’t you join Marjeena and me?”
The gang of cutthroat marauders refused that also. All they wanted was a piece of his newly-found treasure.
As Alibaba turned around, he swore softly under his breath.
These Income Tax Officials would not be as easy to get rid of as those 40 thieves.
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99 words.
Written for the January 10 flash fiction challenge by Charli Mills, the host at the Carrot Ranch Literary Community.
jagahdilmein 
Started my morning right with a laugh–thank you!
My pleasure absolutely 🙂 Thank you so much Liz.
Haha, nice one. 😁👍🏻
Thank you so much Swetha.
Brilliant!
Thank you so much Tammy.
Enrichment attracts all sorts of thieves, some easier to shake than others. Loved the twist! The Tax Man cometh in the US soon, although, ironically, he’s not getting paid during the shutdown.
Thank you so much Charli