AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Please, God.I don’t even know what I’m praying for. Mercy, maybe?
I don’t know what I’ve done, but it must be bad. We’re joined by two more guards and now, I’m surrounded on all sides by armed men in uniform with badges and there’s no escape and?—
“Ah, there you are!”
An overly tanned man with silver hair and an impeccably white tuxedo greets me and my “entourage” with open arms and a beaming smile. “Miss Everett, yes?”
I nod. Slowly.
“My apologies for the scare. Seriously, gentlemen, can’t you see she’s terrified?” He shoos them away with a flick of his fingers. His million-watt smile returns, and he ushers me past another crystal fountain. “I was almost afraid we’d missed you. Right this way, Miss Everett.”
I stop in my tracks, only because I’m struggling to process it all. “Where are we going?”
“Ah, right!” He claps his hands together. “Forgive me. It’s been a busy night and there was a small disaster with the boss… Anyway. My name is Charles, and I am one of the floor managers here at The Meridian.”
“You’re…” I gulp. “You’re a pit boss.”
He scrunches his nose in distaste. “Only if you’re a cheater. Which—not to worry, Miss Everett—we know you are not.”
Well, that’s good.At least, I think it is.
He sweeps an arm behind me to guide me forward without actually touching me. “You are quite the celebrity! Among those of us who know about your big win, that is. And it is my duty—nay, myhonor, to grant you a complimentary stay in one of our most luxurious suites for the night. As congratulations for your obvious favor with Lady Luck.”
For the night?
Oh, no…
“I’m so sorry.” I’m stammering and I can’t help it. But I’m also panicking. “I can’t stay the night. I have to go get my?—”
“Guests are welcome, of course. We must ask you to cap off at a maximum of four, for occupancy regulations and such.”
I glance around the casino. I have no doubt the adjoining hotel is just as fancy, if not more. It definitely has a shower where I can rinse off all this sticky, dried bubbly from my skin.
And I know for a fact that Willow would go absolutelynutsto be able to live like a princess for a night.
At that, I manage to actually, genuinely smile.
“You know what? I think I’ll take you up on that.”
Charles smiles and offers me his arm. I still hug the bag to my chest, but I’m not as worried someone is going to steal it from me now. It occurs to me that that might be why so many guards flanked me just to get to Charles—they had to have known I was carrying a large amount of cash.
For the first time in my life, I actually feel somewhatsafe.
The walk to my suite is a winding maze through crystal and diamonds, marble and gold. I have the presence of mind to ask for a map when Charles fetches me my card key.
He takes me as far as the elevator, but stops at the doors and encourages me to step inside. “Number 1702,” he reminds me, pressing the button for the seventeenth floor. “And should you need anything, concierge is available at all hours, day and night. Just call the front desk for assistance.”
I give Charles a small wave as the doors close.
Then I slump back against the wall and let out the giant breath I’ve been holding this whole time.
This isreal.
This ishappening.
The doors ding and slide open. I step out into a silent hallway lined with cream wallpaper and plush crimson carpet, peeking around to see if anyone else is wandering the halls. On a whim, I slip my heels off and let my toes sink into the soft carpet.
Yup. Even the floor feels expensive.
