Fifteen minutes had passed since Tobias and Monty began playing the first round. The men's fingers fumbled with the corners of the cards, and occasionally, a sip of liquor was taken from the men around them.
While the two played, surrounded by a group of large men with tattoos and scars marking their bodies, Mimi sat by the bar counter - drinking apple juice.
Because the men at the gambling table were smoking, Tobias told Mimi to sit by the bar where he could see her. Not planning to argue since Tobias was in this situation because of her, Mimi obeyed. However, she oddly felt bitter when she saw the rowdy group.
She felt like a child.
"Refill?"
Mimi shifted her gaze to the bartender, who held a bottle of apple juice. She huffed and only nodded while passing her glass.
"Can you slip in some alcohol while you're at it? I won't tell." With her elbow prompt on the counter, Mimi set her cheek on her palm and flashed a dimpled smile.
The bartender returned her with a courteous expression. "I'm afraid not. But I can add some sparkling water to make it more exciting for you."
Mimi: "…"
"Fine."
The bartender smiled and poured in a bottle of sparkling water into her cup of apple juice.
While this was occurring, on the other side of the room, the two men had finished their first round.
"I'll call." Monty lay his cards out. "I have two triple over here, what 'bout you?"
Tobias looked at the cards in his hand, his face remained emotionless and he continued his movements. He set his cards out on the table.
"Two pairs of Jack and tens."
Seeing the sets laid out on the table, the group of men all sneered.
"Haha! First-round goes to Monty!" A man shouted, causing everyone within the bar to shout out and cheer.
Mimi, who was watching the whole scene, felt herself become tense. She gripped her cup.
Dammit. Was this a bad idea? Should she maybe try to bargain with Monty again and get Tobias out of it? Even if she suffered from this, she couldn't allow Tobias to lose.
The worry in Mimi's heart deepened.
However, recalling his words before he started the game, Mimi paused.
[Trust me]
That's right. He told her to believe in him, so she should trust him. Besides, he had only lost one round, he still had a chance to win the next two.
If he won the next two, he'd win the bet.
Mimi abruptly came back to her senses and took a careful peek at Tobias's expression. Even after he had lost the first round, he was calm and unruffled in the midst of chaos.
It was as if the loss didn't affect him at all.
For some reason, she could not help but think Tobias oddly suited this environment. Maybe it was the change in the atmosphere, but the Tobias now was different compared to before. His sleeves were rolled up to reveal his light tan and muscled arms while a few buttons of his shirt were unfastened.
His black hair that was usually combed meticulously back now hung loosely in front of his dark eyes. He seemed more dangerous. Relaxed, as if everything around him was insignificant.
The man before her eyes had an unfamiliar face, but she knew those eyes and their expressions very well.
Those eyes were proud, powerful, and discerning.
With this thought in mind, Mimi couldn't help but curve her lips into a smile. Even though she was scared for him at first, her heart would only feel steady now, and she couldn't be any more at ease.
She trusted Tobias. He would win.
…
Tobias and Monty shuffled their cards for a new round.
"Drawing." Tobias picked up a new card.
Monty's brows rose as he looked at Tobias. His lips curled as he tapped his cigar on the white tablecloth, ashes spilling on the clean surface.
"While you did lose the first round, you're not too bad. Almost a natural. I take it you've played this before?"
The man in front of him was silent, his handsome face veiled with a layer of ice, callous and elusive under the faint illumination of the bar's lights. Leaning back in his seat, Tobias looked at Monty.
"Go."
Monty chuckled and set down a card.
"You know, on the outside; you seem like a well off guy. Rich, articulate, a good family." Monty drew in a breath of smoke. "But those eyes. No man possesses those eyes unless he's been through some shit."
Tobias's eyes stared back at him without blinking. His handsome, cold face was like the first ice formed on the surface of a lake during winter, and he emitted an imposing aura. He glanced down at his cards and set them down calmly.
"[1]Straight flush."
"Oh?" Monty's brows raised as he looked down to see his words were true.
"Second round…goes to Tobias!" The same who shouted before said, his tone slightly off.
The men surrounding the table were stunned. A second look made them even more astonished by what they saw. It was a straight flush. Tobias had won the second round.
For the first time in ten years, someone had beat Monty. Even it was just one round; it was still an impossible feat. Yet the man was able to do it. They looked at Tobias and were even more stunned to see he was already shuffling the next set of cards.
To be honest, even Monty was stunned by the turn of events. The corners of his lips curved into a smile and he let out a light chuckle.
Withdrawing the cigar from his mouth, he blew out a cloud of smoke.
"Want some?" He passed the cigar to Tobias.
Tobias froze and looked at the cigar. For a brief moment, his eyes shifted across the room. His line of sight suddenly moved away from a certain someone.
His pupils contracted and he pushed down the violently surging desire within his heart, then said, "I'll pass."
Monty arched a brow and leaned back into his seat. The two continued playing a while longer.
It was now two to two. The next round would determine the winner.
"You seem like a smart man, why are you putting yourself at risk for something you clearly won't benefit from?"
Tobias stopped and raised his head to look at him, his eyes gradually getting colder.
"Who said I wouldn't benefit from this?"
Monty had been silent for a while before he caught the meaning of Tobias's words. He suddenly let out a laugh and smirked.
"You like that sweetheart over there?" He glanced at Mimi, who was watching the two with intent eyes. He looked back at Tobias. "While I agree she's cute, she does not feel the same way about you. Unless…she doesn't know it yet."
Tobias was silent, his calloused fingers that were gently caressing his cards stiffened. He maintained an elegant posture, but with careful observation, it could be seen that his fingertips were trembling slightly.
Monty's smiles broadened. "Even if you like her, it's clear she's using you."
Tobias's originally impenetrable gaze grew increasingly deep and immeasurable. He narrowed his eyes and spoke in a quiet voice where only both of them could hear his words clearly.
"As long as she stays by my side, she can use me."
After he finished speaking, a slight smile played at the corner of his lips, but there was not even the slightest smiling expression in his eyes. They were still detached and indifferent, their hidden depths icy cold.
"It's your turn. Go." His command was like a sharp arrow with a pressing momentum, straight into the man before him.
Monty was slightly stunned, but following that, his eyes curved into a smile.
Thirty minutes passed into the game, and finally, both set out their cards.
_________
[1] A straight flush is a hand that contains five cards of sequential rank, all of the same suit, such as Q♥ J♥ 10♥ 9♥ 8♥