Ruin

First trip

I had everything ready in an hour. The duffel bag was filled with stacks of money, passport and a letter telling me to register new credit card later on when I know it's safe  . I guess that was enough to tell me that uncle Jack want me to stay low until I am far from the town. 

I took a bus and left the town.  The town where i had grown up. I finally realised as my tears drop that I had been staying there at the same house, same town, same place while waiting for them to come back home to me. I know now that rather than sitting and waiting, I should go out and find them and the truth on my own. 

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It's been three weeks. The never ending motel, bus switching, eating greasy foods made me queasy and wanted to settle down somewhere. I ended up buying a plane ticket and went to Las Vegas. I still remember that in every single trips that my parents went had one similarity. They will always go there. It became their pit stop. And i'm sure 'city that never sleeps' enough to attract all kind of people, including the 'not-so-normal-people' out there. 

Maybe I can play couple of games to triple my money and see where it goes.

I booked a place to stay. I'm amazed with how much money do a wonder. From motel to a hotel, it was far cry from the beat up place i always stay in for the past few weeks. 

After putting away my things, i showered and wear simple no strap black dress. It was simple but good enough to make me loop presentable. Blowing my hair and letting it fall down pass my waist, I walk out from my room. When I reached the lobby, I asked few people about this place. They were more than happy to help, and of course as a courtesy I gave them few bucks. That made them more than enthusiastic to help me. 

As i entered the casino, I went to slot machine to test my luck. It surprised me that I hit the jackpot on my first try that the people around me starts to clap their hands.

"Wow. What a luck, eh?"
I smiled bashfully. "Yeah, its my first time."
"A beginners luck. Good for you, dear" said the middle aged woman before walking away to try her own luck. Then i went to casino roulette. I don't know how to play the others but this one look easier than any other. I had few chips on me and put it on the thirteen black, waiting for the man to start the game. 

And when it landed on 13 black, my eyes widen. Wow.. that was quite unexpected.  the man smiled and gave me more chips.
"Want to play some more miss?"
I shrugs. "Why not?" I took all my black chips and red twenty one. The man raised his eyebrow.

"That's a lot to loss, miss. Are you sure?"
"Sure. I have some more." I smiled.  somewhere behind my back i heard a chuckled and i let it be. As the ball turns round and round and round. again it stopped on the one I picked. 

"Congratulation. You win again."
"Thank you." I took my winning and was going to leave with it.
"Another one?"I look at him.

"I'm afraid my luck will run this casino down."
"I doubt so, miss." Grin the man. I raised my eyebrow and betting all my winning chips to black eight. I can see our table was gaining a lot of audience. the game start and again the ball ended on the number I had bet on. 

"The lady of luck smiling upon you, miss" I smile and throw a black chip at him.
"Thanks. That's yours." He caught it and i took all the chips with me. I can hear some people mumbling that they had let a good chance go. i went to exchange my chips and took the money with me.

It wasn't until the cash was out that i was accosted by a man who tried to grab for my money. I cursed and kick the back of his knee so he fall on his knee. And grab the arm that had my money and twist it behind.

The security guards ran toward us and took the man away. One of the manager went to meet me and bow few times, apologising. I waved him away.

"It's okay."
"How about staying at our suite, miss? Its on the house. As a token of goodwill from us."
"I already had a room booked."
"We can help with that." I bite my lips and nodded. The manager look relief and scurry away. I feel someone watching me and search for the source.

A big six feet three man in black suit, holding a glass of wine raised it and smile at me. Gorgeous man indeed almost... too perfect. and there was more... Beauty that I was more than used to, growing up around not so normal people. I nodded and went to find a bar.

I sat and ordered a glass of champagne. The mysterious man sat beside me.
"Lucky, beautiful and capable. What an interesting combination."
I glance at him, well not really. I was actually looking somewhere behind him. I learned not to look at a guy face too much long time ago. Thanks to my father's advice in the past.

'Don't look at their face. Or you'll fall for them and do whatever they asked you to do.'

Levi and Hunter doesn't count though. My uncle knew them. This man on the other hand,

He is basically stranger and I am on my own. I don't have my uncle protection here. Back in town, I was more or less easy going to others because I know my Uncle had my back. He had his little spies everywhere and whoever he allowed to go near me, mean they are safe enough to enter my life. Like I wasnt aware of that little tidbit.  Here though... Better be careful than sorry.

"and who might you be?"
"I'm Amadeus. and you?"
"Alexa."
"Alexa, beautiful name. It suits you perfectly."
"I'm sorry but if you're thinking of trying to get into my pants with that, you have a long way to go, Mr. Amadeus." I said and thank the bartender when he gave me my drink. I took a sip on it.

"I am not as I seem and I am sure the same goes to you. So, do us both a favour and find someone else." I continued, wishing this man could just go away.
He chuckled.
"definitely interesting."
"I am here simply to get to know with you, Alexa. A little friendship won't hurt, won't it?" My face grow hot and probably red with embarrassment. look at how this man made me fluster! I was always cool, calm and... and... whatever. Just one minute in his presence totally made me look like a teenage idiot!

"Fine." I hold out my hand to shake hand with him. Instead, he kiss behind my hand and look at me. Again, i didn't meet his gaze, I skittered my gaze away slightly to the left. I took my hand quickly to hold my glass.
"Are you staying here for a long time?"
"I am not sure yet." then i thought about something. "Do you know any place here i can buy?"

"Oh? And pray tell what for?"
"A small cafe or bar. I don't know..."
"I can introduce you to some people and they can help you with that. But in return, can you accompany me to a club tomorrow night?"

Club? As in going out to dance with this stranger... I weight it down carefully. If he dare to do something to me, it's not like I can't protect myself. I am more than capable to. And if he can become my friend, maybe life here would be a little bit easy to have a friend like him.

I bite my lips and then nodded.
"That's acceptable, i guess."
"Good." He gave me a black business card. "Contact me when you're ready"

He stood up and just when i thought he was about to go, he turn around and lean forward.

"It's good manner to meet people eyes when you're talking, Alexa. See you soon." I shivered and look away. I hate to admit but his low voice was enough to lull woman into their deepest and darkest fantasy. And I don't want to be trapped in that sort of fantasy. I pinched my tight and bite my lips.