Chapter 13: Place Your Bets
Orely
"Of course, the lawyer Andrés Rivera." I retorted.
It is a good thing I got to meet Andrés. I was barely saved. Otherwise, what would I have looked like then!
"Let's just say he is not known for his sociability. Santiago only goes to parties because he has to, he doesn't go to any circles and he does not mix with anyone. He seems to spend most of his time working, so we are surprised he's made friends with you." Hisses the woman.
“And yet it is," I retort, offering her a hypocritical smile as she joins our table.
I don't appreciate her supercilious and disdainful behavior. That is one of the things I am wary of at parties like this: arrogant people who think they are better than everyone else and in five minutes I am looking at the perfect example. Luckily, she understood when she saw the dark look in the corner of my eyes. Valeria didn't open her mouth again and the conversation continued between my mother, Juan, Jorge and me on innocuous subjects. The meal is then served, just as refined and minimalist. The dishes are delicious and so carefully presented that it is almost hard to taste them. As for the desert, it tastes like paradise.
It is one of the most exquisite moments that I savor with delicacy, gourmet as I am. As dinner draws to a close, it's time for the speeches, and that is when Santiago appears on the podium. Dressed in a black tuxedo, his hair swept back slightly, emphasizing his facial features. He gets behind the microphone and begins a speech of thanks. Seeing him again makes me feel funny. On this stage, in his role as director and with the news that he too is a Rivera, I suddenly feel uncomfortable about having accepted his invitation. Valeria's remark sticks in my throat, reminding me that I don't belong to this milieu.
Santiago's voice is serene and direct, just as he had come to see me. This man exudes something magnetic and powerful. He's a real eye-catcher, and I notice that he's spoilt for choice when it comes to women, and those present at the assembly can't help but admire him. Suddenly I feel someone pinch my arm lightly and it's my mother, leaning in close to my ear."You can't take your eyes off him either, can you?" she murmurs.
"What are you talking about? Hush and listen to him." I murmur, frowning slightly, and she lets out a muffled laugh.
I turn my head to Santiago. He is presenting his casino-hotel project, listing the various features of his establishment such as swimming pool, spa, Jacuzzi, luxury suite, among others. Yes, pleasures beyond the reach of ordinary mortals. He then proceeds to thank the group's CEOs, who tells me that the casino-hotel belongs to a conglomerate.
"Thank you for your attention and for attending this evening. Now I invite you to head over to the casino, where the second half of the evening will take place.
The casino is fully privatized, and various shows will be on hand to entertain you between two games of blackjack. And best of all, we are also giving away a hundred peso dollars worth of chips."
Now that I know who he is, I know what to expect. He leaves the room accompanied by a few imposing people in black suits with earpieces. Obviously his bodyguards, who else? The guests are scattered around the playhouse, some playing, others watching or chatting. The atmosphere is electric, with enthusiastic players crowding around the blackjack and roulette tables, where the elegantly dressed dealers handle the bets with impressive mastery.
My mother and I are slightly confused, unaccustomed to this kind of place. We collect our free chips and decide to sit down in front of the available slot machines. The lights flicker in a brilliant neon palette, creating an atmosphere that is both festive and captivating. Next to me, the sound of one of these machines echoes in the air, a mixture of clattering chips and jingles that signal winnings.
"I have won! Woohoo!" shouted the winner, aged around sixty.
Luck, however, is not on my side. I lost game after game, while my mother, under a lucky star, doubled her bet and began to enjoy herself, shouting as soon as she succeeded in aligning the symbols. In the meantime, I am thinking that I didn't see Santiago again after his speech. He disappeared like magic.
I can see that at the back of the room, a group of musicians are playing lively tunes, adding a touch of rhythm to the environment. A few couples dance close to the stage, while others move with a confident gait, glasses in hand, exchanging laughs and stories.
Everyone seems to be in their own bubble, far away from everyday life, relaxing and forgetting their problems.