Lucky Ones

Chapter Three

Per Lydia's instructions, Joanne awoke bright and early the next morning to deliver her application and meet the casino's manager for an interview. Stumbling out of bed, she made her way to her tiny closet and found her nicest blouse, and paired it with a pair of simple black slacks.

To tie the outfit together, she slid on her only nice pair of shoes: simple black leather flats. Glancing in her mirror, she nodded, mostly satisfied with her look. She used the two bobby pins lying on her nightstand to pin her hair back from her face and swiped on some mascara lazily.

Looking in the mirror once again, Joanne stood up tall and straightened her jacket.  "You got this!" She coached herself, "You're a badass motherfucker!" Nodding and feeling now remotely confident, she exited her room to check on her siblings.

At precisely 7:55 a.m. Joanne found herself across the street from the hotel's grand entrance, unable to walk any further. She stared up and the enormous building, taking in its magnificent stature.

The shiny, black-tinted glass shone under the rays of the sun, flashing Joanne an intimidating light. Her eyes scanned down the building until they reached the elegant silver sign that read "EUPHORIA" in a delicate, yet commanding font. Below the sign sat the firm solid-black covering extending over the sidewalk to guard any visitors from weather. The tinted glass doors remain shut, testing Joanne's patience.

Without warning, Joanne charged across the street, unaware of a speeding motorcycle making its way through. As she marched through the middle of the street, the motorcyclist sprung to action, honking as he slammed his break, somehow managing to stay calm. The sound of a faint horn and breaking tires quickly caught Joanne's attention as the motorcyclist came screeching to a halt just a foot from her. The now-determined Joanne remained unphased, waiting for the cyclist to speak.

Removing his helmet to reveal himself, the shockingly attractive man yelled "What the hell?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Maybe!" she teased. "It's a shame you weren't a semi-truck with bad breaks."

A car quickly approached behind the man's motorcycle, calmly coming to a stop.

He laughed at the cruel joke, understanding her dark sense of humor. He flashed a boyish grin that would have made any girls' heart melt, but Joanne saw right past his shameless flirting. He could be a bit of fun though, she mused.

"Where are you going anyhow?" the man wondered aloud, settling his helmet under his arm.

Joanne gestured towards the glamorous building, as Grayson's eyes followed her. His cocky expression faltered as he took in the building.

"For what?"  He sounded skeptical.

She waived her papers towards him.  "I'm applying!" she said, sounding a bit giddy.

He moved to speak, but the car behind him honked, interrupting his train of thought.

Joanne laughed wholeheartedly and shrugged.  "Later!"

Then, she turned away from the man to finish her walk across the street. She approached the large glass doors. Joanne held onto the handle, grabbing it with desperation, making sure to not let the opportunity slip away. With a deep breath, she swung the door open and entered the hotel.

As the door closed softly behind her, Joanne found herself in the grand lobby of the hotel, suddenly overwhelmed by the glamour and wealth it radiated. The large space was dimly lit by the soft natural light that shone through the tinted glass. She gazed upwards, her eyes following the light gray walls that extended to a high ceiling. Dangling from it, a beautiful chandelier established a modern ambiance.