Page 23 of Double or Nothing

Mother fucker.

Reaching for the stack of autographs on Mac’s desk, the ones he had me sign yesterday, tossing items side to side, I finally find what I’m looking for—my deal with the devil.

He tricked me.

I scour over the verbiage on the sheet of paper. Binding. Contract. Sapphire. One-night performance.

“I can’t believe you would do this to me.”

“It’s for your own good, Sut.”

That’s when the words hit me.

Extension to residency.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me. No way, not happening.”

“This is a great gig and an even better opportunity.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “You have no idea what you’ve just done.”

“I have a pretty good idea,” he chuckles. “Buckle up, Sut, we’re going to Vegas.”

Chapter 14

Kat

“Yes, Mr. Hale. Of course. We at the Sapphire aim to please.”

What the guest wants, the guest gets, and I’m the lucky one who gets to give it to them or, rather, run my ass off and make all their stupid little wishes come true.

Negative as that sounds, I really love my job, just not this client. Oswalt Hale is a top-rated client, but on a personal level, I cannot stand the man or the woman he’s brought with him this time, who is no more than a year older than his daughter, tops.

He’s always been difficult, but I can handle him. When you add in the little gem he’s dating, I feel like I’m in a little over my head with these two. If I thought Oswalt was demanding, it’s nothing compared to Brittany. Even her name sounds high maintenance. The demands she makes are odd and unpredictable, and frankly, they don’t make sense. It’s as though she merely makes them on principle—she can, so she will.

Tapping away on my iPad, I make a few adjustments to their stay, add in a couple more high-end dinner reservations, and schedule the princess for an all-day spa treatment. That way, Mr. Hale can sneak out and bang whatever stripper he has the hots for this trip.

“You’re all set,” I tell him.

“And none of this goes any further than us, correct?”

“My lips are sealed,” I promise, making the zipper and lock motion over my lips.

“Good.” Oswalt stands there and stares at me for a moment.

“Is there anything else?” I ask. Please say no, please say no.

“You wouldn’t be free for dinner tonight, would you?” His tongue darts out, licking his dry, cracked lips.

“What a sweet offer.” I smile as though the offer is a compliment when it’s anything but. In fact, the offer makes my skin crawl. “Unfortunately, Jack has me booked all week.”

“Your loss,” he tells me as he walks away.

“What’s your loss?” Callum asks, stepping up beside me.

Callum Rivers, my co-worker, friend, and only competition here at the Sapphire. We both started at the casino two years ago when we turned twenty-one and quickly hiked our way up to VIP casino host positions. Rumor has it there is an Executive Casino Host position opening up soon, so both of us have been on our toes even more than usual.

Oswalt is one client I wouldn’t mind Callum poaching from me.

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