Betrayed by Alcino

2. Telica

Telica

Feb 20,2019, Atlantic City, New Jersey

I stood inside the Borgata Hotel and Spa Casino. I thought agreeing to come here with Karen was a great idea but I’m not so sure now. Karen Tanner was a skank. She slept with everyone’s boyfriend and husband, but that wasn’t what bothered me. It was her habit of always starting trouble.

“I didn’t come all this way to get locked up. You want to flirt with her boyfriend you will get your ass beat alone and go to jail by yourself.”

The last time I had your back I was in a holding cell for forty hours listening to the rats’ scratch between my feet as they bounced from beam to beam in the wall. Nico hadn’t spoken to me for two months. It was the first time I saw my brother truly angry and disappointed in me. That would never happen again.

Turning my head, I looked at the casino décor. The blue sofas and the gold accents were flashy. Several colorful abstract paintings hung above the dark navy-blue leather couches. They looked great. The flashing lights above the gambling machines were bright against the dark lighting in the rest of the casino. There was laughter over the buzzing and whirling of the machines. My lungs hurt from the thick clouds of cigarette smoke that scented the air.

Her lips thinned. “Don’t be such a b***h. I brought you here and if there’s a fight, I expect you to have my back,” said Karen.

Rolling my eyes. “Then stop acting like that. I’m going to the bar to get a drink. Get your s**t together.”

The rouge carpet was a contrast from the taupe marble that was in the entrance of the casino. A black piano sat catty cornered to the side. There were short brown stools lined up in front of the bar. The bar had custom molding above it and the wall was filled with bottles upon bottles. Most of them I couldn’t name as they were so far beyond my price range.

I’m a Jose Cuervo kind of chick. On a good day, give me some Crown Royal and a hard d**k topped with vanilla bean whip cream and Whiskey Cake.

This bar was packed and I’m not surprised. The bartender looked like he poured heavy and had a charismatic smile. I wasn’t going to allow Karen to ruin my time here. My first time in New Jersey wasn’t going to be a bust or be highlighted with me protecting my ass in a jail cell again. Men weren’t the only ones that wanted to stick big things in your ass.

After running my hands over my neck, I strolled over to the bar, and leaned in next to the chucky man sitting to my left. A swift glance down the bar, let me see that most of the men here looked old and boring. I was hoping for eye candy but the scenery didn’t look promising. The scent of hot wings and beer drifted to my nose.

The bartender wiped down the bar with a rough white cloth. “What can I get you beautiful?”

“A Tequila Sunrise.” Clutching my purse, I gave him my dazzling smile.

“Coming right up.”

A tall redhead wearing a sequined dress laughed. Leaning against the bar, I allowed the chatter to sooth me. Wiggling my fingers, I grinned when the bartender slid my drink over towards me. Opening my purse, I tried to hand him a crisp twenty.

He held up his hands. “It’s already taken care of.”

Frowning, I look at him. “By whom?”

“The man that is sitting at the piano. He said, “Anything that you want, to put it on his tab”.

“How do you know he’s good for it?” Tilting my head to the side, I pushed my ass out and arched my back just a bit, hoping the mystery man had a great view.

“The casino comps him rooms every time he’s in the states. Even if he never gambles much, he spends just as much in alcohol one himself and his associates.”

A hush fell over the bar. Turning around my mouth fell open as the man at the piano started to play Beethoven Sonata Twenty-Nine. That was one of the most difficult pieces to play on the piano. I could hardly breathe. His beauty was magnificent.

His caramel skin was smooth and a stark contrast from his thick wavy jet-black hair. Long think fingers danced over the keys as his eyes surveyed the people around him. He was taking in everything and not missing a beat. How is he playing this complicated piece without looking at the keys? His chiseled jaw was covered with a goatee that looked soft. Usually, I don’t like men with mustaches but he wore his well. His thin lips and intense expressive chestnut eyes held mine. Even sitting, I could tell that he was tall. My guess would be that he was six two at the least.

I licked my lips. My mouth had gone dry. His eyes on mine sent a bolt of electricity straight to my core. Squeezing my lower lips closed, I hoped my dress doesn’t have a wet spot. After a few minutes, I looked behind him, breaking the battle of wills. My lungs needed a minute to allow air in. Pressing my glass to my lips, I took a sip.

When he completed the piece, he stood and walked toward me.

My knees became weak. He didn’t have a six pack., but he had an eight pack. His muscles had muscles. The suit he wore wasn’t off any retail shelf. It was custom and he wore it well. A Gold Rolex Omega Vintage watch hung loosely on his wrist. Everything about this man spelled wealth.

He leaned over to me. “A beautiful drink for a stunning woman.”

I raised my eyebrow. His voice was like deep dark chocolate, sinful and mouthwatering. “Thank you, sir.”

“My friends call me Al.”

My eyes traveled from his eyes to roam slowly over him. “Are we friends?”

His lips curve. “We’re not enemies. Please join me for a drink?”

Before I could answer, he turned around and walked into a room on the right.

Grabbing my drink, I walked into the room behind him. He sat at the table with a black bottle of Macallan. Which was a 60-Year-Old bottle of whiskey. Sinking down into the chair across from him, I starred. The lighting in the room was dim and very intimate. A scent of hibiscus and sandalwood drifted to my nose and I closed my eyes and allowed the aroma to imprint on me.

My eyes roamed over him then to the bottle. “So, you’re a whiskey drinker?”

“You could say that. Here, why don’t you try it. There’s whiskey and then there’s Macallan.” He poured me a glass.

Putting the glass to my lips, I took a sip. It wasn’t something I wanted to drink. “Is there a difference?”

His lips curved. “Macallan cost almost two million dollars.”

My eyes widened, but I took a sip. It was smooth but it wasn’t something that I wanted to drink. “Do you come here often?”

Placing the glass aside, I studied him. He was stunning. Everything about him screamed that he was a powerful predator. The casino had given him a room for his own entertainment. His clothes and manners showed his wealth, and this pricy drink. I doubted that anybody else here could afford a bottle of the whisky he drank.

He shrugged. “I don’t come as often as I would like.”

I doubted that I would ever run into this man again. Now that we had met, I would not forget him. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. Lucky for me, there was no way I could catch feelings for him because we would never see each other again.

Tilting his head to the side, he smiled. “A penny for your thoughts?”

“When is your birthday? What is your zodiac sign?” Moving my hair behind my ear, I studied his face. I love reading horoscopes and reading the stars. It tells a lot about a person and what is going on in their life. I could use a leg up on this man. I felt like a gazette in the presence of a hungry lion.

His smile widened. “Today is my birthday. I’m a Pisces. And you?”

Who stays alone on their birthday? He had money so why wasn’t he spending it on his special day with his friends?

“Happy Birthday Al. I’m a Taurus and May twenty is my birthday.”

According to the stars we are compatible. We are supposed to be sexually compatible as well.

“Alcino said, “Will you celebrate my birthday with me tonight?” He drained the rest of his glass and set it aside.

Leaning back, I cross my arms over my chest. “Are you here alone? I would imagine that on your birthday you would want to be surrounded by friends and family.”

“Yes, but I had to work. “Will you celebrate it with me upstairs in my penthouse?”

Should I go to his room? He seems like someone I can get used to. Well, why not. You only live once.

“Sure.” Taking out my phone, I sent a quick text to Karen letting her know where I was going. Normally I wouldn’t go anywhere alone with a man I didn’t know. Especially a man that Karen had never seen. Karen would come and throw herself at him, but at least she would be able to identify him if something happened. I sent her a text to meet me in his room. Fifteen minutes later, Karen had changed her outfit and waltzed into the room.

“Telica, you didn’t tell me you had company,” said Karen.

She has changed into what I call a stripper outfit. It was a see-through bodysuit with glitter and sparkles. Her hair had been swept into a ponytail courtesy of a fake bundle of hair and her face was airbrushed. Sauntering over to Alcino, she bent over to him and allowed him a generous view of her fake breast.

Gritting my teeth, I stood quickly and my chair toppled over. “Alcino this is Karen.”

Instead of him enjoying the view of her breast he stared at me. “Karen, it’s nice to meet you. I’m happy that Telica is taking her safety serious. If you are worried about her, just have management ring my room. I’m staying in the penthouse.”

Karen straightened and smiled. “Which room? This casino must have more than one penthouse.”

He finally looked at her. “You’re right. There are six penthouse rooms here. They are all blocked off for me. Management knows how to reach me.” Walking toward me, he extended his hand. Placing my hand in his, I followed him out. Karen stood and stared at us. I looked back at the bottle on the table.

“What about your Whiskey bottle.

“I have more bottles in my room.”

I stepped into his penthouse. The entire floor was white marble. There was a marbled circular hot tub in the middle of the floor. A golden dome light hung above it. I had never been in a place so beautiful. There was a soft scent of eucalyptus. He stopped and placed his room key on the desk.

Bending, he opened the stainless-steel refrigerator; he took two glasses and the bottle of champagne that was in the bucket of ice. I moved toward him like a moth to a flame.

Taking the glass of champagne, I tapped the glass to his. “May all your wishes come true.”

His lips curved. “Not all my wishes.”

He walked over to the massive king-sized bed and sat down.

For the first time ever, I was frozen in place. My body trembled just looking at him. I wanted him so much it terrified me. Taking a deep breath, I sat down next to him.

“Are you a virgin?”

My mouth opened and then closed. I looked away from him and around the room. “No. Are you a virgin?”

Why would he ask me that? Men don’t usually ask your body count especially a one-night stand.

Without thought, I down the champagne despite already being tipsy. I’m not a drinker but right now I felt like I needed more liquid courage than ever. The atmosphere in here has shifted from lightheadedness to seriousness. It is cold in here where there was warmth just a moment ago.

Pursing his lips, something flashed across his face. “Do you break your promises?”

“What?” I shook my head to clear the sudden dizziness.

“No, I don’t which is why I’m not quick to give them.”

His hand rested on my neck. “I think you don’t always keep them.”