Chapter 7

Ace of Spades (Asso Di Spade)

Got it three years before Vanessa

I sat there, watching everyone expression change with cards drawn.

I won. I had blackjack.

That consisted of an Ace (of spades), and a king of hearts.

I set down my hand, the yelling and slurs beginning.

I smiled, relaxed.

I looked over at the girl beside me, entertained by the agitation.

"I win." I told her.

"Alright." She nodded.

She was completely content with the results.

I was cocky. Absolutely. Because I never lost. Jinxing things wasn't in my book.

"Hey gentlemen, settle down. Want any drinks?" I asked.

"Scotch." They all wanted one on ice.

"I'll take a Bourbon, small glass. Real small." I looked at Ace and she nodded, standing.

I watched as she walked away and everyone did as well.

"I've never seen her around before." Dalton looked at me.

"My assistant." I said, looking at my watch.

It was about to get busy.

I looked for her, she was pouring them and she was absolutely beautiful concentrating. She bit on her lower lip, making sure not to spill anything.

She looked confused before looking at me, putting up 8 fingers asking how many men.

I put up 9.

She nodded.

Daphne came beside me.

"What's up?" I asked.

"She's suspicious as to why I suddenly work here. I told her it was a dream job. She's too smart to not want more information and put something together." She said beside my ear.

I nodded.

"It's okay. Be honest if you need to. What's she going to do? Run?" I smiled, she wouldn't get very far.

Its funny, I never intended my interests to deepen, I sent Daphne because her mother was awful so I didn't trust her daughter and I wanted my money.

Until Daphne sent me a photo of her ID and I immediately had different thoughts.

A lot of it was lust. But meeting her made me curious.

And I believe everything happens for a reason.

"Okay. I just feel bad. She's so nice." She frowned, obviously feeling guilty.

"You've been living comfortably since your raise. Let's keep your fridge full hm?" I warned her.

"Yes, I apologize, of course boss." She walked back when Vanessa began coming back.

She stood beside me, handing me the bourbon, my hand moving, touching the back of her lower thigh.

She sort of startled, not too much though. She had space to move away but she didn't.

She could just step forward.

She stepped the other leg forward to lean forward handing drinks to everyone.

But she didn't move the leg I touched an inch.

Her face was pink though.

"I have to grab the rest." She croaked, walking back to the counter, leaving my hand empty.

But I smiled, hoping she was touch deprived.

I would slowly warm her up to it.

She took a shot and I laughed, watching her come back with the rest.

She stood right where she was, my arm was indeed out but she almost scooted back to intentionally get my skin on hers.

So I gently let my hand rest on her calf.

Words of thanks were told to her as she made herself move around and sit beside me.

"Good girl, thank you, Ace. Want to see me beat their asses again? Let's see how wasted they'll get before starting a fist fight." I mumbled to her and she let out a wide grin, clearly wanting to see that.

I grabbed the arm of her chair, pulling her closer to me.

"You're never shuffling again!" One of the men told me.

"Alright. I'm fine with that." I shrugged, sipping the smooth liquid.

♠️♥️♣️♦️

"I win. Fifth time in a row." I set my hand down.

"Fucking fuck!" Dalton yelled, pulling at his hair.

They gave me their chips.

"I can cash those in for you." Vanessa offered.

"Go ahead." I handed her the many I already won.

She laughed at the amount as she waddled off with them.

"You're rigging this bullshit." He pointing an accusing finger at me and I sat back.

"There's no die to control, you shuffle, you deal. What's there to rig?" I asked.

He was clearly pissed, still convinced I'm cheating.

I yawned, not giving a fuck what he thought.

She came back, stacks of cash in rubber bands.

She set them in my lap and I grabbed two, handing them to her.

"Why." She looked at my hand.

"Because I said so."

"But you won it." She blinked.

"Books, darling." I waved them in front of her clueless gaze.

"Well could you hold onto them for now?" She asked.

I set them back into my lap.

"Sit." I told her and she did.

"Tomorrow you're coming with me to my club, I fired... I guess executed is a better word, the manager there and we're making upgrades as well as telling our head bartender she's the manager." I sipped the last of the bourbon.

"Okay, what do you wear to those?" She asked, looking at the angry men trying to make bets against me.

"You could wear a dress, pantsuit, you have both of those in your closet."

"Well yeah but they're not business modest." She said and I laughed.

"What's business modest, Ace?" I looked at her, her eyes looking everywhere but at me.

I snapped like she were a dog and pointed to my eyes, her eyes fully on me now.

"Well they show like my stomach and-"

"Who would care?" I asked.

"Well, you, you're my boss, or maybe it could be a distraction-"

I stood, fixing my rings to face upward before I grabbed her chin, guiding her to look up at me.

"No one cares, mia amata. I'll teach you, you'll understand, modesty and comfortability are different. You wear what you believe you'd feel best in. Everyone else should fade away. You don't work for multiple people, you work with me." I looked at Dalton.

My beloved.

"Sorry gentlemen, I'm done for tonight." I let myself caress her lower jaw once more before I let her go, offering my hand.

She took it, adjusting her flat real quick before standing.

I took her hand in my other, settling it on my bicep of the hand that did hold hers previously.

"One thing, Ace, I'm keen on eye contact. I know you're not, but I'd prefer you tried your best when talking to me to look at me." I mumbled.

She nodded.

"I apologize, sir, I'll try to remember that." She replied and I nodded, standing up fully so I was no longer bent down to speak to her.

"One thing about this casino, there's no way to rig any of my games. When playing Craps, no one can manipulate the die, all the tables are unremovable from the ground, the table too thick to knock on and hope they stop where you want them too. There's no possible way to really fuck up the games. But suspicious behavior still happens and we do keep an eye just in case anything is tried." I pointed to a woman who stood by one of the machines, blocking the screen with her body.

I looked at one of my guards and he nodded, adjusting his position so he kept an eye on her but also so it wasn't obvious.

"So you're just good at the games then." She smiled at me.

"You thought I cheated?" I asked.

She shrugged.

I sighed.

"I don't think I'll ever win with you, Ace."

"I'm a tough critic." She shrugged, gently nudging me with her shoulder.