The Devil Wins Too
1882 Words
In Thorne's Gold Swan's Casino, just in the exclusive membership room.
It's a merry moment for Casper Ford. They are now cheering for him for winning the pot. People in the poker game call him The Almighty Poker Master because of his winning hand. His good hand—as people familiar with the poker game say—has almost put most casinos out of business.
How will business keep running smoothly if Casper wins every night?
In Iron Claw City, Casper has become a secretly wanted man. Most of the casinos in town reject him now. Some of the underworld bosses even started to target him. They even made attempts on his life but Casper Ford, the nimble fat man with the biggest stomach always seemed to evade them.
He spends his night in Gold Swan's casino, with acquaintances, drinking his third Heineken beer. He's already tipsy, swaying on his feet as if he is about to tilt over.
It's his third win for the day. He carries the chips worth about three million dollars and announces he's retiring for the night.
Unfortunately, someone has already set his eyes on him. With turquoise predator-like eyes, he follows Casper's movements all night.
Casper feels him. He's not afraid. He's been evading them all his life. He'll be just another victim he's about to fool.
He stands, packing up his bounty into his rucksack. A hand reaches out and grabs him. The hand is soft and melts into his skin. He turns and looks.
It's the card dealer—a fine curvy woman dressed in a vibrant cheongsam. She has always looked alluring in traditional clothes. She's named Sheryl Lee from Country C. She speaks good English and is favoured by most men in the casino, including the big boss.
“One more round, Cap,” she tells him. “You've gained quite the popularity—The Good Hand. You've gotten my boss's attention and he wishes to play with you. If you'd please...” She gestures to a distance. Casper follows her hand.
A domineering man is sat on the most expensive sofa there is, over the top floor's open balcony. Two exotic models are curled up against him. He fondles one woman's brunette hair and she buries herself into him. The man locks gaze with Casper. He flashes a mirthless smile. Casper doesn't know if he's seeing a threat in his eyes or…
Sheryl continues, “he wants to be your opponent. He's honoured to compete with The Legendary Poker Master.” She knows how to flatter a man. And, she knows just how to use her words. She has been with and lived with men all her life. She has mastered the ability to please a man. That's why The Big Boss scouted her.
“What opponent?” Casper is irritated.
“My boss? You must know him. He really admires you.”
A roll of pride starts to unfurl in Casper's head, “your boss.” He scoffs. “He's making a mistake competing with me in a poker game. I'll drain his bank accounts. He better watch out. He won't know what hit him by the time I'm done with him.” He decides against going home, curious to see what this Big Boss is made of.
His mates start to hail him.
Sheryl Lee smiles and turns, winking at the man who's been watching Casper Ford. Another man stands behind him, his slanted eyes watching Casper too.
The latter wallows in praises the folks shower on him.
“Casper Ford. 59. Married with five children. Has been gambling for six years. His mode of operation is basically to go to casinos, play, win and go to another the next night with the same purpose. He's won a total of 9 million dollars from this casino,” the man behind him states.
“Heh,” The Big Boss smirks. “Casper is a smart man. That's how he's been able to evade malice for so long. Just knowing a few powerful people. He's one lucky old timer.”
“Boss. You should compete with him. Make him lose that disgusting title. Leave him in debt and make him beg and work for us.”
“Patience, Noah. Patience. Playing a poker game requires strategy, patience and luck. But your only thought is to win. To subdue. That's where he knocks you down to the floor. Take your time to study your enemies.”
“Do you think he cheats?”
“Well. Aren't we about to find out?”
“Mon Amour. I like how domineering you get when charged.” One of the models nestled against him straightens her neck and boldly kisses his lips. “Asher Thorne. You're a capable man.”
Asher smiles against her lips. All his life since he dominated over the underworld by storm, he never needed anyone to tell him his worth—especially from a woman. With his eyes on hers, “Noah. Escort Ms. Cara out, would you?”
Cara widens her eyes. It dawns on her. She has just offended him.
Casper sees his soon-to-be opponent getting handsy with a model sprawled on him. The other one is being led away by one of his henchmen. Casper frowns in irritation.
Why is this bastard keeping everyone waiting in a poker game?
Asher Thorne arrives. Three buttons of his satin dress shirt are undone revealing a sparsely hairy chest.
“In the nick of time.” Casper says curtly.
“Casper Ford,” Asher says and the sneer on Casper's face drops. No one here knows his full name. They all called him Cap. “Honoured to play with you today.”
Casper swallows his fear, the air of superiority returning and he waves at Sheryl Lee, “cards?”
Once everyone gets their cards, the men start talking, trying to curry favour with Asher.
He ignores them, contemplating the cards in his hands.
His silence makes Casper uneasy. He empties his rucksack on the round table and pushes his chips to the pot—his winnings. He has just set the stage for Asher. The more the bastard bids, the more he's going home with tonight.
Casper can taste the money in his mouth. “I'm in for 1.5. Big Boss, you here?”
Asher eyes him, then flashes a smile. Asher is a big man, at least 6 foot tall. The dress shirt he is wearing is fails to accommodate his defined muscles.
He takes out his bank card and hands it to Sheryl.
A black card.
The crowd peers at it. Sheryl runs his card in the POS machine and hands it back, then exits and reappears with a sack of chips.
Casper's eyes widened.
If I win this tonight, I will be a viral sensation overnight!
The other players study their cards and make their moves.
“Fold,” one of the five players pushes his cards facedown towards the deck. His face grimaced in frustration.
Another one puts down three cards signaling Sheryl for three new ones.
Another player takes one new card.
Casper doesn't take any. Neither does Asher. The situation is tensing up and the other players are starting to c***k.
“Big Boss. How about I raise the bet? 1.5 to 3 million bucks.” Casper says with a big grin.
“Cap, even if you won a lottery that's absurd.”
“Don't do anything rash, Cap.” The players berate him. Cap doesn't know Asher Thorne like they do so they warn him.
The devil is a winner too.
“Shut up.” Caster snaps.
Who are these bunch of nobodies to tell me how to play my game?
He's not The Legendary Poker Master for nothing.
A silly youngster like Asher Thorne who's wet behind his ears will never overthrow him.
Asher replies with a raised brow. “3 million? No. Sorry. That's too little. Even for you. I'll raise the stakes. 9 million. What about you, Mr. Ford? Do you think 3 million will cut it?”
Casper frowns. This motherfucker has just bruised his ego.
Did he seriously think I can't afford 9 million?
Casper does what he hasn't done before. He takes out a loan. Sheryl hands him a drafted contract. Casper sees ‘collateral’ and signs it. “Big Boss. I'm an avid businessman. 9 million is nothing to me but before I officially raise my bet, I'm leaving a promissory note.”
“A promissory note?” The other players query him.
“I did my part as the player Big Boss admires. I don't have any tricks under my sleeve.”
Asher smiles. In fact, he wants to laugh.
Why yapping?
Casper is desperate. He's already started to c***k.
What's written on the note anyway? He reaches out for it.
“Ah-ah-ah.” Casper says and Asher pauses, eyeing him, his eyes sharp and cold. “You can see the promissory note after the game, Big Boss.”
“Mr. Ford. Are you trying to cheat?” Sheryl speaks, looking at him like he's an outsider. If there's one thing she hates, it's losers like Casper.
“Cheat?” Casper stares at her with a cool gaze. “Baby. You should know me by now. I'm an honest and upright man. Cheating is beneath me. Big Boss understands, right? What's there to fear?”
They continue to play. Casper sighs in relief. He waits. It annoys him that he has changed cards for new ones while Asher still makes moves.
Maybe he’s bluffing.
Eventually, the rest of the players fold and leave the game. Casper grins in excitement. He's about to go home with 32 million—his biggest win yet.
Casper sets his cards faceup.
Asher sets his cards faceup in a neat row.
Casper compares their cards, grinning.
Suddenly, the grin on his face starts to disappear little by little.
Something isn't right.
There is silence. The crowd compares their cards.
“Cap, The Big Boss beat you with a straight flush!”
“Impossible.” Casper's eyes are as wide as saucers. “No, no, no, no. It can't be.”
“Ford. I won and you lost,” Asher declares triumphantly. “Now, pay up.”
Sheryl lays down the signed contract. “You're paying cash or card?”
Casper's eyes darted around. He doesn't have 9 million in his account. How's he supposed to pay?
Asher's triumphant smile disappears, replaced by a cold look as he stares at Casper coldly.
Casper panics. “Uh... Promissory... Promissory note.”
He has to admit, he is shocked.
Asher beat him by bluffing. He was too focused as if he had already lost. Casper let pride get the best of him that a newbie beat him with a straight flush!
Asher takes out the promissory note from the deck. He unfurls the paper and sees a name;
Breanne.
Then under it, it says;
For 9 million.
Asher crumbles the paper furiously. Casper had no intention of paying back since the beginning and he had fallen into the old man's trap.
He sighs and says coolly, “grab him.”
The men in black suits lunge at a terrified Casper Ford.
- Writer
