Chapter 1: Gambling Life

I was fiddling with my cards while staring at my opponents at the poker table. As I made Rustana and Jericho Romanov place their bets, they all looked tense.

Great...they were slipping into my trap. I was grinning from the inside, But I couldn't show it to them.

The showdown was about to begin. I prepared to show the cards...

3...

2...

1!

Rustana had a Full House...while Jericho had a Straight Flush...interesting...

"And the winner is...Natalia Rutherford! with a Royal Flush! We haven't seen that one in a while!" Rustana and Jeremy glanced at my hand, stunned. Heh, I love the expressions on their faces right now. It was like looking at a painting that I adored so much.

My name is Natalia Rutherford. I am 5'1 with long black hair, round brown eyes, and a curvy body. I'm a gambler at Monte Sierra Casino in Seattle, Washington. This location was known to be a favorite hangout for celebrities and multi-millionaires. But I wasn't one of them.

I started going here 2 years ago and had frequented this location to gamble. I was unemployed and had no family. Yes, I'm a single unemployed woman. But did I cry and complain? No, I didn't want to change anything because I was happy with how things were.

"Talia!" Someone yelled and snapped me back from reality. It was my friend, Mikaela Shaw, a cocktail waitress in this casino. I go here too often that they already know my name.

"Oh hey, Mika. What brought you here?" I drank the whiskey on her tray, downing it all in one sip, and gosh...it was heaven. She sighed and said, "The slot attendant had been calling your name for like...2 minutes now! Don't keep her waiting." She pointed next to me. I looked in that direction.

"Let's discuss how we'll distribute your winnings," the slot attendant motioned for me to follow her, so I did. When I turned around, I saw Jericho comforting Rustana as she sobbed; losing can make people like that. It was pathetic, but maybe I'm thinking like this because I haven't lost it yet.

We went to another room, where the slot attendant opened the safe, revealing mountains of bags full of cash. She took one of the bags and placed it on the table. "This is $50,000; enjoy it while it lasts," she stated as I smiled at the bag. I opened it so I could count one stack of cash. This was a large sum of money. I replied, "Thanks." and closed it again to leave the room. The bag was a little heavy.

When I tried to locate Mika, I noticed her serving some gamblers at a nearby table. "Mika!" I yelled; she turned and strolled over to me, holding her empty tray. "What is it now, Talia? More whiskey?" she inquired. Heh, she knows me so well. "You got it," I said, handing her a wad of cash and patting her on the back. I made my way to the bar.

I sat on a stool, leaning against the counter, and placed the black bag beside me. "Hey!" Someone suddenly flicked me on the back of the head, and I turned around. "Mika, why did you do that? Damn, it hurts so bad." Mika stood there, hands on her hips, an annoyed expression on her face. "I told you to stop paying for the whiskey! It's all on me!" she scolded me, like a mother scolding her child. Although I was older than her.

She moved to the opposite side of the counter, poured another glass of whiskey, and placed it in front of me. I smiled, knowing she still cared about me. "Hah..." I sipped the whiskey she had given me and set the empty glass down, feeling a little tipsy.

I placed my head on the counter and felt the icy surface beneath my face. "Had enough whiskey yet?" She asked sarcastically, her face resting on her hands, raising an eyebrow at me. I invited her, "Mmm...drink with me." I tried to reach out to Mika, but I was too intoxicated that my hands fell.

I turn my head to look at her, pleading with my eyes. She rolled her eyes before pouring more whiskey into another glass and mine. She answered, "Fine, just this once," I smiled and then raised my glass to say, "Cheers." Our glasses clinked, and I gulped it all down in one sip. I sigh, exasperated, "When will I have some real competition?" I played with my empty glass, circling it.

"Don't get too cocky, Talia; you'll meet them someday," Mika stated, then sat beside the nearby stool to accompany me. "Thank you, I needed a drinking buddy," I added as I hugged her. She hugged me back, and we continued drinking.