Niccolo
 
 Once we were on the verge of exhaustion and could barely move anymore, we finally got out of the shower.
 
 I immediately ordered room service: a bottle of champagne and strawberries with cream. I promised a 100% tip if they could get it there as quickly as possible.
 
 By the time we were both dry – and had spent a good deal of time kissing and caressing each other – there was a knock at the door. I threw on a robe and went to greet the room service attendant.
 
 Rather than sign the charge to the room, I paid him with five poker chips. He thanked me enthusiastically.
 
 As soon as he left, I wheeled in the bucket of champagne and a plate of fresh strawberries surrounding a gigantic dollop of whipped cream.
 
 I turned off the lights, opened the curtains, and let the dazzling nighttime lights of Macau serve as a backdrop.
 
 “To our future partnership,” I toasted with a flute of champagne.
 
 She smirked at my attempt to get her to switch sides. “For now, let’s just say, ‘To an amazing night in Macau.’”
 
 I hadn’t won her over yet…
 
 But that was alright.
 
 It would make my eventual victory all the sweeter.
 
 And shewasright about it being an amazing night.
 
 When we got into bed, I lay on my back while Sofia lay on her stomach, facing the opposite direction so she could stare out at the twinkling neon lights.
 
 As we feasted and drank, I spent far more time looking at her beautiful body.
 
 The curve of her lower back…
 
 The swell of her ass.
 
 I traced my finger lightly down the inside of her thighs, and she shivered with pleasure.
 
 “Mmm… do you always negotiate with otherconsiglieresthis way?” she asked humorously.
 
 “Like I told you before, mostconsiglieresare fat, middle-aged men.”
 
 “So… yes, then,” she joked.
 
 “Very funny.”
 
 “Ithought it was. So, tell me: what’s your offer?”
 
 “What do you mean, what’s my offer?” I asked, though I was 99% sure I knewexactlywhat she meant.
 
 “You want me to leave Fausto and come work with you and your brothers. What’s your offer?”
 
 I was right.
 
 “It would help to know what he’s paying you. Scratch that – what he’spromisingto pay you.”
 
 “Ten million euros. Of which he’s paid me one million already.”
 
 I stared at her. “You said you didn’t have anything to gamble with!”
 
 She shrugged. “I lied.”