Page 30 of Between Secrets and Obsession

Not wanting to walk around with that much in my pockets, I go to the cashier and ask for them to hold it. My paranoia is already going crazy. JJ asks me if I want to do drinks and dinner tonight, and I decline because my head is pounding from last night and having to concentrate so hard today.

“No problem. The big games start tomorrow night at seven. Slight change of plans, though. It’s now a three hundred thousand dollar buy-in. Winner takes home a million. Still a six-player game.”

My jaw nearly hits the floor. Winning that game tomorrow means I could work less if I wanted. All my debt would be cleared, and I’d have more than enough money in the bank to do whatever I’d like. Even after I pay JJ, I’d go home with half a million dollars. I’m not trying to get too excited, but this could change my life.

“The guys who usually play with this group aren’t any better than the old fucks who were in that room today. Wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them were there,” he says confidently. “I trust you.”

I’m a bit nervous, knowing I need to get some rest tonight with so much on the line. “Thanks, man. We’ll get together beforehand.”

He gives me a head nod, and I go up to my room.

Once inside, I sit on the edge of my bed and replay today. I experienced a whirlwind of emotions between winning and losing rounds, but I know when to fold. The moment I get overly exhausted or overwhelmed is when I make stupid mistakes, call ridiculous plays, and lose my ass off. If I would’ve stayed in that room another thirty minutes, things could’ve easily had a different outcome.

My stomach growls, so I order room service since I don’t feel like being around people. After I look over the menu, I settle on spaghetti and garlic bread, then take a hot shower while I wait.

Once it’s delivered, I eat while flipping through TV channels and stop when I recognizeSave the Last Dance. A smile slides across my lips when I think about Maddie flawlessly dancing in the living room. The girl is like wildfire that can’t be contained, and damn, I wish I could get her off my mind.

If I wanna win tomorrow, I need lots of rest because if it’s anything like today, I won’t be going to the bathroom or eating for long periods.

After I’ve cleared my plate, I put the Do Not Disturb hanger outside my door, then crawl into bed.

The next day, I wake up and see a few missed calls from JJ. After I brush my teeth and make a cup of coffee, I call him back.

“The invite-only game has been changed to two. They’re meeting in one of the private suites on-site. I’ll text you the room number. They’re already expecting you. Donotbe late or the buy-in is forfeited,” he says sternly.

I’m annoyed because they don’t seem very organized. The time keeps changing, but I don’t have anything else going on this afternoon, so I can still make it work.

“Won’t be an issue,” I tell him, considering I’m an elevator ride away.

“Good. You just need to show up.”

“Just text me when you’ve got the room number.”

He agrees and we hang up.

The way he’s acting has me concerned, but I’ve learned over the past few months of being around him that he has his moods. One minute, he’s the life of the party, and the next minute, he’s standoffish. I’m sure he’s as anxious as I am.

After I get dressed, I see his text with the room number and let him know I got it.

I try not to watch the clock, but it’s hard because I don’t want to arrive too early but arriving late isn’t an option either. A lot is riding on this game, and I can’t fuck this up. Twenty minutes before the game starts, I grab my wallet and head that way.

On the way to the top floor, my nerves get the best of me, but I shake that shit off. I don’t have time to be on edge and need to get my head straight. The room is at the end of the hallway, and there’s a bodyguard standing outside of it.

“ID?”

I pull my wallet from my back pocket and hand him my license. He looks it over, then hands it back to me before opening the door. Inside is a suite that’s larger than my entire house. Where a conference table should go is a poker table, and the other players are already there. A dealer, a pit boss, and three bodyguards stand against the wall, waiting for this to officially start. Everyone’s quiet, and the only sound that can be heard is our collective breathing.

“Any weapons?”

I shake my head as a man dressed in all black pats me down. I lift my arms and allow him to search me.

“He’s clean,” he tells the other guy who’s obviously in charge. I glance over and see a table with Glocks and knives placed ontop. While I should be concerned, I’m not, considering some of the shady situations I’ve been in with my job. These players are millionaires, so of course they’re carrying weapons.

The pit boss introduces the game and the rules. Texas Hold ’em, regular tournament rules, which means we’ll play until one of us is left.

As I look around the table, I notice a guy I played with yesterday. They give us our chips, and we start with what we paid to play. The blind is five thousand, which means this game could be over fairly quickly. The dealer shuffles the cards, and another person cuts the deck. It’s much harder to play it safe with a six-person game, but I try to be as conservative as possible.

I’m up twenty grand, then down again, and I realize that I’m on a level playing field with them. JJ said they weren’t good players, and I’m calling bullshit. Not one of us is better than the other, and it’s going to come down to who’s smarter. After hours of playing, we’re given a fifteen-minute break to piss. Three guys have already been eliminated but they can’t leave until the game is over. No one comes in, and no one goes out until the end. They’re annoyed as fuck but don’t test it.