Page 1 of My Billionaire Casino Boss

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Life In The Mountains - Thomas

Ilookoutofmy back windows, taking in the remaining snow on the Tahoe mountains. Sipping my coffee, I glance at the roaring fireplace and regret that I have to leave my house and go to work in a couple of hours.

I had a late night at my casino dealing with some unruly guests. They’d been bothering a hockey player here for the annual golf tournament. After the incident, I had some drinks with my security team just to wind down.

Such is life for the owner of the most successful casino and hotel in South Lake Tahoe. My job gives me this mansion with the best view of the mountains and the lake, and I appreciate my luxurious lifestyle and the fast life I live, but there are times I wish it would slow down—if only for a day.

“Would you like breakfast?”

I glance at my chef, Laura, an older woman who reminds me of my mom. Laura comes in twice a week to cook for me, and I need all the help I can get—without Laura, I’d either live on casino food or starve.

“Sure. One of your omelets sounds amazing right now if you have the ingredients.”

“I always do for you.” She grins, and I shake my head, returning my gaze to the view.

My cell phone rings on the kitchen table, and I sigh, wondering what fire I’ll need to put out now.

“Hey, Eric,” I greet my best friend as I walk to the couch to sit down. “What’s up? It’s early for you.”

“Tell me about it,” he groans. Eric and I party together a lot. He made his money in his family’s construction business, which operates all over Northern California. Since it’s the weekend and he usually has them off, he should be sleeping. “I thought you might do me a favor. Lily is back from college. I set her up in a house, but you know my sister. She refuses to let me pay for it and wants a job to cover the bills while she looks for something in graphic design. Do you have anything open at the casino or hotel to tide her over?”

I want to say no immediately. Eric doesn’t know I slept with his little sister, Lily. It was right before she went to college. I put it behind me while I moved forward with my job. I thought she wouldn’t come back here.

Or, rather, I hoped she wouldn’t. At the moment, I don’t want to think back on that amazing night.

“I can’t think of anything off the top of my head, but I’ll check with HR when I go to the office. She has some experience, I’m sure.” Lily isn’t a spoiled rich girl. From what I’ve heard, she’s worked a few jobs over the years.

Lily broke the family tradition by not joining the construction company and instead choosing graphic design. She was a beautiful little rebel back then, and I can’t believe she’s back. I want to see her, but I’m worried that it’ll be awkward.

“Thanks. She’ll feel a lot better having something lined up,” he tells me, yawning again. “I’ll tell her to message you to set up an interview.”

“Looking forward to it,” I lie and set my phone down when the call is over. I sip my coffee again, wishing I could make all of this go away.

“Everything good?” Laura says, and I look at her.

“I’m not sure. You know when you’re obligated to do something but it’s something you don’t want to touch or even go near?” I ask, and she chuckles, nodding.

“I sure do. That’s how I felt about cooking dinner for my ex-husband’s family,” she assures me, making me laugh. She brings me breakfast and I thank her, eating as I look over the scenery.

Maybe Lily will laugh in Eric’s face. She went to school for graphic design, not working in a hotel, and I know she’s stubborn as hell when it comes to accepting help. I hope that’s still true.

After breakfast, I shower and dress for work. I need to be there today just to oversee things, especially after last night. The golf tournament is a big deal, and everything has to be perfect. I choose a new suit for the day—a deep-blue one that’s exquisitely tailored for my muscular build. A white shirt and a tie in mixed shades of blue bring out the suit’s subtle indigo.

I run a hand through my cropped hair and slip my sunglasses on before going to my garage. My new baby is a maroon Jeep, all ready for the weather with all the bells and whistles—she’ll be my love for a long time.

I drive out of the gated neighborhood and take the main road to the casino, appreciating the views at every turn along the way. I like to remind myself how much hard work it takes to have all this. Sure, my family is wealthy and will have stability for the rest of our lives, but I turned Tahoe Winds into the most successful casino and resort in the area through a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished; I’ve established something fun for locals and visitors alike with my top-of-the-line casino and event center. The hotel is sleek and modern, and we’re constantly booked.

I park in the employee garage and set the alarm as I walk away, taking the elevator right to the level that houses the offices. Remembering Eric’s call, I sigh. I email my HR manager as soon as I’m sitting down, asking about open positions. She says she’ll send over a list, but I’m still hoping Lily won’t reach out. We agreed years ago that we should keep our distance, and I’d prefer to keep it that way. I start checking emails and getting the usual morning stuff done.

The numbers look great for last night, even with the issues. Big events bring in people that want to spend their money to play or eat at one of our three restaurants. There’s also a bar lounge and a club, so we have a little something for everyone. I grin and sip my fresh espresso, feeling good.

My phone chimes and I see it’s Eric, letting me know he gave Lily my info. I tell him to get some sleep and forget about it because she won’t call.

It’s a busy day for me as I check on everything we have set up after the golf game today. If running a successful casino was a competition to see who brings in the most people and money, I play to win. We update the menus at the restaurants every week, and there are a lot of drink specials for people to enjoy. I have extra servers on the floor to offer free drinks for those gambling. It’s the oldest trick in the book to get them to keep spending their money.

My phone dings again, and I glance at it, seeing a message from a strange number. Frowning, I open the screen, read the message, and groan. It’s Lily.

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