The Banker and the Dragon

Chapter 3: Royal Casino. 7th March 2021.

Jared Pond was pulling his hand through his long blonde hair while sipping his Espresso Martini. Jared’s expensive brand name tuxedo was getting tight and he knew that he needed to go back to Australia for training and detox soon. It didn’t cut it, to be an agent for the Royal Australian Kangaroo Intelligence (RAKI) while being unfit.

The lack of fitness came with the territory. Jared’s greatest strengths lay in his sharp observation ability, and poker skills. His assignment here at Royal Casino in Monaco combined those strengths. While the poker playing was a way to pass the time, Jared also had a mission in Monaco. He needed to investigate if the leader of the Global Health Association (GHA), Theodore Ahmadi, took bribes from the Chinese government.

Jared got distracted from the poker when his latest fling, the Italian femme fatale Celeste Florentino tapped him on his back.

-          Hi Jared, how nice to see you again. Are you winning at the tables today?

Jared:

-          I think I just did.

Jared turned towards the others, gathered his chips, and spoke:

-          Well played, gentlemen. I need to focus on the lady now.

Jared got up and smiled at Celeste:

-          Would you like some Dom Perignon to celebrate the occasion?

Celeste smiled seductively at Jared and replied:

-          Of course, there is not a better way to get a woman excited for the evening.

‘I wish there was,’ Jared thought to himself, but instead he replied:

-          Come with me, Celeste.

Having said this, Jared put his hand on Celeste’s back and he walked her to the bar. “Keep the change!” Jared said as he paid for the exquisite champagne with a 500-euro gambling marker.

Celeste:

-          That’s a very generous tip, Jared.

Jared:

-          I can’t bring money to the grave, and in my line of work, one never knows when the grave is due.

Celeste:

-          What exactly do you do for work, Jared?

Jared:

-          Shh, we are too early in our connection to ruin the mystique.

Hearing this, Celeste grabbed one of the strawberries that came with the champagne, and bit it seductively.

-          I agree. You know how to behave yourself, Mr Pond.

Jared reflected over why Celeste addressed him by his last name, but he soon found a more pressing matter. His target, Theodore Ahmadi, entered the casino, and he got seated by a table occupied by a Chinese businessman.

Jared had seen the same procedure take place several times in the last week. Every day, Theodore got seated at a table and won a large sum from a Chinese man, who subsequently left the casino. Since it had happened five days in a row, it was not a coincidence.

Jared decided to observe the transaction while sitting at the same table, he handed Celeste his room key and spoke.

-          I got to work, honey. Meet me at my room, 407, in one hour. Keep the champagne cool and everything else hot.

Celeste:

-          You can’t treat me like that. I am not a p********e!

Jared pretended to drop 1000 euros in chips and he replied:

-          Oh, how clumsy of me. I just dropped a thousand Euros. They are yours if you pick them up.

Jared looked at Celeste in disappointment as she got down on the floor and picked up the chips. She had failed both his tests, and he realised that she wasn’t the one for him. On the bright side, her body was luscious and she would keep him busy tonight. This wouldn’t have happened if she had splashed the champagne in his face and taken off.

Jared walked over to Theodore’s table where the Ethiopian had won 50,000 euros from the anonymous Chinese businessman who was getting ready to leave.

Jared approached Theodore and spoke:

-          Do you mind if I join you?

Theodore:

-          I was about to leave.

Jared:

-          Don’t be like that. You just arrived and luck is favouring you tonight.

While saying this, Jared glanced at the Chinese man who was rushing to get away from the table.

Theodore seemed hesitant, but at last, he decided to stay:

-          Very well, Mr?

Jared:

-          Pond. Jared Pond.

Theodore:

-          Ahmadi, Theodore Ahmadi.

-          I will play you, Mr Pond.

Jared:

-          May the best man win.

Jared and Theodore played for a while until Jared started missing Celeste’s warm body and decided to lure his Ethiopian adversary into a trap.

Theodore flustered when he realised that he had lost 100,000 Euros.

Theodore:

-          f**k. Well played Mr Pond. I shouldn’t have overextended my luck!

Jared smirked at Theodore and replied:

-          I am sure that money will drop down from the sky for you again. If not, you still have the 200,000 that you won from the other Chinese gentlemen. I bid thee farewell.

Jared got up, collected his chips, and bowed theatrically as he walked towards the cashier to deposit his winnings. After that, he walked up to room 407, for a steamy night with Celeste. She had failed his tests so far, and she was unlikely to win his heart. But with a body like hers, she had won his body for the night!