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I sit back and watch the world zoom by, while feeling everything I could want is already sitting next to me in the car.
**
An hour later, we're standing at a bar table. Kylian's cradling a cognac, I'm drinking water in a wine glass. We're standing between two tables, each with seven players, two of them being one of my experienced players and one trainee. The experienced player is just there for support and to give her shadow some discreet hints, but I prefer them not to communicate or socialize when they're in a club. We're there to provide a service to the poker club, and to give their patrons a good night at the poker tables. Part of that is to maintain the image that everyone at that table is there just to blow off some steam. Somehow, when you know someone is doing something for money, it takes the allure out of it.
"She's doing well," Kylian says, gesturing to the table to our left. This is only the second time the trainee has been playing in public, but she has a keen eye, and is bold. Bets like a demon, take care to mix them up, keeping everyone on guard. She plays like she has nothing to lose and that's one of the hardest players to read.
"Gotta get her to work on that that flick of her tongue on the left side of her mouth. She's done it the last three times she got a double pair or higher. Maybe get her to chew some gum. That always helped a guy I played with in college,” Kylian suggests, keeping his voice low.
Something about the way he not only embraces my work, but also is interested enough to give me feedback and suggestions, makes me want to kiss him right here and now. I restrain myself though, since I'm sure that somewhere in this room is someone who has a line to my brother's ear, and I'd rather we weren't ambushed at my Dad's house about why I was kissing his best friend in public.
I jot the note down on my phone as I've been doing for the last thirty minutes. It's not always as easy for the mentor to notice everything going on in the game when she's worrying about her own game. But with our trainee already tripling her chip count for the night, we can probably concentrate on the other girl, Annie, who was not doing as well. Her chip pile is down to almost half and the worry on her face is broadcasting clearly to everyone at that table that she is playing it safe.
"She's nervous, it's her first time." I whisper to Kylian and he nods. "Is she out anything if she loses?"
I shake my head. "No. We cover them for $1000 a night. They lose that, night’s over. And I make it clear that I don't expect the trainees to be bringing anything back for a few weeks. Playing here is not the same as in your bedroom with your friends."
"I'm not sure she believes you. She's clutching those chips like they're her children."
"She knows. All the girls talk. They know how this works. I have never pulled a girl for doing badly, only when she decided it wasn't for her, and then I've always found her work somewhere else"
He considers my words for a few moments. "Let me know if I can help. We are always looking for good workers."
"Yeah, like where?"
Before he can answer, we hear a shout at one of the tables and we look over to see one of the players stand up and slam his hand onto the table. Security is immediately behind him, the dealer says something to them, and he's escorted out of the club.
Mai-Li stands up and walks over to me.
"Sorry, boss, he was really rude to Annie, making inappropriate comments about her dress. I told him to leave her alone and he got really mad and threatened me.”
It’s obvious that the incident has rattled her; even under her make up, she’s pale, and her hands shake. I take her hands and look her in the eyes, trying to ground her. "Hey, it's okay. Why don't you tell the dealer that I'm going to sit in for a few rounds because you need a break, okay?"
"No, I'm okay..."
I squeeze her wrist. "You're not. Night's still young. Take a break." I give her a reassuring smile. A lot of these women got out of their strip clubs and brothels to get away from this kind of disgusting male behavior. Most of the time, the attention wasn't too bad, but now and then a sore loser channels his misogyny toward the women and shows the whole world the kind of man he really is. Booze and cards, as my father always said, will show you a person’s true character.
The poker room has gotten considerably busier as I watch Mai-Li talk to the dealer to explain the situation. She gestures to me and the dealer nods.
"I'll be back,” I tell Kylian as he’s focused on a hand going on at another table.
"Hmm? Oh, I’ll come with you. I can fill the jerk’s seat."
I eye him, seeing how he reacts when I say, "You really want to play with me?"
"I mean, I won’t if you're scared,” he taunts me.
"Oh, Kylian Baxter, I hope you brought your wallet."
He pulls it out of his pocket and waves it with a grin then follows me to the table and hands the dealer his credit card. She pushes $5000 in chips and his card back him; he pulls them towards him and winks at me from across the table.
This goes against every single one of my rules about staying focused and objective while working, but there isn't anything I could do about it now. Still, the distraction is immediately evident when the dealer has to remind me to bet.
"Ma'am. You're the big blind," the dealer says; embarrassed, I slide my bet across into the pot.
Immediately, the memories come flooding back.
A year ago, I sat in this poker club two tables away, alone, stacking my night’s winnings, when a woman sat down. She looked a little older, late thirties maybe, holding a deck of cards. Without a word she dropped $1000 onto the table and dealt each of us five cards.
