by Sage Nyx
“I’m not?” The words squeak out.
Thank God.
“No, not yet,” she says.
“What do you mean?”
She gives me a polite smile. “Don’t be coy, Miss Miller. You can drop the big-eyed, innocent act. It doesn’t fool me. You’re trying to cheat the system at the casino. They haven’t caught you…yet. If you keep on with what you’re doing, you will be. I can promise you that. Nothing gets past the casino’s security systems.”
“What do you mean by I will be caught? I thought you were with hotel security.”
“Me?” She smiles again, and shakes her head. “No, not me. Kim, the young lady who escorted you out, is with casino security. I work for myself. And occasionally Kim works for me. I’ll explain more once we reach the club.”
After a short drive, we pull into the parking lot of a male strip club. A huge, pink neon sign above the building is of a dancing shirtless cowboy with a six-pack of toned muscles. A blinking rope lasso twirls with every movement of his hips.
“Welcome to Platinum,” Eva says, pointing to the massive, warehouse-sized building. “This is my club. Owned by women and run by women. We’ll go inside to my office. I want to introduce you to someone.”
She takes me in through the back door of the building, then leads me down a hallway to an office. The room is elegantly decorated with light-colored leather furniture, resembling an elegant corporate boardroom more than a back office at a strip club.
A tall, stunning woman with long, blonde hair is leaning against a two-way mirror running across the full length of the room. Through the clear glass, I can see a cavernous, empty room filled with tables and chairs. A big stage is at one end and a long bar at the other. A cleaning crew is busy mopping the floors and wiping down the tables.
Eva sinks down onto the white leather sofa. “Have a seat,” she says to me, pointing to a chair in the corner. “Miss Miller, meet my business associate, Natasha.”
The young, blonde woman takes a long drag on the cigarette she’s holding and assesses me coolly without speaking before blowing out a long stream of stroke.
“Can you please put your cigarette out?” Eva says to her, a slight hint of irritation in her voice. “How many times have we’ve talked about how bad cigarettes are for your health? They’re not good for you. You need to quit. I’m serious.”
“Not as bad for me as your American pop sodas,” Natasha says with a deep Russian accent. She stubs out the cigarette in an ashtray then turns her attention to me. “I’m trying to quit, I swear. Who do we have here? A new bartender?”
“No, this is the young lady Kim spotted in the casino,” Eva tells her.
“Interesting,” Natasha says, studying me thoroughly with her cold blue eyes. “What game were you playing in the casino? Poker? Blackjack?”
“The video slot machines,” Eva answers for me.
Natasha raises her perfectly shaped eyebrows. “So stupid,” she says in a clipped voice, giving me a disappointed look. “The house always wins with the slot machines. You can’t beat them.” She turns to Eva, dismissing me. “You bring me this? Take her back. I can’t work with this.”
“What’s going on?” I ask, glancing back and forth between them. “I don’t understand. Why did you bring me here?”
Natasha leans back against the glass and crosses her arms as she studies me. She’s younger than I first thought when I entered the room.
“We want to know what you’re up to,” Eva explains after a moment. “And we want in on the action. Fifty percent of your winnings. We haven’t figured out exactly what the scheme is you’re trying to do, but we will. You’re not the normal casino player. You have a plan and you’re smart. Am I right?”
I shrug, not wanting to give too much away. What does she know about me? I took extra precautions to cover my tracks. Obviously, I missed something along the way.
“You tell me,” I reply. “You already know my name.”
“That’s right,” Eva says with a nod. “We know exactly who you are.”
“How?” I ask.
I’ve paid for everything with cash except for the slot machines and I’ve never used my real name.
“Facial recognition software in the casino,” Eva answers. “Finding out anything else we wanted to know was easy from there. Everything in this world is connected by computers.”
“You’ve been investigating me?” I’m shocked. “Since when? I only arrived three days ago.”
“Since the first night you walked into the casino,” she replies. “Surely you realize how you stick out? No offense meant to you. It’s Kim’s job to spot and check out irregularities in casino guests. Most guests fit a specific profile. Those that don’t are investigated further if they show up more than once.”
“I haven’t broken any casino rules,” I argue.
“The casino management won’t care,” Eva warns. “If they have a hint you’re up to something, you’ll be immediately banned from every casino in Vegas. Word spreads quickly in this town. It’s impossible to pull off anything alone; you need a team. That’s why we ask for fifty percent. You need us for protection and backup.”
“You’re offering to help me?” I ask in surprise. This conversation is taking a weird turn. “Why? Even if I could exploit a weakness in the system, the dollar amount wouldn’t be big. Not on your scale. You’re a business owner. Anything I might do would be small potatoes to you.”
I’m still not fully grasping what she’s suggesting or why she’s interested in me. It doesn’t make sense. I’m sure there are tons of people much more qualified than I am to work with her if that’s what she needs.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Miss Miller,” she says in a cool tone. “Why would I help a stranger? This isn’t about helping you. I won’t pretend it is. It’s merely a business proposition. Nothing more. Perhaps I see potential in you.”
Whatever these women are about to suggest, I don’t want any part of. I’m only here for a few more days, then I’m on to hunting for a real job in Silicon Valley. Where I can use the college degree that I’ve worked so hard to get.
“I’m not interested in your business proposition,” I tell her firmly. “I’m only here on a short vacation. I won’t be hanging around for long.”
“That’s unfortunate to hear,” Eva says. “In that case, Kim will have no choice but to report her findings to her boss at the casino. He’s not a nice or gentle man. In fact, he can be quite a brute. He’s not someone you want to meet in a back alley, if you know what I mean. This can be a win-win situation for everyone or a lose-lose. It’s all up to you.”
I glance over at Natasha, who appears to be as unenthused as I am about the prospect of us working together. It seems I’m not the only one who is having doubts here.
“We shouldn’t involve her,” she suddenly blurts out. “How do we know we can trust her? She is a stranger and too young. Only a teenager. Not even twenty-one, I bet. Are you using a fake ID?”
Are they playing good cop/bad cop here? I can’t get a good read on her.
“She’s older than she appears,” Eva says. “And very smart according to her college transcripts.”
I whirl around to glare at her. They have my college records? How is that possible? Is nothing sacred or private these days?
“Why are you really in Vegas?” Natasha asks, studying me carefully from head to toe. “What is the reason? Do you need money? Do you want to buy nice things? New clothes or a new pair of shoes?” She frowns at my old sneakers and continues firing questions at me like a Russian KGB officer. “A new car, perhaps? Do you owe a debt to a bad man?”
“It’s none of your damn business why I need money,” I say, insulted by her insinuations.
“If I work with you, it is my business,” she replies. “Tell me why you need money. Why are you in Vegas?”
“Why do you care?” I ask. “I haven’t agreed to work with you.”
“You haven’t said ‘no’ yet either,”
she replies pointedly.
This is crazy.
I decide to be truthful. What difference can it make? I’m sure they already know most of my personal details. If I tell them the truth, then maybe they won’t report me to the casino boss or whoever they’re threatening me about.
“I have a younger brother who has special needs,” I explain. “He’s nonverbal and needs therapy that’s very expensive. My mom can’t afford it and her insurance won’t pay for it. I recently graduated from college with a big degree and an even bigger student loan debt. That’s why I need money. This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme or a career. I’m not trying to run a big scam. Only to make some quick cash until I can find a decent job. Everything I’m doing is perfectly legal.”
“What about your father?” Natasha asks. “He doesn’t help your brother with his medical bills or give your family money?”
“He split a long time go,” I explain. “He’s not around.”
“Ah…yes. Men never stick around when times get rough,” she says. “Men are the same in Russia. Bastards!” She stares at me intensely for a long moment, her steely blue eyes boring into mine. “Okay,” she finally says to Eva. “I will work with her. I will be her partner if she is as smart as you say. Taking care of family is good.”
“Yes, it is,” Eva says, nodding in relief. “I’m glad you’re onboard, Natasha. What about you, Miss Miller? Yes or no? I’m sure you have a ton of questions, but there’s not a great deal we can reveal at this point to you. You must trust us.”
“Do I have a choice here?” I ask. “Because this doesn’t seem like free choice to me. More like blackmail.”
“Of course, you have a choice,” she replies calmly. “You always have choices in this life. It’s up to you to make the right ones. Bad decisions have negative consequences. We’re not forcing you to do anything, to be clear. I prefer for my business partners to be willing. A mutually beneficial relationship for both of us is what I’m proposing.”
Maybe I do need help. I’m already on the casino’s radar, which can only be bad for me. I screwed up somewhere along the line and now I need to face the consequences. Making fifty percent would be better than nothing.
“I’m willing to listen to your proposition,” I finally say. “That’s all for now. What do you have in mind?”
Eva smiles at me. “Good choice. We need to be certain you can be an asset to our team and not a liability. Before we go any further in our business arrangement, you must prove your worth with one simple test.”
“What kind of test?”
“You’ve been only playing the slot machines, right? Make one of them pay off. Prove to us you can do it at will with a small win. We don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to you now. This is only a test of your ability. A little pop quiz, not the final exam. If this works out, the big test will come later.”
I consider her proposition and nod slowly. Her request is not as bad as I feared.
“How much of a payoff are we talking about and how much time do I have?”
Eva leans back against the leather sofa, crosses her long legs and studies me carefully. “I’ll make it easy for you,” she says. “Let’s start small. A minimum five-hundred-dollar payoff from a single slot machine. The money is yours to keep. That’s not a huge amount or anything that would cause suspicion in Vegas.”
Quickly, I run a few mathematical probabilities through my head. Based on my calculations, I hoped to land a much bigger payoff by the end of the week. A few thousand dollars at the minimum.
I can easily do what she’s asking, but it will screw up the possibility of my scoring bigger later from the machine I was playing on. Once the machine pays off, even with a small amount, my calculations will roll back to zero.
Working with Eva will be a big risk.
But since security is already suspicious of me, I won’t be able to finish my plan at the Imperial Casino now. I will need to move on to a different casino. Or a different town. Maybe even Reno, Nevada instead.
“I can do it,” I say. “And it won’t take a week. According to my calculations, the slot machine I’ve been playing is due to payout soon. My calculations will change if someone else is playing it now. Every minute I’m sitting in this office instead of in front of the machine mentally cataloging the results will make it more difficult to predict.”
Natasha raises her eyebrows. “How can you be sure?” she asks. “You’re very confident in your abilities. Considering you’re gambling on a slot machine where no real skills are required.”
“That all depends on what you consider to be skills,” I reply. “I’m good at statistical patterns. Watch and see for yourself.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Miller. I will watch carefully,” she replies. “I’m very interested in you now. Good luck with the test.”
Eva blows out a breath, uncrosses her long legs and stands. “Okay, now that everything is settled, let’s get you back to the casino.” She reaches over and extends a hand for me to shake as if we’ve concluded a normal business meeting. I automatically shake her hand.
“This was productive,” she says. “I’m glad we could come to an understanding so quickly.” She crosses the room and opens the door leading into the hallway. “There’s no point in wasting time talking about it any longer. As you said, you’re only in town for a short visit. We need to make the most of your valuable time.”
After ushering me through the doorway, she stops and turns back around. “Natasha, please call King and tell him to bring the car around for us. And no smoking in my office this time while I’m gone. I’ll be back soon. We’re expecting a full house tonight with two bachelorette parties.”
“I make no promises,” Natasha replies, running her manicured nails through her long, straight blonde hair. “Bad habits are hard to break. See you soon, Miss Miller.”
“Call me Jade,” I say over my shoulder. “That’s the name I’m using here in Vegas. I’m not going by my real name.”
“Smart girl,” Natasha says, with a hint of a real smile playing around her lips. “For the job, it suits you. See you soon then, Jade.”
As the door closes behind us, I see her reaching down for the pack of cigarettes out of the corner of my eye.
Eva and I go out the back door of the building. The Elvis impersonator is waiting for us with the SUV.
“Don’t worry,” Eva reassures me on our drive back to the casino. “Once you prove yourself to us, I’ll make sure the surveillance tapes of you are destroyed. I give you my word which is as good as gold in this town. The casino will never know you were there. Any record of Judy Miller at the Imperial Casino will be permanently erased.”
“How will you do that?” I ask. “I’ve heard the casino security systems are some of the best in the world. Impossible to fool.”
“They can be,” she agrees. “But every system has flaws. Usually human flaws. In this case, Kim has access to the digital copies of the surveillance tapes. A few clicks on a computer and the records of you ever being at the Imperial Casino will be gone.”
I don’t have any choice but to trust that she’s telling the truth.
On one hand, I honestly don’t think there’s proof of me doing anything suspicious. On the other, I would sleep better knowing that I’m not on the casino’s radar.
I’ve never had as much as a traffic ticket on my record. I’m squeaky clean and hope to keep it that way.
Eva leans forward and taps the driver on the shoulder. “Pull over here, King,” she tells him when we’re three blocks from the casino.
He quickly hits the brakes and pulls the black SUV over onto the shoulder of the road in front of a fast-food restaurant.
“We shouldn’t be seen together again from this point forward,” Eva says to me. “If anyone ever asks, we’ve never met. You must walk the rest of the way back. I trust you can complete your task with little effort. I’ll be in touch with you soon.”
“How will you contact me?”
“
I have my ways,” she replies with a cool smile.
King hits the unlock button on the doors and I step out. Without glancing back, I walk down the street toward the casino.
After the bizarre experience I’ve gone through, I’m glad for a few minutes alone to clear my head. This is an impossible situation. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around all the crazy details. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Common sense tells me I should go straight to my rental car, drive to my fleabag hotel, pack up my suitcases and get the hell out of Vegas. Go now while I have a chance and before things get out of hand. My gut says this is the right, sensible choice.
The probability is good that if I left town now and never came back, I wouldn’t hear from the casino again.
Why would I?
The slots haven’t paid off a penny yet.
Up to this point, all I’ve done is lose money while I’ve studied the machine. Along with having a drink spilled on me, a snake dropped into my hand, and almost being sawed in half by a gorgeous man with the deepest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
There’s no way I can walk away at this point and forget all about Sugar. If I leave now, I’ll be leaving the most exciting man I’ve evet met behind.
I don’t know what to do. My mind is telling me one thing while my heart is telling me another. My brain says to chalk this whole mess up to a crazy, eye-opening experience and head back to the comfort of my safe life.
Living for the highs of adrenaline kicks is not me. I prefer the predictable routine of my life even if it is on the monotonous side.
There’s too much at stake if I get involved with Eva, her chain-smoking Russian friend and an Elvis impersonator stripper.
Not to mention Sugar.
I’ve always been a rational, practical person. It’s too late to change now. My mind is made up.
I’m getting the hell out of Vegas.
I stop walking toward the casino and whirl around. My car is parked a few blocks in the other direction. With any luck, I’ll be long gone before Eva realizes I’ve split.