[KHALI]
"You seriously don't want to date that girl?" Steven, one of the Casino dealers and also my friend asked me. He's always nice to any girl, but he's a womanizer. His handsome face and charisma always gets those girls on their knees. I just shook my head, ignoring his question.
"Dude, that's a hot chick right there! You're dumb if you don't know she's hitting on you", he added.
"Steven, I don't have a time for those things. Now let's just get back to work, shall we?" I just smiled a bit after and went to my position.
L Hotels and Casino is my kingdom, this is where I get all the fun but guess what? Girls are not part of the fun. I find cards, numbers, money, and the booze as fun and exciting for me. I like girls but I'm not the type of person who would just fall for someone whom I just met in the Casino, because I know people who come here just want a temporary fun in their lives, trying to escape their reality. I know that, because I've heard enough of their stories over and over while they're trying to get some information about me, but I never gave them any. I just listen to them. Plus, I don't think they will understand my preference when it comes to sex.
But aside from girls, there are a lot of people who still come here just for the fun and games. Those who lost in the game, mostly come back, hoping to recoup. I've been working here for 5 years and I've seen lots of things. Illegal organizations, syndicate, politicians, high ranking officials in the government, they all come here. Many people got addicted to gambling. The extreme degree, one has to sell his /her property, borrows money, so he can come back here and try again.
Playing in the casino requires a tough decision making, if you let your emotions, and pride conquer you, you'll probably lose everything. If you're wise enough and you know when to stop and go, you can still save yourself from bankruptcy or even win the game without much losses.
The table is always full whenever it's my schedule so it means it's a long game and we're going to use 6 decks of cards for this game. Everyone already placed their bets and I started to place the cards. Whenever I'm in the game, I always make sure I won't lose my focus because I don't like making mistakes. Funny, that all the players are girls. Not a surprise for me, but I noticed the brunette sitting in the middle. I've never seen her here before.
"Welcome to L Hotels and Casino ma'am", I greeted her. She was a bit surprised but eventually nodded in response.
"New here?" I asked.
"Yeah", she answered briefly.
"Hey Khali, give me a winning card, baby", the girl next to the brunette said. It's Mich. Ever since, she's been hitting on me and she's a regular here. She's the daughter of the Mayor and she doesn't care about the money she spends. Her mom is a Japanese so she probably got her features from her mom. Her smile is also cute but that's not enough to make my heart flutter.
"Let's see baby", I smirked and she winked at me. If you will remember, I said that I don't want to hook up with any of the girls here but it doesn't mean that I don't give them entertainment. I still need to be polite and nice to them because they are players who spend lots and lots of money.
We're already in the middle of the game and I'm noticing the brunette who has been drinking often and also losing. Does she even know how to play? She's almost tipsy and this is one of the biggest mistake that a player shouldn't do. Never get drunk while playing, because there's a high chance you'll lose focus in the game.
"Ma'am you're out of chips. I'm sorry, may I know your name?" I asked her.
"You're talking to me?!" She almost shouted and I find it weird but amusing at the same time.
"Yeah, I'm talking to you. Do you still want to bet?" I asked.
"Of course! Here, a thousand dollars", she pulled out some cash and slumped it on the table. I raised my brows and nodded then changed her cash into chips.
"Girl, you're already wasted. Go home!" Another player at the right told the girl.
"No I'm still having fun here", the lady with an amusing attitude said.
I must admit that she's cute and she looks like a kitten because of her chubby cheeks and seductive feline eyes. Wait. Did I just say seductive? I just ignored those thoughts and continued to observe her. Her outfit also looks good on her, and I can tell she's not a typical woman. She's wearing Chanel earrings and her long hair was pony-tailed perfectly. As I observe her more, she looks intimidating in a way, but that doesn't make me fret. Of course. I'm Khali Luciano, no one makes me fret. I can see her lips curling in annoyance to the girl who kept on telling her to go home. Cute.
I started laying the cards on the table and she got 11. I have 10. She gestured to double down, and so I laid another card horizontally. The card is 9 of hearts so she got a total of 20. I was going to flip my card when she held out her hand so I stopped.
"Wanna bet? If that card is a low valued card, you'll be mine", she challenged me. I furrowed my brows and I felt disappointed. I was expecting her to be different from other girls but I was wrong.
"Hey bitch! That's not fair! Khali is mine", Mich shouted.
"Excuse me? She's never yours!" Another girl shouted. The security was attentive and has been informed with the situation but I signaled them to wait.
"Girls, calm down, please. Calm down", I told them and I'm thankful that they all behaved after. I turned my attention back to the girl with feline eyes. Even if those eyes were mesmerizing, I won't let her deceive me.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry but we only bet chips here", I told her, but then she held out her hand again.
"How about if that card is a high-valued card, I'll give you a million dollar cash", everyone gasped on their seats but I wasn't impressed at all. I sighed and thought of considering her offer but I want to change the mechanics. She's so tipsy and I guess she won't remember what's happening right now. I've been counting the cards and I know what this faced-down card is.
"How about, you beat me in 3 rounds, and we'll see", I smirked. She paused to think for a bit. I was hoping for her to accept my offer. There's only a small chance of me winning this round, and much smaller chance for this card to be a high-valued card.
"Nah! Let's make it simple. If I win this round then you're mine", she challenged me again. I pursed my lips inwardly and suck in some air slowly, before I exhaled sharply. Fuck!
My card is 10. I'll be lucky if I got an A or a low valued card and, then I'll just keep hitting until I get 21. But there's a high chance I'll get busted if I do that. I can't risk my reputation on this bet.
"No", I muttered.
She then snorted and laughed. I clenched my jaw because I find her laugh irritating yet attractive at the same time. How dare she make fun of me!
"So you admit that you're not the best in this game?" She asked.
"Khali don't listen to her, just continue with the game. Can you call the security?" Mich shouted, already losing her patience. I gritted my teeth and ready to flip the card but hesitation conquered me. I was literally sweating, but I wanted to keep my cool. I can't let her see my uncertainty. I breathed out and closed my eyes. This is the first time I going to do things unplanned. My reputation is on the line.
"Alright. If I win this round, you're not allowed to come back here ever again. And if you win, okay, I'll agree with your condition", I told her.
"What? Are you crazy?" Another girl shouted. Steven was listening at the other table and I think he's laughing at me right now, but I don't care.
"Yey! That's the fun I'm looking for!" The annoying kitten cheered and I inhaled deeply before I flipped the card. It's 7. My hands were trembling and I felt like I ran a marathon as I breathed out. No one has ever made me feel like this. I swear, I'll make her pay. When I realized that the card I flipped was 7, I unconsciously released a hiss and silently cursed. I should have agreed with her first condition. 7 counts as 0 in card points. She didn't give any condition about getting 0 value. Shit! I can see her smirk from across to where I'm standing.
"I guess you want to hit?" She suggested teasingly. I tried not to lose my patience. If only I can hit a kitten in the face instead. I took another card, and I was silently praying that it will be 3 or 4. I breathed out before I flipped it, and my world stops the moment I saw the card. I can hear the gasps and whines of the girls around me. I felt like my world crumbled into pieces.
"Fuck!" I got 6. I lost. I fucking lost.
"So, you're mine now", she stood up and placed a calling card on the table. I can only ball my fist, silently hoping that all of this is just a nightmare, and that tomorrow I'll be waking up, realizing that this girl with feline eyes and chubby cheeks is just a product of my imagination. That's what I wished for. But it's real! Fucking real! A newcomer had just humiliated me in front of these people.
"Call me tomorrow. Don't ever try to run away. I can still find you", she winked and blew me a kiss, then started to walk away from the table.
"I can't believe this! I've been here for a year and that newbie got you in just an hour?!" Mich whined and walked out. I closed my eyes and massaged my temple.
"Sorry girls! Khali is now taken!" Steven spoke beside me and swung his arm around my shoulder but I was quick to shove it away due to annoyance. I hate it when someone's making fun of me. He just chuckled and tapped my shoulder.
Tell me, this is just a dream! Can someone fucking slap me in the face?! I can't believe this!
"This is so fucked up!" I hissed. Steven took the calling card from the table and started reading it out loud.
"Jane Terranova, CEO of JT Telecom. Wow! You got yourself a young, sexy, sizzling hot CEO!" He patted my shoulder again and I just shoved him away. Great, my reputation has now been tainted.