Page 37 of Van Cort
“I don’t like money, I work with it. And I’m certainly a novice here,” I admit. Although risk and probability will come into it.
My interest is piqued.
“Good. I’ll be able to see how quickly you learn. How can you not like money? Everyone likes money.”
“Well, yes but…it’s not everything, is it?”
He chuckles. “It is here.”
The train journey took several hours, and we ate in the first-class dining carriage, so it’s late afternoon by the time we get to our room. Or should I say suite? It’s lavish and opulent, and I can’t help but think that while this is pure luxury for me, it’s probably his norm.
The thought is a little sour on my tongue as I think about the differences between us, but I shove my insecurities away.They’re for when this moves past fun, which, given his track record, will never happen.
“Feel free to change and freshen up, and then we can play.”
“Play?” I turn and raise my eyes at him.
“Roulette, craps, blackjack. Take your pick.”
“Oh, well, betting isn’t something I’m overly familiar with. I know the basics.” Thanks to college and the boys pretending they were worth something with their weekly poker games.
He comes in close, taking my shoulders in his hands. “That’s all you need. The rest comes from mistakes made.” He stares for a few seconds, looking at my eyes before dropping to my lips, and then back. It feels like an eternity, one I’m happy to get lost in. “You need to lose to win, Andie. Learn to back the right option.” He backs off without kissing me, picking up his phone. “I’ve got to make a couple of calls. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I take the opportunity to unpack and take a breather. The bathroom is ridiculously small given the size of the room, but apart from that, it’s gorgeous, with dark emerald tile and gold fixtures.
I change into the red dress, feeling brave and sexy for once. Although, despite looking fantastic, I still can’t escape the feeling that I don’t fit in.
Arrived safe. This place is gorgeous. I’ll fill you in soon.
I send the message to April and ignore the half dozen messages she’s left me following my announcement that I was leaving for Portland. She’ll be firing them off or ringing me, I’m sure, so I turn the phone off and set it on the side.
I could do with a drink, but don’t raid the minibar.
The click on the door sounds and I wait, a little nervous, as Everett returns. His eyes scan over the dress, my hair free anduntied, and I lock my arms in place, refusing to fidget while it feels like he’s assessing me. Without a word, he grabs his bag and shuts the door to the bedroom.
Okay. Not the reaction I was hoping this dress would cause.
And it doesn’t help that he comes out of the bedroom in one of his signature suits - sharp and devastatingly handsome. I can’t stop my appreciative glance and wish I was more immune to him.
“Playtime.” He offers me his arm, and I take it with a small smile as we head down towards the lobby. “I’m assuming you don’t like to lose?”
“It’s not something I like,” I admit. “And seeing as this is something I’m not an expert in…” He leads me to the small kiosk barred with gold rails and hands over his credit card. “Five thousand.”
Okay. I cannot match him in the money stakes, that’s nothing new.
He watches me as I slide my card over but take a zero off his amount. It still makes my stomach cramp with the thought of how much it is, but I swallow it down.
“Roulette first. How’s your appetite for risk?” he asks.
“I’m here with you, so clearly I’m less risk-averse than I should be. With my client’s money, it’s not as simple as red or black.” And it’s how I feel about my own money, too. He can afford to lose, I can’t. And I also won’t tell him that.
We step up to the table, the gold wheel sitting, waiting, and listen as the croupier asks for bets.
Adrenalin floods through me as I scan over the bets and my mind switches on, looking for patterns. Each of the other players makes their move, sliding their chips onto the coloured numbers on the plush green deck.
Everett doesn’t say anything, but his hand stays resting at the base of my back, as if a reminder that he’s there.
He doesn’t place a bet and lets me watch.
