Page 28 of How We End
BlueLine Podcast
Henderson, NV
Recorded October 31
Las Vegas vs LA, Final Score 1-3
“It’s not just me that’s tired of Silver, Tom.It’s the fans.They were booing him tonight.Some guy threw his Silver jersey on the ice.And I don’t blame him.Two games ago Silver had a hat trick, and tonight he couldn’t score a goal if his life depended on it.”
“And the rest of the team?What about them?And to whoever threw their jersey on the ice, they need to be kicked out of the pack.If after thirteen games you’ve already given up, then get the fuck out of here.We don’t want you here, anyway.”
“Does the same go for Silver?Because he has also given up.”
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
WYATT
October 31
It was Maverick’s annual Halloween party.A chance for Maverick to play king, or in this case a British spy, over his kingdom.It was the hottest ticket in Las Vegas.Anyone that was anyone was invited.The rich and the famous flew in to be seen at one of Maverick Sands’ parties.
The large ballroom had been turned into a movie set.All the guests were dressed in formal wear.Some had silk masks with feathers and gold.Others had their faces painted to fit the theme.Everyone in this room had a role to play, including me and the other girls.
“That’s not the dress I bought you,” Maverick said, walking up to me and handing me a glass of champagne with gold flecks floating in it.His eyes roamed over my body.
“Gold lamé isn’t really my color.”I took the glass, sipping the crisp drink.Margo had let me know the girls from the Golden Serpent would be dressed in gold.The obnoxious color was Maverick’s way of letting his guests know who belonged to him, a more civilized way than pissing on my leg.I opted for a black lace corset dress.It barely hid what needed to be.
“Gold is the theme of the party.”Maverick pulled me closer to him.“And I like your hair up.”He ran his nose along my neck.
“Yes, well, we don’t always get what we want, do we?You’re lucky I’m here.”I didn’t work holidays.It was a rule I made for my younger self.
The girls from the Golden Serpent moved around the room.They carried trays of champagne and appetizers.“And if gold is the theme, why are you not in it?”Maverick wore a black designer suit; the only gold was in his pocket square.His hand slid down to my ass.“Your humor is one of the things I love about you.I have someone I’d like you to meet.”
“I’m not working.”I grabbed his wrist.“And there is nothing youloveabout me.”I couldn’t say what had put me in such a foul mood.I normally blew off his stupid little remarks and promises of love.Okay, I knew what put me in a foul mood.I’d listened to that stupidBlueLinepodcast.What the hell did Matt Rebel know about anything?
“There are lots of things I love about you.”He ran a finger over the swell of my breast.“I love these.Your ass.And when you wear your hair up.”
I removed his hand from my chest.I didn’t want his type of love.You didn’t cheat on your wife with a woman you loved.You didn’t make her wear the same color as your other employees.“That’s lust, Mr.Sands.”
“You’re in a fine mood tonight, aren’t you?”Maverick stepped away.He took another glass of champagne.“See that man over there?He would like to meet you.”He nodded to a man playing roulette.
“I told you I’m not working tonight.I’ll smile pretty and put in my time, but that is where it ends.”
“He just wants to meet you,” Maverick said, taking a sip of champagne.“There’s a lot of money walking around in this room.You could cash in on that.The gentleman in the dark green suit manages hedge funds in the millions.Mr.Holloway over there is not only very rich but powerful.”
Mr.Holloway also had a receding hairline and eyebrows that looked like they hadn’t been trimmed since the seventies.“Powerful?I’ll keep that in mind when I need to take over the world.”
“Or when you have to start giving discounts to lure new clients in.”
“Been talking to Margo again?”I scoffed, draining my glass.My eyes found Margo.She worked the room like a true Starlight Sands employee.Smiling and pretending to give a shit about the people around her.
“Oh, don’t get all prickly.Your account is dangerously close to running below your monthly salary.And there were several deposits that were below average.I wasn’t aware you were running a sale.Is there something I should know?”
“No.”Before he could say more, a tall brunette dressed in gold paraded over.
“Excuse me, Mr.Sands.They’re ready for you at table four.”The girl had gold brushed on her skin, eyes, and lips.She gazed up through her lashes at Maverick.It took everything in me not to roll my eyes at her coy shyness.I had been that way once.Made myself smaller to make the men I needed to fuck feel bigger.And sometimes I still did.But that was rare, and those clients always paid more.
“Thank you, Dallas.Why don’t you go warm up my chair?”Maverick winked.
