"I am Lucius Ford"
The unexpected introduction of the man completely shocked Veda. Her eyes widened for a split second but managed to collect herself back together in hurry. It was surprising how this man did not even attempt to lie about his identity and straight up admitted. Something was odd.
He should have addressed himself as Liam who was under disguise. Not the real identity. Suddenly, the bullet of realization hit the young woman. Fuck. It was widely known how people got murdered after leaking the top crime lords photos. Now she witnessed his face!
This clearly meant he was going to kill her after for discovering his identity. Slowly, fright commenced to fill up the young woman. It began to make it hard for her to breathe. She had to win this contest for sure. The game was chosen by her. The scheme was made by her.
She had to succeed no matter whatever the fuck occurred. All she needed was concentration and luck. Then she would be able to escape from loss. Right. She just had to focus on the game. Winning was the only option she got at the moment. She could not lose. Never.
"Lucius Ford..." Veda murmured. Her face held no other emotions than tranquility. It made the man more curious than before. She did not react as he expected. What a strange young woman. "Your name is pretty easy to remember" Veda stated. Wearing a calm gaze still.
It quieted down Lucius Ford.
She could be lying as if she had no clue he was the crime lord. Or she truly had no idea at all. It was such a shame how Lucius failed to read through the expression of the young woman. She maintained that tranquility really well so that he could not see through anything.
"You are the first ever person to think like that" Along with a slight head shake, Lucius retorted under his breath with a tiny beam. "Shall we start then?" Tilting her head, Veda asked out of impatience. "Yes. Do as you please if you are ready" Lucius did not even complain.
Letting the game began as the young woman required. Like that the game commenced. "Please reveal the first card" The dealer pleaded after dividing each six cards to the two players. The round yet large table was hard for someone from afar to get a look.
As for Aria Scarlet who had been observing from two tables far. Her eagle eyes started to work. Detecting the situation with gaze only. She furrowed her brows slightly as soon as her friend's hand moved to scratch her forehead. This was a sign! Game had started!
Since Veda required to win this contest no matter what, she cooperated with her friend. Calling Aria to sit behind the man little far. So they two could signal each other about the cards in the man's hand. "Player number one first card is three" The dealer announced.
He was talking about Veda.
Since she requested for the game, the number one player position became hers. "Player number two first card is one" Dealer declared. Then the two took their cards back and held the six cards in their grasp. "Now, you two can add the numbers to this card" The dealer allowed.
Placing the number one card from his hand to begin the contest. Veda checked her cards quietly. Two, Zero, Three, Three, Seven, Four. The cards in her grasp total number was nineteen. She had to consider well. "Three. I add number three" Words escaped between Veda's lips.
But her hand took the number two card out and laid it on top of number one card which the dealer placed. The tranquil expression across her face made it seem as if she was speaking truth. Everyone would believe those lie if it was not Lucius Ford in the place.
His lips curved up into an amused beam. "Are you perhaps an actress?" He questioned. Not carrying on the game at all. It was as if he cared about the young woman more than this contest. His sudden query hushed down the young woman for a few seconds.
"What do you think?" She asked back. Tilting her head slightly while holding the cards firmly. Avoiding the question causally. It was when the man let out a chuckle softly. "So you aren't" he mumbled. Making the young woman's brows wrinkled. What was he trying to do?
"Four" Lucius voiced.
Laying the card in the middle of the table as Veda's eyes lifted to the back of the man. And her gaze locked with her friend who had been observing in the back. "Four" Aria mouthed from behind and fixed her hair with four fingers just in case her friend failed to catch.
It was the moment Veda fell into deep silence. Her expression did not even change a bit from tranquil one. But inside, she was drowning in pool of confusion. This man was not lying. He actually pulled out number four card. There was no way Aria would lie to her.
Lucius Ford really was planning something else which she could not find out at the moment. "Based on the words of players, the amount is eight" The dealer announced. In silence, Veda gazed the man. "Why did you lie about your identity?" Tilting her head, she asked.
Stunning Lucius Ford wholly. Now, what was she trying to do? "Why do you think so?" He retorted. Raising his right brow as the young woman let out a sigh. "I heard people calling you Liam, not Lucius Ford. So why did you lie?" A slight frown displayed across Veda's face.
It was when the man's lips formed into a smile. "If you knew from the start, why did you play around with me?" Lucius responded with a query. Staring deeply into the grey hazel eyes of the young woman. "It is thrilling" The unexpected answer from Veda quieted down Lucius.
Something was odd.
"Anyway, three" Shrugging the matter off, Veda pulled out the number three card for real this time. The way she did not try to force him to admit made Lucius swim in pool of conclusions somehow. "Six" He voiced. Placing the card on top calmly. And Veda's gaze moved.
"Six" Aria mouthed. Caressing her lips with a thumb while five fingers ran through her hair. She was attempting her best to do the gesture for her friend. Again, Lucius was not lying about his card. This had driven Veda crazy. What was he aiming?! "Six" she added up.
Pulling the number four card out. "Two" Lucius stated. He might be taking the cards out. But his gaze never left from the young woman across him. He stared at her deeply through the soul almost. She stayed tranquil. Not even an ounce of panicked expression could be seen.
She looked so peaceful, also at the same time, it made her appear as a mysterious one. Causing him to crave more and more about her. This was driving him crazy. "Total number based on the players admission is twenty five now" The dealer declared, assertively.
Through out the silence, Veda's gaze focused on her friend who just mouthed two with peace sign. Not even a lie came up from this man in front of her. This was making her easy to calculate. "Would you like to continue, player number one?" The dealer queried. "Seven"
Without any response, Veda stated.
Carrying on the contest. If this man was not lying, the total amount was twenty two. She had to add up till it reached near around thirty. And so Veda actually pulled out number seven card this time. Now, the total had become twenty nine. "Would you like to add up, player two?"
The dealer asked the man. But a strange smile flashed across his face. "Yes, I add number two" Lucius stated and took out the card. He did not raise the card this time. Instead, he dragged it from the surface of table without checking the card. It was the moment Veda gulped.
He was lying. There had to be two cards of each number here. He just pulled number two card awhile ago. Not to mention the fact that she had used number two already. So this man was tricking her. Veda's gaze lifted to the back. Asking for help from her friend with eyes quietly.
However, Aria shook her head with a tightened frown. Guilt written across her face to reveal she failed to catch up with the card. Fuck. Veda swallowed once again. If she recalled correctly, this man used four, two, six cards. The first card which got revealed was one.
Now the only two cards left. Considering the possiblity, it could be zero, one, five or seven. If it was zero or one, she still could add up. If it was others, she needed to stop. But this man could be messing with her brain. "Would you like to continue the game, player one?"
Dealer queried.
"No" Veda refused.