Page 83 of Pets in Space 10

Over the next few days Mike was too busy with the tournament to get away for another date, but he texted her and they had a few chats over the com.

It wasn’t enough for Dahlia by any means, but she’d take what she could get right now.

After the special event was over, they’d have time to be together, she was sure.

She got called in several times to work at the casino as a barback and enjoyed the shifts since she was indirectly involved with the guests and could see Mike from a distance as he made his rounds of the casino floor and the tournament rooms. They didn’t acknowledge each other but she looked up on occasion to see him watching her from afar and she certainly did her share of observing him as well.

The tournament was being broadcast in holo at several spots throughout the casino floor and bar area, and people were able to buy tickets to observe in the actual room where the primary matches were taking place.

Dahlia understood the prices for those seats were sky high and of course the tickets were being scalped for even higher prices.

Even watching the action on the holos gave her unpleasant memories of her night with Mr. Sutton and the interrupted auction so she averted her gaze as much as possible and stayed behind the scenes, assisting her assigned bartenders.

She also got an interview at the designer dress shop on Level A she’d been dreaming about. At first Dahlia suspected Mike had arranged it for but during the meeting the store manager said Captain Fleming’s wife had made the recommendation.

“She spoke highly of you indeed,” the woman said. “We’re hiring a new fulltime sales associate so the timing is perfect. You have an excellent record here on the ship.”

As part of the interview Dahlia was asked to recommend dresses for one of the store staff and then accessorize the outfit and she passed with flying colors, having enjoyed the whole process.

At the end of the interview the manager offered her the job on a probationary basis and Dahlia eagerly accepted. Her dream was coming true. She couldn’t wait to text Mike the good news and his response was immediate, to her surprise, knowing how busy he was.

He called her. “Wonderful news, sweetheart, congratulations. I knew you’d be a natural once you got the chance to show them what you can do. When do you start?”

“Next week. No more floating!” She danced around her cabin.

“We’ll miss you here at the casino,” Mike said, “But honestly I’ll be relieved not to be dating one of my employees. Not that we’re doing much dating right now, to my immense frustration.”

“Mine too,” she said softly. “But I understand.”

“The damn tournament wraps up this week as well and then I’m taking time off and I want to see you as much as possible, given your new job.”

“I like your plans.” Dahlia was amused by the pent-up passion in his voice.

“I need to ask you a favor though,” he said. “We’re slammed tonight and I have three people out with the damn flu the doc says is going around. I’ve shifted as many people as I can and put others on overtime but would you consider coming up to Level A and working the casino floor tonight?”

“As a barback?” she asked, hoping the answer would be affirmative.

“I need you on the floor as a waitress, if you can handle it,” he said. “I hate to ask-”

“No, it’s all right, I understand. Hopefully the whole Lady Luck thing has gone away by now,” she said, dread in the pit of her stomach. “I can do my hair differently and no one will recognize me anyway.”

“We turned down a request to interview you, you know,” Mike said. “One of the major news outlets was hunting for human interest stories to run during the tournament and had heard rumors about your night bringing luck to Sutton. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I’d have said no if you had asked,” she answered immediately. “The last thing I ever want to do is stoke those stories.”

“I figured as much. The reporter interviewed other staff members instead who were flattered to share their stories. She talked to Mardri for one.” He looked over his shoulder. “I have to go — see you tonight then.”

Dahlia blew him a kiss and shut the comlink. One night, I can get through one night up there. Just keep moving and don’t give anyone any advice about their bets.

Although grumpy about working on the casino main floor again, she wanted to help Mike out, so she got ready and put on her shirt and khakis to walk to the casino.

As she was about to leave the cabin she heard Petal making a terrible racket in the bedroom, whistling and chirruping and shaking the cage.

Dahlia rushed to see what the matter was, falling to her knees beside the cage.

“You have food, you have water, the bedding’s nice and fresh,” she said to Petal. “Are you sick? Should I call Tyrelle?” As if I expected her to answer me…

Petal rubbed against Dahlia’s hand on the cage wires and one of the beautiful scales popped off. Petal grabbed it in her forepaws and presented it to Dahlia with a lot of low-voiced chatter.

“You think I need this tonight?” she asked as she carefully worked the offering through the opening in the bar. It was a beautiful scale, probably the best yet, a deep shade of turquoise with lavender edges and intricate patterns of luminescence covering the surface. “It’s gorgeous — thank you.”

Petal stared at her for a minute and then waddled away to investigate the food bowl.

Dahlia took the extra time to pour out a few special treats for her and then left the cabin moving fast. She tucked the scale in her pocket, anxiety making her tense.

Why would Petal make such a big deal about this tonight?

Maybe she picked up on my unhappiness about going back to the casino. That must be the explanation.

Running a little late, Dahlia burst into the dressing room, startling everyone there.

Way to broadcast the fact I’m late. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” she said, blushing fiercely as she went to her station and started undressing.

The beautiful sexy waitress uniform was waiting, with a pair of lower heels she was glad to see.

To save time she accepted the same hairdo and makeup she’d had before.

“You’re working the nightclub part of the floor tonight,” Mardri said, coming up to her. “You’ve got the tables next to mine. I’ll be glad to help out if it’s gets crazy.”

“Same goes for me,” Dahlia said, smiling. “My actual waitress skills are rusty though, I warn you.”

“Mike asked me to look out for you,” Mardri confided as they walked toward the casino floor. “I think he’s sweet on you.”

Dahlia didn’t confirm or deny her friend’s suspicion.

She was astounded by the noise and number of people packed into the casino tonight.

Mardri laughed and towed her to the bar to make sure she knew where her assigned tables were and what was on the limited bar food menu, including the specials.

“Most people want to drink though and watch the holo of the tournament. Good luck, kid.”

She found Mardri’s prediction was correct for the most part.

Her tables stayed full but didn’t turn over much as guests were riveted on the current round of the tournament.

Dahlia kept the feelgoods coming as ordered and found herself glad it was so busy.

She didn’t see Mike except on the holo, glancing up when she heard his voice as he was interviewed about some nuance of the elimination brackets or announced winners.

Most of her customers were no problem, maybe a bit over-cheerful as the feelgoods took hold but there was one man who sat alone, his back to the wall, downing drink after drink.

He kept his eyes on the holo and muttered to himself off and on.

He was disheveled and obviously hadn’t shaved.

Dahlia debated telling the bartender to cut him off but he wasn’t acting out of control drunk.

She thought maybe he’d quietly pass out and then the bouncers could remove him with no fuss.

He’d wake up in sickbay later and be fine.

“Do I know you? Your face is familiar,” he said to her as she walked past the table after delivering drinks and high-end munchies to a group of Socialite newcomers.

“I’m sure we’ve never met before,” Dahlia replied. “Can I get you anything else? Some food perhaps?”

He didn’t answer for a moment but kept staring at her face.

Suddenly he snapped his fingers and pointed at her accusingly.

“You’re Lady Luck, the one who pulled luck for Sutton that night.

I was here. I saw it all go down. Where the fuck were you last night when I needed you?

” Before she could move away, he grabbed her wrist in a bruising grip and she dropped her tray on the table with a clang.

“Your luck and mine just took a turn, bitch.”

Dahlia let out a scream as he dragged her away from the table.

Two bouncers converged on them from the main casino floor but the next instant the drunk passenger had drawn a blaster and pressed it to her neck.

Now the nearby guests panicked and fled, creating chaos which allowed him to pull Dahlia with him toward the slot machines.

“Let me go,” she said, tugging at the hold he had on her. “Don’t make this worse for yourself.”

He laughed and the sound was unhinged, sending chills up and down her spine. “Oh it’s gonna get worse, for you and everyone else on this cursed ship. But we’ll go out in a blaze of glory, me and the fickle Lady Luck. At least I’ll be famous.”

Dahlia hoped the bouncers or Security or someone was coming to her rescue but she had to concentrate on her captor and walking with him. She was terrified if she fell he’d shoot her. “Where are we going? There’s no exit up here.”

“We’re going to the observatory and then I’m going to blow this ship out of existence. I figure it’s a nice vulnerable spot.”