At Casino Grand Costa.
"You have three weeks left, John. Last night, you've borrowed another two thousand dollars. I can't continue to credit you like this. "
Bernardo said. His voice was smooth. John was sitting down in front of him. The man had lost all of his money again. John shoved a hand in his hair with a very frustrated mood. He had sat at the baccarat table from the early evening until morning and managed to lose it all.
"I almost got my money back at dawn."
John's mumbled, his hands were shaking with sad emotion. His problem was, he played without consciousness. When he won and got lots of money he didn't stop but kept going with the hope to gain more. He would have to blame greed in his own heart.
Gambling was one of the most powerful tools of the devil. It blurred a man's mind and blinded his consciousness, pulled him into the whirlpool of false hope. with greed that a man had installed deep within his heart.
It always had a plan to pull him down to the deepest black hole trap. It would trick him by letting him win at first, but it would beat him later. And then it would demand and seize everything till he had nothing left in the end.
"In fact, I am too kind to you. Extended the time for you when I didn't even have a chance to sit and have dinner with your daughter. "
Bernardo said. John looked up immediately because he did not know about this. The latest he knew was seeing Bernardo's car picked Wirata up at home.
"I don't know about this. Your men came to pick Wirata up that day. "
"But Stefan grabbed her that night."
Bernardo said, his voice was frustrated. He hated talking about him losing face and especially, losing to Stefan.
"Oh, really? I don't know about this."
John murmured, repeating the same words. He didn't know much about his stepdaughter. Deep inside he felt so guilty for what he had done to his life and to his family. John was surprised to know the news. Stefan took Wirata. What did that mean? John wondered if Stefan also was interested in his stepdaughter.
While John was pondering in silent, Bernardo's phone rang. The Grand Costa godfather picked up.
"It's me." The dark voice said through the phone. Bernardo lifted a corner of his mouth in a smirking gesture.
"Aha! I'm astonished how the fuck you know that I'm feeling like to kick some motherfucker's ass." Bernardo replied.
"Don't start. I'm here to talk. It's about John White."
Stefan's dark voice continued. He told himself to keep cool for today. He wanted to sort thing out with the bastard first.
"Oh, yes. He's here with me right now. What about him? "
"I have a deal to offer you."
Stefan spoke out the purpose he came here today without having to waste time. Bernardo quickly pieced everything together to get a story in his head. It didn't take him long to come to a conclusion that Stefan was presuming that John was offering Wirata to him to pay for his debt. Bernardo could smell a lot of fun from it.
"Wow! What a surprise, you want to talk. Well, since I always love peace, you can come up to my office. I'll let my man take you up here. Don't bring any of your men with you. Unless you are scared."
Bernardo said with cool voice and Stefan could hear the mocking smirk in his voice. He clenched his fist and raised a corner of his mouth.
"I am not a coward. I'm ready."
Stefan said. And he cut off the phone, turned to James and Ben who were by his sides while the others were standing around him.
"I'm going up to see the bastard. Alone."
Stefan told his men. His handsome face was dark with fearless expression.
"Are you sure, boss? I don't trust Bernardo." James said, his eyebrowed knitted together. Stefan smiled a little but his eyes were not.
"Don't you worry. My gun is not for shooting balloons. The bastard won't do anything to damage this garbage casino. Unless he is too stupid. You all wait for me down here."
Stefan said to his men. Bernardo's man came and led him to the elevator. All the bodyguards were tense to see the boss disappeared.
****
At the front of Bernardo's office. Tyson, Bernardo's bodyguard opened the door when Murphy led Stefan to the door. Stefan strode inside with a cool posture as if he walked into his own office.
Tyson eyed Murphy and couldn't guess what's going to happen. It was so strange that Bernado and Stefan were meeting in the office, instead of at the back of the parking lots or the abandoned factory, where they usually fought to release the stress out of their system.
Stefan stopped in the middle of the large room, saw that John was sitting in front of Bernardo's desk.
"John, you go home now. I will call you later. And if I know you don't go home and end up at other casinos. I will deal with you decisively and personally. And you don't want that."
The harsh voice ordered John. John turned to face Stefan. His dark eyes with a serious expression made John felt shiver inside with fear.
His face turned pale to see that the two most powerful men were encountering face to face and both were his creditors, one was going to seize his pub and the other was going to snap his house. And he couldn't do anything about it.
"Er, but I'm talking to Bernardo and we still can't, er...er..." John stuttered.
"I SAID, GO HOME NOW!."
Stefan emphasized each word. His voice indicated that he had limited patience and that made John stood up as fast as a flash. He looked at Bernardo and saw that Bernardo didn't say anything so John hurried to take off without saying any word.