Page 7 of What Happens In Vegas
Celia squeezed Bonni’s shoulder. ‘You are living on the edge, girlfriend.’
Bonni didn’t answer and watched the reels spin and spin.
They stopped in a line that Bonni thought looked promising. ‘Is thatgood? Did I win something?’
Celia squealed, ‘Look, look! You’re getting a free play.’ Herfriends were totally caught up in the antics of the machine and couldn’t contain their elation.
‘Shh, guys,’ Bonni told them.
A crowd began to gather. Bonni hated being the centre of attention, so she kept her gaze on the dragons, wishing the machine would stop with the clanging bells, strobing lightsand rumbling. It was a computer – did the programmers really have to make it vibrate like that? The slot machine continued trying to deafen her and shaking as if it were about to launch into space. Bonni lifted her hands away, surprised how interactive it all was.
Three reels on the left stopped on matching gold dragons. Bonni flicked her gaze up to see what that prize was, and the machine startedto growl and rumble louder. The three reels on the right continued to spin, then one came to a stop with a whistling that sounded like a pinwheel firecracker. Another gold dragon. Bonni’s heart nearly stopped. The roar in her ears drowned out the screams behind her.
Oh my God.
The middle reel trembled to a stop. Another gold dragon. The noise from the machine increased. Bonni’s attention wasglued to the images of the dragons, and she whispered to them, ‘Come on, baby, come on!’
The last reel stopped on a gold dragon, giving her a line of fire-breathers. Bonni blinked, not fully realizing what it meant. She knew she had won, but the crowd behind her erupted into loud cheers and the screaming of her girls was deafening. Then lights flashed, bells rang, and a huge dragon breathingfire rose from the top of the bank of slot machines. How much had she won?
Bonni bolted from her seat.
Behind her, Celia was wailing like a banshee: ‘You won, you won, you won!’
Ava shouted, ‘Holy crap! I don’t believe it.’
Fredileaned over her shoulder, the only calm one. ‘You won, Bonni! You hit the jackpot!’
‘Yeah.’ Bonni was stunned. ‘But not the jackpot. Not possible.’ She looked upat all the flashing lights. ‘I never win anything.’
‘Well, you have now!’ The elation in Fredi’s voice infected Bonni. ‘I don’t know how much, but I think it’s going to be big.’
Celia pointed up. ‘Shit, look, Bon-Bon! That flashing sign says you’ve won a hundred grand!’
‘You’ve got to be kidding me. I never win anything,’ Bonni repeated.
‘This is so exciting! It’s like something out of a movie!You won, Bonni,’ Ava assured her, enthusiasm bubbling out of her.
Bonni was used to pressure and to making decisions under fire, but this was out of her wheelhouse. You don’t get anything for free. Her father had drilled that into her as a kid. You work hard, you do a good job, and get rewarded. So winning money at a casino, especially so much money, by simply pressing a button was making itreally difficult for her to keep her composure. A hundred grand was nothing to sneeze at. She drew in a deep breath and made a decision that, if she really had won, she’d share it with her friends. It wouldn’t seem right otherwise.
Bonni looked down at the flashing buttons on the machine. Then, on a sudden impulse, she punched the payout button. Nothing happened. She pressed it again. Still nothing.
‘It won’t work,’ Celia said, placing her hand over Bonni’s. ‘You have to wait for an attendant to come and do whatever they do. Anything over a specific amount needs one. It’s too much money.’
‘I can’t believe this.’ Bonni shook her head and found herself in the middle of a group hug with her friends.
‘Believe it.’ Celia told her. ‘You’re a winner.’
Nobody ever tells you about the drama aroundwinning a jackpot. They’d had to wait until a technician and the casino floor manager showed up to verify the win. Then Bonni was interviewed, asked why she was in Vegas and what she planned to do with the money. Given a huge fake check with her name and the amount on it, to have her picture taken. Bonni chose to remain anonymous and collect her money without a big fuss being made but she didask for a copy of the photo of her with the check.
Bonni had left Celia and Fredi at the slots and asked Ava to come with her, her being a financial brainiac and all. They followed the floor manager to go and do the paperwork. Good thing she knew her social security number and bank account details by heart. She was provided with a Form W-2G and advised that a percentage of her winnings wouldbe in her bank account within twenty-four hours. Bonni was pretty sure this was so that she would keep gambling. The casino advised Bonni that they had to report any gambling winnings over $1,200 to the IRS. Furthermore, she was asked to choose between a lump sum or monthly payments. A lump sum suited her just fine.
Once the details were completed, a manager from the front desk met them on theirway back to the casino, all smiles and charm. The hotel would very much like to upgrade their rooms, as a celebratory gesture. Ava gave a whoop of joy before texting the others to get their asses moving. Bonni thought cynically that it was less of a congratulations and more a thank you for all the good publicity her stroke of luck would bring the brand-new hotel.No, dammit, accept at face value,Bonni!The cop in her needed a vacation too.
Celia and Fredi came streaming out of the crowd and they all followed the manager to the bank of elevators. They got off on the top floor and were led to a set of impressive doubledoors. The manager tapped a room key against the door before handing the rest of the key cards to Bonni.
‘The bags you left at the check-in will be brought up shortly.Congratulations, Ms Connolly, and welcome to your suite. If you need anything at all, make sure you ring down to the concierge.’
‘Thank you.’ Bonni was still trying to grasp everything that had happened.
