by C. A. Bell
I slapped my hands down on the breakfast bar. “I’m going.”
I rushed to the stairs and flew up them like a bat out of hell. After changing into something more appropriate, I ran a brush through my hair and smeared some lipstick on while calling a cab. Jacob had already gone home after dropping me off after work, and it would take him four times as long to get here then it would a taxi.
Making my way back down the stairs, shoes in hand, I took several deep breaths as my rushed transformation started to catch up with me. Hitting the bottom step, I slipped into my shoes and headed out of the house and down the drive to wait for the taxi. It pulled up a couple of minutes later and I jumped straight in and gave the driver my destination.
The journey dragged. The city was heaving with buses, cars, and bikes. I sat in the backseat, silently telling them all to move the fuck out of the way, desperately containing my urge to lean over and honk the horn.
When we finally arrived, I lobbed the cash at the driver, told him to keep the change, and hurried to the entrance. Slowing down as I approached the doors, I ran my hands down my black cocktail dress and straightened my posture.
“Evening,” the doorman said, reaching for the door.
“Evening.”
He pushed the door open and I stepped in. The buzz of voices instantly invading my ears.
As I neared the huge space adorned with people, fruit machines and gambling tables, I looked over to the card room. The archway that connected the two rooms was quite wide, yet from this angle, I couldn’t see anything.
Deciding to head to the bar and mingle in the crowd, I set out towards it, glancing around as I did.
“What’ll it be?”
“G&T, please.”
The tender pulled a glass out from under the counter and I watched him take it to the back of the bar to fill it with a measure of clear liquid.
“Make that a double,” I voiced over the hum of conversation.
My nerves were all over the place. I knew I shouldn’t be there. I knew if Lennox saw me my chances of getting this story were going to be screwed, but I just couldn’t sit alone, watching my phone all night, willing Max to ring.
“Eight-forty, please.”
I handed him a ten-pound note and waited for my change before wandering off amongst the machines and tables.
I stopped and watched a few games as I continued to check out my surroundings, creeping ever closer to the card room. Once I was nearer, I stepped back and got my first view of the table. My eyes instantly fell on Max. God, he looked even more sexy playing bad boy gambler.
He looked up, straight at me, and stared for a moment before returning his attention back to the cards in his hand.
Had he seen me? If he had, he was playing the cool card very well.
Max Harper
I felt the burn of a stare on me. Looking up, I instantly locked eyes with her. There she was, as casual as ever, looking sexy as hell with a drink in her hand. I looked back at my cards, not wanting to draw attention to my gaze. I was worried that she might bump into Jasmine, yet at the same time it didn’t matter. Both of them now were relying on me to get the dirt for them. I held all the cards now. And my God it felt good.
Tonight had taken a rather interesting twist when I’d come back from retrieving my chips and grabbing a handful of Jasmine’s arse. It turned out that Joseph Denman, Lennox’s second, the guy who apparently never played without him, was in fact the same Joe I had played at Milton’s house a couple of weeks back. When we’d first sat at the table, I tried to make eye contact with him, but he was having none of it. It was a very dodgy set up, and I was on super fucking high alert. It didn’t help knowing Brooke was observing and that tonight I’d bag myself one hell of a win. Not only was I going to walk out of here knowing I was going to be on the front cover of Suave, but now I was going to waltz right out of here with Jasmine on my arm and fifty grand coming my way as well. Poor old Brooke had lost big time.
“Call.” Lennox pushed his chips into the centre of the table.
Joe matched him, as did Peter, Taylor and Patrick, and then me. Oliver had already folded.
The river card went down—the ace of hearts. Now we had two sevens, a ten, a jack, and an ace sat on the table. I calculated my hand and waited for Lennox to make his move.
“Call.” He pushed more of his chips into the middle.
I watched for Joe’s next move. He folded, as did Taylor and Patrick after Peter had paid to remain in the game. It was my turn. I’d decided I was going to stick this round through to the end no matter what. The last four games I had folded on, and I didn’t want to look like I’d lost my bottle. Plus, the cards in my hand were good.
“Call.” I slid a stack of chips to the centre, eyes on Lennox, waiting to see if he was going to re-raise us. He didn’t. He laid down his cards—the seven of diamonds and the ace of spades. Fuck, he’d beaten me. I looked to Peter as he displayed his ten of clubs and ace of clubs. What was he thinking going all the way on two pairs?
It was my turn to show my cards. I flipped over the seven of hearts and the jack of hearts. I had a full house, but it wasn’t good enough.
Lennox grinned as the dealer brushed his winnings towards him. Eyes still burnt into me. I looked back up, and she was still there, this time perched on a stool, partially hidden behind a pillar. My eyes fell to her crossed legs. God, she truly was just the hottest thing.
Oliver and Lennox pushed their blinds into the kitty, breaking my thoughts away from Brooke and her great pins. Once we’d all been dealt our cards, I watched each and every one of them, paying particular attention to Lennox and Joe. No one was giving anything away so I picked up my cards—a two of clubs and a four of diamond. They were low cards, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t win.
The dealer looked to Joe.
“Call.”
The rest of us matched then waited for the flop—six of spades, seven of spades, queen of hearts.
I looked at my cards again. I’d fold this round.
After everyone else stayed in, I sat and watched closely.
Joe looked up and checked everyone around the table, including me. His eyes halted for a moment when he saw me looking back, then continued around the table. He raised the bid by five grand. I rested back in my chair and continued to observe. The game went on for a while. Lots of pondering and hesitating took place until only Joe and Taylor were left in the game. Then, when they came to the big reveal, Taylor had it in the bag. I smiled. I’d secretly been rooting for him all along.
We had one more round to go before the break and I was desperate to catch this pair in the act. If I had to make something up like Brooke had suggested, I hadn’t a clue what I was going to say. But what did it matter anyway? I’d have no comeback, so I could say anything. I’d much rather catch them in the act, but, well, if push came to shove, I’d think of something dirty for her to print, even if she was treating me like a fool and not telling me everything. I wondered if she hadn’t told me it was Jasmine who had tipped her off because of our bet, or because of confidentiality. I presumed it was both. Either way, she was playing games. I just couldn’t work out what they were… yet.
I picked up my new cards and glanced at them before laying them back down. I had a good feeling about this round.
After everyone paid to play, the flop went down—the king of spades, the queen of hearts and the ten of diamonds. I had three of a kind, all tens.
Peter tapped the table, implying a check.
We all took the opportunity to save some coin and checked as well, no more money going in the pot.
The dealer placed the turn card down next to the ten of diamonds—queen of diamonds.
I was in, all the way to the end. I had a full house, three tens and two queens.
Peter folded, as did Taylor and Patrick. I called then raised the bid by ten grand.
Lennox looked over and made eye contact with me, his face as straight as an arrow, giving nothing away.
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br /> Next up was Oliver. He folded. Then came Mr. Grant’s turn.
He rubbed his chin. “I’ll have some of that.” He matched me.
Joe placed his cards face down on the table. “I’m out.”
It was just me and Lennox left now. We both watched the dealer’s hand pick up the top card from the deck, wanting to be the first to see it. It didn’t matter what it was to me. I already had my hand, but I needed to see it to edge my bets against him. As the dealer twisted the card down onto the table, the two of clubs looked up at me. I calculated the cards in my head. To beat me, he had to have either two queens in his hand, two kings, a king and a queen, or a ten and a queen. The dealer looked at me, reminding me it was my call.
I picked the four top chips up from my stack and then let them fall back into place, then I did it again, toying with my plastic money while I thought over my next move. I raised him another five thousand and he matched me.
“Show me,” he ordered, staring at my cards.
“Full house.” I turned my cards over. “Tens and queens.”
He nodded. “Well played.” He turned over a queen.
I swallowed hard, waiting for his last card to flip.
“But not good enough.” He turned over the king of clubs. “Full house. Queens and kings.”
Fuck.
I nodded graciously.
“Break for thirty minutes?” The dealer looked around the table.
“Perfect.” Lennox smiled, stacking up his chips.
I pushed my chair back with my calves as I stood, then headed for the bar, throwing a quick glance Brooke’s way as I did. She wasn’t looking.
“Scotch on the rocks,” I said as I approached the bar.
“Certainly, sir.”
As I waited, I leant against the counter with Lennox and Joe in my view, wondering how this night really was going to pan out. And if in fact, the two really were cheats.
The Kind of Pussy Who’s Getting Some Pussy
Max Harper
Another full round and break passed. I was starting to get agitated, and I could tell Brooke was, too. She’d started passing halfway through the game. Her black dress caught my eye every time she came back into view. The bloody woman was putting me off my game. I’d not lost a lot this time round. In fact, I’d won three hands, so I was just about breaking even, but her constant walking was starting to drive me nuts. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to blur her from my view; it wasn’t working. I was half tempted to go out there, slap her arse and tell her to sit the fuck down, but I didn’t.
Taking my seat back at the table, I noticed a card on the floor under Lennox’s chair. I frowned; something smelt fishy. And not just any old fishy… rotten.
I pulled my chair closer to the table and watched Lennox take his and do the same. The bloke was starting to get on my nerves. He’d been knocking back the Scotch and getting cockier with each round. He was acting like he owned the table, and I was dead set on putting him in his place.
The cards went down and game one of round three began. I folded on the turn card then noticed something very peculiar. Lennox Grant scratched his wrist, then ran his finger around the cuff of his shirt before shifting side to side in his seat.
No use mate. It’s on the floor.
Now I knew what these fuckers were up to. They weren’t switching the pack like Brooke had said. I knew they wouldn’t be, not at a game like this. It was too controlled. They were switching cards. I’d heard about people doing this before, but had never witnessed it myself. What happened was the cheat player would have two marked cards up his sleeve. In this case, there would probably be four since there were two of them. Then, when said card came into their hand, the player would switch the card to the marked one. That way the player knew when someone had that card. It was a risky game to play, and it didn’t always pay off, but it was still cheating. Now all I had to do was find a marked card to prove I was right and Brooke would get more than she wanted. I just hoped they had one out in circulation already.
Brooke Knight
What the fuck was he playing at? I’d been sat here like a loner for more than half the night just sipping on the same drink. I was tempted to go and have a dabble on the roulette wheel, but was too afraid I’d miss something if I did. He’d glanced my way a few times throughout the night but none of those portrayed a face of victory.
I shuffled on the stool and tried to get comfortable, but I couldn’t. My back was aching like a motherfucker and about to give way.
I walked between the fruit machines and back to my seat then did it again, all the while running over the past two days’ events. I felt kind of bad for using Max like this. Asking him to get the dirty on Lennox so I could not only win our bet but also help myself get out of this court situation. With Max’s story, I planned to bribe Lennox and get him to call his solicitors and this whole court shit off. Once he’d done that, I was still going to print it. I had to. I had a deal with Jasmine and I never went back on my word. If it sparked another war between Lennox and myself then so be it. At least this time I would understand why he was coming after me.
I glanced over at Max leant back in his chair, watching the game. Yes, Mr. Harper was going to lose badly tonight, but at least he would have his front-page photo shoot to look forward to, and of course a naughty pic of Jasmine and me.
I went back to my seat. Max was looking my way. His head rose slowly. Was that a sign?
My stomach fluttered.
Max Harper
I raised my head slowly, signalling to Brooke that we’d got the fuckers. I’d found two marked cards in the last two hands, both of them aces. The question now was did I call it a night? Or did I see this round through to the end and show Lennox Grant who had the bigger balls at this table. My ego got the better of me.
Two more rounds in and I’d taken twenty grand from the players and was going strong.
On the fifth round, I folded, rested back in my chair and stared at Brooke. I wasn’t interested in the game anymore; I’d got what I came for. She caught my eye and smiled. I wanted to return the expression but I knew I couldn’t. I couldn’t risk anyone seeing her, knowing who she was, and then later putting two and two together when the article on Lennox came out.
After game five had come to an end, seeing Patrick take a fair portion of counters, the dealer dealt for the next round.
I turned the top corners of my cards up—two nines, a heart and a club.
Peter placed the small blind into the centre of the table before Taylor pushed in the equivalent chips for the big blind. The stakes had gone up this round. The small blind now sat at five grand and the big at ten.
The rest of us matched the ten thousand, each and every one of us staying in for the next round.
The dealer turned over the flop cards—the ace of clubs, the nine of hearts, and the seven of clubs.
Patrick tapped the table, checking. The rest of us did the same. No money was going down.
I checked everybody’s hands. A marked card sat with Lennox and judging from the mark that I had studied intently when I had the card, it was the ace of spades. Now I knew he had a pair of aces.
The dealer laid the fourth card—ace of hearts. I had a full house, and now Lennox had three aces, but what else was he holding?
“Fold,” Patrick said.
I pursed my lips, playing with my chips, putting on a charade of uncertainty before finally throwing them in. “Call.”
“I’ll match you.” Oliver nodded.
“So will I.” Lennox pushed his chips in.
Joe threw his cards down on the table. “I’m out.”
I grabbed my drink and took a swig quickly, giving no fucker a chance to move without me seeing.
Peter then matched the bet before Taylor did the same.
I chewed my bottom lip as I waited for the next card, then boom, there it was. I couldn’t believe it. If it hadn’t come out I’d have still been in a good position, but now... Now I was in an even
better one. I had the third highest hand you could get. The only thing that would beat me now was a straight or royal flush, and there was no chance of that judging from the cards on the table. I had this game in the bag. I was buzzing, but I wasn’t about to let it show.
I held their attention for as long as I could bear their eyes burning holes in my cards, then I counted my chips out. “Raise… twenty grand.”
“I’ll match you,” Oliver said, not taking his eyes from the table. He was nervous.
“I’ll see your twenty.” Lennox slid his counters in. “And I’ll raise you forty.”
Peter and Taylor folded. It was back to me.
I pondered over my cards. He was bluffing. I knew it. There was no way he had a better hand then me.
“I’ll see your forty, and re-raise you another forty.”
The crowd that had gathered in the room all started whispering, hedging their bets on who was going to win.
Lennox lifted his brow to me.
I was desperate to turn my cards over and watch the blood drain from his boner.
Oliver tapped on the table, looking between the cards laid out and the two in his hand. I watched him closely. Don’t do it.
He looked up at the dealer, then back to the table. He grabbed a chip from the top of one of his stacks and started fiddling with it until he finally decided on his move and said, “Fold.”
Well done, mate.
Lennox looked me square in the eye. “Show.” He flicked a counter into the middle. “Me.” He did the same again. “Your.” Another chip went into the winnings. “Cards.” He threw the remaining balance in with the rest of the red circles.
I hesitated a moment then turned my cards over slowly. “Four of a kind. Ace high.”
I watched the sureness in his eyes vanish. He threw his cards down like a stroppy teenager—the ace of spades, just like I thought, and the seven of hearts. What a fool.
I stood up, wrapped my arms around my winnings and pulled them in. “That’s me done, boys.”
They all looked up in shock.