Page 26 of My Billionaire Casino Boss

“Do you want to learn?” I ask, gesturing to the blackjack table.

She looks at me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Sure,” she says. “Why not?”

And so, I start teaching her. I explain the rules, the strategies, and the little tricks that can give you an edge. She listens attentively, her eyes never leaving mine. She’s a quick learner, picking up the basics in no time.

We move on to roulette, and I explain the different bets, the odds, and the payouts. She’s fascinated, her eyes wide as she takes it all in. She places a few bets, winning some, and losing some, but always with a smile on her face.

As the night wears on, I find myself enjoying her company more and more. She’s fun, she’s smart, she’s…different. She’s not like the women I usually spend my time with. She’s not interested in my money or my status. She’s interested in me.

And I, in turn, am interested in her. I want to know more about her, about her dreams, her fears, her hopes. I want to know what makes her laugh, what makes her cry, what makes her…her.

The awkwardness that was there at the start of the evening faded away within a couple of hours, replaced by a comfortable camaraderie. We tease each other, laugh at our own mistakes, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. It’s a dramatic contrast to the stiff, forced dinner we had earlier. In a moment of boldness, I suggest we play a game of strip poker. I expect her to refuse, to blush and stammer and change the subject. But to my surprise, she agrees.

“All right,” she says, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “But don’t think I’ll go easy on you.”

We start playing, and as expected, Lily loses most of her clothes quickly. She’s a novice card player, and it shows. But she takes it all in stride, laughing and blushing.

“Should have known you were a hustler,” she says.

“House always wins and all that,” I say with a shrug.

As the game progresses, the playful nature shifts into something more intense. She’s beautiful, of course, but it’s more than that. There’s a vulnerability to her, a rawness that I find incredibly appealing. She’s not trying to impress me or seduce me. She’s just…being herself.

As I watch her, her cheeks flushed from the game, acting a bit embarrassed, her eyes sparkling with laughter, I can’t help myself. I lean in and kiss her. It’s not a soft, gentle kiss. It’s passionate, filled with all the pent-up feelings I’ve been trying to suppress.

She stiffens in surprise for a moment before melting into me, returning the kiss with equal fervor. It’s intoxicating, the feel of her against me, the taste of her lips. I lose myself in the moment, forgetting about our arrangement, forgetting about Hillary, forgetting about everything except Lily.

We’re so lost in each other that we don’t hear the door open. We don’t notice someone walking in until we hear a gasp. We break apart, turning to see Sarah, a casino employee, standing there, her eyes wide with shock. Without a word, Sarah slips out of the room, but I swear I see a spark of cruel mischief in her eyes before she turns.

Lily, mortified, gathers her clothes, throwing them on hastily. “I…I need to go,” she says, not meeting my eyes.

I want to say something, to explain, but before I can figure out what, Lily’s gone, leaving me alone. “Geez,” I mutter. I try to find Sarah and smooth it over, but her shift must have just ended. I try to push down the sinking feeling that this isn’t going to go well. Yes, Lily and I are very publicly dating, but there’s a difference between my employees knowing I’m dating one of them andseeingit—especially since I unofficially discourage relationships between coworkers in my casino. Sarah might be the very last person I’d have wanted to walk in on us. I just know she’s going to tell everyone about this. She probably already is.

As I drive home, I replay the kiss over and over in my mind. All of this was supposed to be an act, a performance for the world. But that kiss…that was real. And I have no idea what to do about it.

twelve

Win Some, Lose Some - Lily

Thedrivehomeisa blur. My mind is a whirlwind of embarrassment and confusion. I’ve always been a private person, keeping my personal life separate from my work life. But now, my personal life is my work life, and it’s on display for everyone to see. The thought of Sarah walking in on Thomas and me…it’s my worst nightmare.

The next day at work is even worse. As soon as I walk in, I can feel it. The cold reception. The sideways glances. The hushed whispers. Especially from Sarah. She won’t even look me in the eye. I don’t blame her. I can’t look at myself in the mirror.

I try to keep my head down, to focus on my work. But it’s hard. The atmosphere is icy, the tension palpable. I feel like an outsider in a place that used to feel like home. It’s as if I’ve become a stranger overnight.

I can almost overhear the whispers, the rumors. They think I’m using Thomas to get ahead. They think our relationship is trashy and inappropriate. They don’t understand that it’s all an act, a performance. But how can I explain that without revealing the truth?

By the time my break comes around, I’m on the verge of tears. I retreat to the break room, hoping for a moment of solitude. But as soon as the door closes behind me, the tears come. I slide down the wall, burying my face in my hands. I feel alone. Misunderstood. I’m in over my head, and I don’t know how to swim back to the surface. I’ve always been good at keeping my emotions in check, at maintaining a professional exterior. But now, that facade is cracking, and I don’t know how to fix it.

The door to the break room creaks open, and I quickly wipe my tears, hoping to hide my breakdown. But when I look up, it’s Thomas. His eyes are full of concern, and I feel a pang of guilt. This is all because of our arrangement.

“Lily,” he says softly, closing the door behind him. He crouches down in front of me, his eyes searching mine. “I heard about what happened. I’m sorry.”

I shrug, trying to brush it off. “It’s not your fault. We knew this was a risk.”

“But I didn’t think it would be this hard for you,” he admits, his hand reaching out to gently wipe a tear from my cheek. His touch is warm and comforting but it only reminds me of the mess we’re in.

“I’m fine,” I lie, forcing a smile. But Thomas sees right through it.

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