Ever Mine

Chapter 10: The Poker Match (Alec's pov)

Alec's point of view

Groups of people are charging in endlessly. The club has never seen a crowd this big, attending just to witness a single match. We've had large scale attendance like this before but only when we conduct well promoted and awaited events at the club which have become akin to traditions since its beginning. But that's the thing, this is not JUST A MATCH. Not to me, not to the audience and definitely not to him. This is the most anticipated match we've had in an extremely long time. The last one was between Mason's brother Aaron and Callum's brother Cade, that too in poker. It was two years ago, just a little while after both of them started this whole thing together and it became a success.

We're not actually doing this because we don't necessarily get along or to settle some brawl like most people have assumed. It's just something we do here, we conduct a special match for every activity held at Silver Bullet twice every year. Only those are invited to compete who have gained the maximum profit in that particular game in the last six months. It's a week long match series kinda thing. These matches are not really any different, except that we have higher stakes, higher biddings, larger crowds to support their favourite and extremely high profits to the house.

Tonight happens to be the one for poker and we have so many extra people because of the bad-blood and ownership that Callum, the guys and me share. This really excites people, they are so sure that some drama, most probably a fist fight is gonna go down and they would be overly compensated for the money they spend here.

Pondering over all of this I heard her. I turned and saw her walking in through the doors, arm in arm with Flynn and followed by Mason and Tyler. The guys were upstairs checking in the people who are coming in at the Roses and Pirates entrance to prevent any unwanted folks, we started doing this after an incident few months back on our anniversary celebration.

"Hey man!" Flynn and I shared a 'bro-hug'. And then one with all the others.

"Is that everyone?" I asked.

"Yeah that's everyone we wanted and a lot of extras. Man, tonight's gonna be hectic." Tyler said with an expression that showed he was not up for the cleaning we'll have to help the staff with afterwards.

"It's a lot of people. More than I expected." I said not understanding the hype. Never mind, 'more business for us' I thought.

"Oh there were more. We just shut the gates. I don't think we'd be able to accommodate more" Mason said extremely excited.

"You ready for the match? Is he here already? I didn't see him come in." Tyler asked

"Maybe he pussied out? He knows we're better" Flynn said with a smirk emitting a chuckle from Hazel who'd just been standing by us during our conversation. She looked nervous. Probably because of Callum. I sighed, I don't like the idea of her being here, she doesn't know anyone and Megan's helping out at the bar and I'll be busy focusing on the game. I'll have Mason watch her while we play.

"He's already in. Has been for a while. Said he's gonna set the place and table." I informed them. "You guys go ahead watch over the arrangements and let's just begin this soon, It's too congested in here."

They all moved to do that while Mason asked Hazel," You want me to introduce you to some of the girls here?"

She looked at him unsure but I answered before she could. "No that's okay. I'm with her."

"I'm so not dressed right for this." she said eyeing the people after Mason left. That's when I really looked at her. She was wearing a dress. Way too classy for the people in here. She definitely looked out of place, adorably so. She looked pretty. Wait, what? She looked pretty? Really Alec? She used to date Callum! It's just...NO! I thought all the while staring at her and maybe I made her conscious because she next said, " Maybe I should just drive home and change." Change? But she looks pretty. I thought.