Looking up at the bartender, he taps his ear, then points to the camera above the bar.
Of course I can’t drink, because that would make it easier.
Round man, which is what I have decided to call him, touches my bare leg, and I have to remember to not throw him off and slap him for touching me.
“Stay close, babe, you may just be my good luck charm.”
Yeah, fucking right.
Everyone walks over to the tables and takes their seats. The round man makes sure I am right next to him as he starts playing. He begins with one thousand dollars, and I have to remember to keep my lips from opening and saying something at his disrespect for spending so much money on gambling. That money could be used on so many good things instead of going to a man who’s most definitely an asshole.
He plays his first hand, and I don’t do much of anything. Round man drinks four drinks while he plays, and by his fifth his arm reaches out and wraps around my waist.
Distract.
Deflect.
Sidetrack him.
I look past round man to where I know the camera is located and glance up at it before I let my lips touch the round man’s neck while whispering to him asking if he needs a drink. But in reality it’s a distraction method.
It works, and he keeps me glued to him, not caring that he has already lost fifty-thousand dollars by the end of the first hand.
“Gentlemen.” I giggle as round man touches my leg again, this time taking it up higher over my dress but now on my thigh, as I look up to the voice that has entered the room.
I could pick that voice out of a line-up.
Atlas walks over to me, nods to round man, then sits in the spare seat next to me. Round man’s hand pauses on my leg as the game continues. He seems to be paying more attention, and he adds another fifty thousand dollars, which ups his bet to one hundred and fifty.
I touch his shoulder, stroking it gently as it comes around to his turn. He loses again, and instead of being angry, he turns to kiss me. I manage to move my head at the very last second, making his lips touch my cheek. When I do move my face, I see Atlas, who’s watching me with amusement and fascination in his eyes.
Someone wins.
The game is done.
I go to peel myself from round man, but he holds on tight.
“I would gladly lose again, double that amount, if it means I get to take you home for the night.”
My eyes go wide at his words.
What? I did not agree to that.
I am no man’s whore.
Scanning around the room, I find Atlas talking to another player when our eyes connect.
He smirks, then turns and walks away.
Chapter Five
Atlas
I watched her play the perfect part. Theadora did exactly as I thought she would and was the perfect distraction. Lucy once did the same, but Lucy liked to play with the big boys, and she tended to push buttons to see how far she could go, which wasn’t all that wise.
Theadora, well, she is the complete opposite of her sister in every way possible.
Which makes her interesting.
Lucy is like the grass that’s always green in winter—predictable and simple.
Theadora is like the thorns that sting when you touch a beautiful rose—multidimensional and complex.
She is riveting.
I like to watch her.
I want to study her.
See what makes her tick. Is it me or is it something else?
“Remove Mr. London and escort Theadora home.”
“He will not be happy,” Garry says with a smirk.
“No. No, he probably won’t be.” I wouldn’t be happy either if someone was about to pull Theadora out of my bed. But the difference between Mr. London and me, she would never dare enter my bed, nor will she be allowed near it. “And tell her to keep the dress.”
Garry nods and walks off.
I go back to the office and turn on the camera so I can see her—she’s looking up at it for help. And as if she knows it’s me watching her, she raises her middle finger so no one else can see and flips me off.
I smile. A big, fat smile.
I haven’t done that in a long time.
Garry walks over to her, and she turns away from the camera. He speaks to Mr. London, who does not look pleased that he’s being told he’s about to lose his blonde beauty, and Theadora is replaced with a call girl who I have on staff who is more than happy to have sex for money. She touches him where he wants to be touched, soothing his outburst that was about to come, with her warm hands in just the right places.
Theadora looks up to the camera as she is walking out and her lips thin before I can no longer see her.