The Billionaire's Gamble

Sunday, May 6th, 10:18 AM Down off the coast of Miami, Florida, thousands of wealthy patrons had gathered together to set sail on the 'Caribbean Queen' cruiseliner for a vacation that held sin itself on board. Drinks, gambling, and more awaited everyone who wished to escape their lives for a while. Billionaire Mako Ruvic, the founder of Thelestian Aerodynamics, a company that makes aircraft parts and mechanisms, sat in the back of a Cadillac Escalade as he peered through the heavily tinted windows toward the vast ocean that overtook his view. Shadows washed over him, and Mako turned his attention to the titanic oceanliner nestled in at port that hosted a crowd of people waiting to begin their vacation. His driver pulled the vehicle into a secluded area next to the ship where much fewer passengers had been given access. Mako rolled his tongue across his lower teeth and hesitated for a moment while keeping a blank face pointed at the liner. He opened the car door, allowing the bright sun to shine across his clean white suit, and brushed his hand over the short, dark blonde hairs on his face. A couple of moments later, Mako's driver walked around to him with his suitcases. He heard the trunk of the Escalade shut and looked over. "Here you are, Mr. Ruvic," the driver said. "Everything is ready for your vacation." Mako removed his black sunglasses, squinted, and took a deep breath of the fresh air, the salt in the air lightly stinging his nose. "Thank you, Sonny," he said, reaching into his jacket pocket for his wallet. He removed a crisp one-hundred dollar bill from the fold and stretched his arm out toward his assistant. "Oh, thank you, sir!" Sonny said. "Sonny," Mako said, twisting his head toward the younger man. "What'd I tell you about calling me sir?" His driver looked to the ground, slightly ashamed, and Mako sprouted a half-grin. "Go on," he said. "You've got the week to yourself. Enjoy it. You'd better be in this very spot when I return. It would take me months to find a driver with your work ethic who can humor me as well as you do." The half-grin shifted to a full smile on Mako's face as he joked with Sonny. Taking the handles of both suitcases in each hand, he started to make his way toward the VIP gate of the cruiseliner. "Mr. Ruvic," he heard Sonny say behind his back. Mako turned and raised his right eyebrow. "For what my words are worth," Sonny said. "I'm sorry about your wife." Against his will, the blight of Mako's past surfaced, hindering his ability to keep the smile on his face. "She was an amazing woman, and I understand how much her death pains you." Mako paused in his tracks, fighting against the troubling thoughts in his mind. "Thank you, Sonny," he said in a deeper, quieter voice. It took him a moment to move past the sudden moment of despair, but Mako managed to collect himself, swallow his pain, and give his driver another smile. He raised a pointed hand to Sonny, trying to convince himself that he was fine. "Don't have too much fun while I'm gone," Mako said. "And say hello to your father for me if you can. It's been lonely in the hangars since he retired. Haven't been able to hire a better mechanic since." He returned to the path ahead of him and walked closer toward the cruiseliner. The engine of the Escalade turned over, and the tires cracked over the gravel as it drove away. Sounds of the sea and the party lifestyle caught his attention as he ventured closer to the ship. At the gate, Mako lifted his suitcases onto the check area and removed his passport and boarding pass from his jacket. He handed them both to the clerk and looked around for a moment as he waited. "Ah, Mr. Ruvic," the man at the desk said to him with a wide smile and a thick Caribbean accent. "What a pleasure it is to have you joining us on this voyage." Mako looked down at the nametag on the man's shirt. "The pleasure's all mine, Jean-Baptiste," he said. "Marcus here will show you to your suite," the man said. "And, please, enjoy your stay with us." After properly checking in, Mako followed the bellhop to the ramp that led to the main deck of the liner. He took a moment to size up the ship once more time, holding onto the rail of the ramp as he leaned his head back. The sheer size of the ship impressed him; his experience kept him around a much different type of means of transportation. Mako summited the ramp and noticed the exquisite design of the ship's exterior up close. It fared much better than his recently empty home or the towering office building in the center of Minneapolis. The young boy with his bags led him up an elevator, and when he stepped out onto the higher floor, Mako instantly sensed a more elite atmosphere in an already exclusive environment. A large, decorated wooden door stuck out to him a couple of hallways later, and he waited as the bellhop took out a special keycard and unlocked it for him. "Welcome to your suite," the boy said, opening the door to a grand room filled with all the comforts he could ever wish for. Mako stepped inside, scanning his home for the next several days from left to right. A glamorous kitchen hosted a shining granite island, though he doubted he'd use it much. The light peering in from the balcony pulled his attention next. "Where would you like your bags, Mr. Ruvic?" the bellhop asked. Distracted, Mako simply reached out a hand toward the bedroom. "In there's fine," he said. He took a moment to circle the living area and grazed his hand over the back of the couch. The bellhop returned and stood with his hands behind his back. At first, Mako felt a little puzzled, but then he realized his out-of-character impoliteness. "Here," he said, taking another one-hundred dollar bill from his wallet. "For your service." The bellhop happily accepted the tip, bowed his head, and departed for the exit while Mako wandered toward the balcony. He shifted the locking mechanism and slid the clear glass door open, allowing the sounds of waves and seagulls to flood the room. Clean and swift, a breeze flourished by and gave life to his face. Mako leaned on the rail by his hands and observed the deck below. An oddly shaped pool and a bar rested a floor below. He longed for a lengthy distraction to alleviate his mind. The death of his wife ached within his heart, and he hoped for a new beginning wherever he could find it. As he glanced over the near-empty pool, Mako's eyes centered on a figure laying on a beach chair. The soft, bare skin of her legs captured his focus for a moment, filling him with a mild sense of lust. He felt a desire to graze those beautiful legs with his hands. The woman didn't notice his watchful gaze, so he outlined her body from head to toe, finding every curve as appealing as any woman he had ever seen. Mako tried to shake away the brewing desire for her touch, feeling slightly guilty for his deceased wife, but something about the woman sent him into a trance. Eventually, he saw her turn her head in his direction. Frozen, Mako tried to pry his eyes off her. He faintly identified a thin smile appearing under her perfect nose and sunglass-covered eyes. Mako wriggled his hands across the rail of the balcony. He needed to know more about her.