by Sage Nyx
I don’t share any of this with Jade. Some things are better to keep safely tucked inside and hidden from the outside world.
“My family has seen all my tricks by now,” I lie. “Even the little kids in the family know how to do some of them. Kids are smart these days and fast learners. In the old days, magic tricks were carefully guarded secrets. Now there’s how-to videos on the internet for the basic tricks. To be impressive, we have to keep coming up with bigger and better illusions.”
“It must be nice to have a big family,” she says. “Mine is small.”
“It’s great having a big family,” I reply, piling the lies on thick. “Especially around the holidays. We have huge family dinners. My aunts usually put me at the kid’s table where I can entertain the children and keep them out of trouble.”
The lies that normally flow smoothly from my lips are sticking in my throat. Lying to Jade about my personal life seems wrong.
I tell myself it doesn’t matter. She’ll be long gone by this time next week and my lies will be forgotten.
The waitress comes back over to the table and hovers by my side.
“We’re doing fine,” I say with a smile, holding up my hand before she asks. “This drink is big enough to last us for a bit. We’ll tell you when we’re ready for another.”
“I’m not sure we can handle another one,” Jade adds.
“I’m sorry to disturb you,” the waitress says. “The bartender sent me over. He said to tell you that Mr. Giovanni is looking for you. He needs to speak with you in his office.”
“He wants to see me now?” I ask, surprised. “I’m right in the middle of having a drink.”
Damn.
Just when things were getting interesting with Jade.
The waitress shrugs apologetically. “I guess so. Do you want me to double-check with the bartender to be sure?”
“No, that’s fine,” I say. “Thank you for telling me. It’s not your fault.”
The waitress gives us another quick smile before moving on to the next table.
“What is that all about?” Jade asks, a hint of disappointment on her face.
“The king has summoned me to his castle,” I explain with a resigned sigh. “When he calls, I answer. Mr. Giovanni is the owner of the Imperial Hotel and Casino. It might be something important about the show. I’m sorry. I need to leave you for a few minutes. I know we just received our drink and I wouldn’t run out on you if I had a choice. I’ll be right back.”
Jade points to the cotton candy floating on top of the drink. “Don’t worry. From the size of this drink, I’ll be busy here for a little while. Go ahead and take care of it. I understand. No big deal.”
I hesitate, uncomfortable at the prospect of leaving her. Jade doesn’t strike me as the type to sit alone for long in a bar. She might even think I’m intentionally ditching her.
“Will you wait for me?” I ask, reaching over to lightly touch her arm. “I won’t be long, I promise. It won’t take but a second. His office is right upstairs at the penthouse level. I can be back in a flash. I’ll hurry.”
“Sure.” She stirs the drink with her straw, causing the rest of the cotton candy to melt into the liquid. “I’ll text my mom while I wait. It will give us a chance to catch up. I haven’t talked to her the past few days.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back then.”
I jump up and take three steps toward the door before turning around and returning to the table. “Why do I get the suspicion you will split? Don’t leave. I promise I’m coming back. I’m not running out on you.”
She lifts her eyebrows at me in question and nods. “Okay.”
I hurry out of the bar and head straight for Mr. Giovanni’s office. I’m furious about being disturbed. If it was anyone except him, I would tell them to fuck off.
I have a good suspicion why I’m being called up to his office and what he will say. A logical explanation to give him is already forming in my head.
His receptionist, Marla isn’t at her desk. Even though it’s almost midnight, for some odd reason, I expected her to still be here. It surprises me to learn that she has a life outside of the office. I suspect she lives alone in a small, perfectly decorated apartment with a bunch of fluffy cats.
The penthouse office is dark and eerily quiet at night. The only light is streaming into the long hallway from the open door of Mr. Giovanni’s office.
When I reach the doorway, I see him standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bright night lights of the Vegas strip.
For a moment, he strikes me as sad and lonely.
Which is odd considering he’s one the country’s youngest billionaires and a powerful man who owns half of Las Vegas.
And all of my fucking contract.
Something I can never forget.
I don’t waste a moment of my time feeling sorry for him. Not when he can destroy my life at any moment with a split-second decision. He wouldn’t think twice about doing it.
I rap quietly on the door. “I’m here,” I call out. “You wanted to see me?”
He turns around and crosses his arms before fixing me with a cold stare. “Do you want to explain the chainsaw in the show tonight? I thought our conversation today was very clear. Did you think I was joking?”
He’s pissed.
Time to spin my excuses. Not that he’ll fall for any of them. Nobody ever accused Mr. Giovanni of being stupid.
“Oh…you mean I was supposed to change the show immediately?” I ask. “Damn! No, I’m sorry, you didn’t make that clear. I thought you meant the changes would go into effect for the new show starting on New Year’s Day. It will take major restructuring to change things around or the timing of the whole show will be thrown off.”
“I distinctively remember saying the words ‘effective immediately’,” he reminds me. “Immediately as in now, not tomorrow, or next year. No more chainsaws with sharp blades in the show. Period. Do you understand me? I want to hear you say the words.”
Fuck.
I was hoping to make it a few more weeks before switching everything up. The audience loves it when the wooden box splinters into sawdust. Especially when there’s a female volunteer in the box.
“You’re being irresponsible, Sugar and if you keep it up, you’ll cost me money,” he continues. “Costing me money is unacceptable. You should also screen your volunteers more carefully or even better, stop using them. Tonight, you caused irreparable emotional damage and distress to that poor girl who you pulled up on stage.”
“What? No, I didn’t,” I argue. “She’s perfectly fine.”
“Did you not see her face when you told her to get into the box? She was genuinely frightened, and you kept pushing her. Why? For a damn magic trick? You should’ve handled the situation better. You’re a fast talker and good on your feet. The last thing we need is for one of your audience members to sue us.”
“Don’t worry, she’s won’t sue us,” I reassure him. “She’s okay.”
“And how do you know that?” He’s not convinced. “If you want a volunteer to do something simple like choose a number, then fine. Don’t involve them in anything where they could be physically harmed. If they haven’t signed a liability waiver, then we’re at risk. Don’t put one more volunteer into a box. Or up on a platform rising into the air.”
I wave off his concern with a laugh. “Jade wasn’t scared to get into the box. She was messing around with my head. I’d met her before at the casino. I swear she was perfectly okay with everything that happened on stage. She’s a cool girl. Everything is fine.”
“That girl’s scream was definitely real,” he argues. “We can’t afford a lawsuit. Send her flowers as an apology and offer to comp her hotel room. Send her back home on a positive, happy note.”
“Now this I can definitely do,” I say firmly. “In fact, you’ll be happy to hear we were having a drink together when you rudely interrupted us. If she gets pissed off because I left her sitting all alone
in a bar, then it’s your fault, not mine. She’s downstairs at the Pink Elephant right now. If you don’t believe me, call the bartender and ask him.”
“I know that already,” he says. “How do you think I knew where to find you?”
Mr. Giovanni walks over to a dark oak bar set up in the corner of his office. He opens a decanter of expensive scotch and pours himself a stiff drink.
He doesn’t ask if I want one.
Few people drink with Mr. Giovanni. Or anyone that I know of.
He takes a long sip of the scotch before speaking. “Get your ass back down there and show her a good time,” he says. “Dinner is on me. Make her forget how damn terrified she was tonight. And don’t let something like this happen again. My patience is running thin with you. We have three major shows in this hotel and you’re the most trouble of anyone.”
I’m already on my feet and heading toward the door.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her. It’s as good as done.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Two minutes later, I’m rushing back downstairs into the bar and heading toward the table where I left Jade sitting.
It’s empty.
Dammit!
She’s gone without a word. Why am I not surprised?
The huge martini glass with two dainty straws is still sitting there in the middle of the table. The icy drink that appeared so inviting thirty minutes before is now melting and sad. The pretty pink cotton candy that was piled on top has disintegrated and turned the drink into a muddy-colored mush.
The same as how this evening has turned out.
Running a hand through my hair, I take a deep breath and consider my options. I’ll call Jade and tell her to wait for me wherever she is. She couldn’t have gone far and might even be downstairs in the casino.
I reach for my phone and start to punch in her number…which I don’t have.
How could I have been so stupid to not ask for her cell phone number? I should’ve known she would split at the first opportunity.
The waitress spots me standing by the table and hurries over.
“The girl you were with took off as soon as you left,” she says. “You weren’t gone thirty seconds. Don’t worry. I’m sure she’ll be back. Can I bring you something else to drink or eat while you wait for her?”
“No, thank you. There’s no need for me to wait. She won’t be back. Not this girl.” I pull a generous tip out of my wallet and hand it to her. “Thanks. Have a good night.”
“You too, Sugar,” she says with a big smile, grateful for the large tip.
I hurry to the elevator and punch the button. There’s only one place where Jade will turn up, eventually.
The slot machines.
All I need to do is wait.
She’ll show.
And when she does, I’ll be watching for her.
Jade
Early the next morning…
For the third day in a row, I’m back at the same slot machine. I’m uneasy and on edge today. I’m still shaken about last night’s encounter with Sugar.
He’s onto me. I can sense it.
Sugar is nobody’s fool.
The minute he left the bar, I was out of there in a heartbeat. His boss summoning him gave me the opportunity to split before Sugar tripped me up with his questions.
Engaging in conversation with him was like a heated chess match. I could tell his mind was always planning one move ahead, challenging me not to make a misstep.
Underestimating him would be a mistake.
I won’t lie to myself and pretend he doesn’t interest me. He’s different from other men I’ve met, and not only because of his muscular body, blue eyes, and sizzling charisma.
Sure, I’ve dated a few times in college. Nothing serious to write home about. None of the guys in my classes at college were bad. In fact, most were sweet guys. Just not men who could keep my interest longer than a day or two. Or give me any reason to keep them hanging around.
Everyone talks about how college kids are party animals. The ones at my college weren’t. My fellow students were only focused on keeping their grades up as high as possible to get into graduate school.
Competition was fierce.
Being a woman, I had to work twice as hard to stay competitive. There wasn’t enough free time left over for a social life. Dating was an extracurricular activity that I didn’t have enough time or energy for.
Or maybe I never met anyone who interested me enough to find the time.
Deep down inside, I always hoped to feel a special spark when I met someone. A glimmer of something amazing that would light me up from the inside.
In my entire life, I’ve only felt it once.
Last night.
There was a moment when Sugar turned those intense blue eyes of his full force on me. In that instant, I truly felt as if I was the only woman in the world who mattered. The rare emotion shook me to my core.
The depressing thing is, I’m sure all the women who meet Sugar must feel the same way. I don’t want to be another stupid girl who falls for a guy after one evening of sexy flirtation and a stolen kiss.
Being with Sugar last night was exciting. Now my thrill-seeking adventure is over, and I need to get back to work. My time in Vegas is running out and my bills won’t wait.
I stand up for a second to stretch out a cramp in my leg and take a deep swig of my energy drink. They’re not healthy, but it makes me jittery to drink coffee nonstop. Since I arrived in Vegas, I haven’t slept for more than a few hours and need something strong to keep me moving.
My bad habits are slowly catching up to me.
“Excuse me, miss.” A hand taps me lightly on the shoulder.
I turn around to see an attractive Asian girl in a grey casino security uniform standing behind me. Her dark hair is pulled back into a prim, tight bun.
“I’m with hotel security. You need to come with me,” she says politely, but firmly.
I stare at her in shock. I’m confused and terrified.
“What’s this about?” I ask, trying to keep my voice from showing the anxiety churning in my stomach.
“We’ve detected possible suspicious activity through our surveillance cameras,” she says, motioning toward the ceiling. “It will only take a few minutes of your time.”
I immediately glance up and can’t spot the cameras. I knew there were surveillance cameras everywhere. That’s not a surprise.
“I’m not doing anything wrong,” I say. “I’m sitting here minding my own business and playing the slots. I’m not even winning.”
“I didn’t say you were,” she says, giving me a tight smile. “We need to ask you a few questions and then you’ll be on your way. Grab your things and let’s go. It would be better if you don’t make a scene. We prefer not to alarm the other casino guests. I’m sure you understand.”
Her firm voice tells me there’s no point in arguing. My heart pounds rapidly in my chest as my mind races.
What did I do to be flagged by security?
Nothing that I can think of other than sitting for three days straight at the same slot machine.
That by itself might be enough.
I honestly thought I would be fine if I was losing money. I must not be as smart as I think I am. Standing up from my stool, I sling my backpack over my shoulder and quickly fall into step beside her.
We go out the glass doors leading from the casino into the hotel lobby. After winding down several long, carpeted hallways, we reach an outer door to a dark parking garage.
Now I’m panicking. I’ve seen enough movies to know it can’t be good if security takes you from the premises and out of sight of anyone else.
“Where are we going?” I ask. “Are you the police?”
“No, as I said before, I’m with the Imperial Hotel and Casino security. We prefer to do our questioning off site.”
I bet they do.
Like in a dark basement where they tie you to a chair a
nd beat the crap out of you before they make you promise never to set foot in Vegas again.
She murmurs a few words into her cell phone. A dark SUV with tinted windows pulls out of a parking spot at the end of the row and squeals to a quick stop in front of us. She steps up and opens the front passenger door.
“Hey, baby,” the driver says in a deep, throaty voice. He raises his sunglasses and fixes me with dark brown eyes. “Hop in, Miss Miller.”
I hesitate, shocked at the use of my real name, and stare at the driver. He’s a full-blown Elvis impersonator; from the jet black hair to the snazzy, sparkly red polyester outfit and white boots.
“Don’t worry, you won’t be harmed,” a soft woman’s voice says from the back seat.
I step closer and lean around to see her. She’s a sophisticated woman wearing an off-white linen dress and sunglasses. Her long auburn hair is styled into an exquisite French knot. A simple strand of pearls completes her outfit.
She can’t be over thirty-five, if that old. She reminds me more of a 1950s movie star than a gangster kidnapping me in a dark parking garage.
“I’m Eva,” she says. “Hurry and get in. You can sit in the back with me. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, you have little choice in the matter.”
“I don’t understand. What’s this all about?”
“I’ll tell you everything,” the woman says. “Get in. We’ll bring you back within the hour.”
I pause only a moment longer before climbing into the back seat. As the woman said, it doesn’t appear I have a choice. Not with the girl from casino security standing right behind me and blocking my escape.
Once I’m inside the car, the girl shuts the door firmly. I hear the click of the door locks.
The woman seated beside me reaches up and taps the driver lightly on the shoulder. “Let’s go, King,” she says.
He grins and slides back on his sunglasses before quickly pulling out of the parking garage. The woman doesn’t speak until minutes later when we’re driving down a side road leading off from the Las Vegas strip.
She glances over at me. “There’s no reason for you to be frightened,” she says. “You can calm down now. You’re not in any real trouble with the casino.”