Dead Elite

Chapter 7. Money Gambling

Sunday, 04 March 2018.

Sonia’s apartment, Manhattan Upper East Side.

It’s a weekly ritual they have to do. The money gambling—as they would like to call it.

Emilie starts shaking lightly the plastic bottle in her hand, which contains with random folded white papers. Each one of them written the name of The Elite members.

In the count of three, then Emilie stops shaking it. Then she slowly opens the plastic bottle to take out one of the folded papers. Once she gets it, her heart drums like crazy. She hopes this week will be her grander turn to win the gamble.

As she opens the folded paper in her hand, right at that second, her eyes wide awake almost immediately, and her heart almost skipped a beat.

“Ho-how this happens?” she mutters agitatedly as her eyes read the name written in it.

Then Sonia squints curiously at her and asks, “What’s wrong?”

And others also start staring bewilderingly at her as they still patiently waiting for her to announce the weekly winner.

Sonia and Illana raise from the white sofa to see for themselves.

“Who is the winner?” Sonia asks again. But Emilie still stands frozenly.

Then Sonia quickly takes over the paper from her hand to read it by herself. And right at that instant, she gasps herself, and almost suffocates her lungs from breathing easier.

“What the actual f**k?” she grumbles peevishly. Her eyes stare boldly again at the written name on that paper.

Illana peeps behind them to read it. And she gasps afterward.

“That’s impossible, right?” Illana asks. “How could a person win a lottery all the time?”

“How this b***h is so lucky every time?” Sonia mutters.

“Okay, so, I have to announce…”

But before Emilie takes over the conversation, Sonia grabs her hand and hurriedly persuades her, “Hey, just throw the paper. No one will notice. I’ll back you up.”

Emilie squints in disbelief at her, and whispers back, “What the hell? Why should we do that?”

“Because we ain’t gonna let that b***h win this time,” Sonia tells her with eyes pop so wide.

“I agree with Sonia. Just throw the paper. Change the winner,” says Illana while still crossing her arms defensively.

Emilie narrows her eyes again at both of her best friend. Then she manages to say, “I know how much we hate her. But we’re not getting any better by doing this. So, forget it.”

Sonia growls peevishly at her, while Illana just stares in silent and has no idea what to say.

“Okay, so, let me do my job now. Back off, girls,” Emilie says as pushing them to sit on the white sofa again.

After she clears her throat for a second, then she starts speaking in front of everyone.

“Hey, so, we get the winner’s name already. And I will read the name for you all,” Emilie says with a wide smile.

As everyone’s waiting for her, Sonia and Illana stare at her in annoyance. Emilie knows her friends will hate her for sure, but she knows the right thing to do anyway.

“And the winner is…” then she stares at them, one by one, and slowly, making them impatient with this announcement. “This weekly winner is…”

Sonia already grumbles on the sofa, “Ugh, for god’s sake. Whatever.”

Then Emilie continues to read the announcement for everyone, “And this weekly winner is Sheryl Crowd, again! Congratulation. You have such a good luck!”

And right that instant, Sheryl raises from the sofa and starts screaming excitedly. Everyone also claps their hands cheerfully for her.

“OMG. OMG. OMG! I know I’m so lucky!” Sheryl says as she’s approaching Emilie.

“According to the note on our finance book, you can have $2,000,” Emilie says to her as she writes the check for her.

“God, I love this week so much!” Sheryl shouts and can’t stop showing her happy face.

“Okay, do your speech properly, Beefy Girl,” Emilie says to her, after giving the check.

Then happily, Sheryl takes over the room for her thank-you speech, “Hello, everyone! I feel so blessed, of course! I know I’m such a lucky girl. I can’t believe I win the gamble for four weeks in a row! That’s just wow…”

“I feel like to puke after this,” Sonia mumbles agitatedly.

Emilie, who already sits beside her on the sofa, she whispers, “Don’t feel sad, Sonia. You may have your turn by the next time, right?”

“I don’t care about the money. I’m already rich anyway,” Sonia says pretentiously. “I just don’t get excited when I see her acting like a happy pony in my house.”

Illana almost bursts to laugh when hearing Sonia’s grouching.

“Ups, that’s…” and even Emilie lost in words for this one.

“Okay, so, hear me out, everyone!” Sheryl claps her hands again to draw attention. “Thank you again for always supporting me and being my good friends. I very well appreciated it! And especially for my loving-caring boyfriend there!”

And that’s when every pair of eyes starts looking at Jack. Everyone claps for them both, and of course, except Emilie, Sonia, and Illana who don’t care much about their damn relationship.

“Can she for once not flirt in front of everybody? And for God’s sake! She’s doing it in my house!” Sonia mutters while still staring cynically at that Beefy Girl.

And right afterward, Ms. Ash just comes back from the kitchen to greet everyone nicely. She offers them her delicious baking cookies. And of course, everyone agrees to enjoy her cooking.

“My mom has been taking a cooking class. So, yeah, of course her cooking taste feels better than before,” Sonia murmurs.

“Oh, right. A cooking class is good for your mom,” Emilie says. “But I hope she will make pastry too. I’m really craving for it.”

Sonia and Illana then giggle together with her pastry craving.

After everyone eats the yummy chocolate cookies, Ms. Ash asks a few of them to help her bringing two white wine bottles from the storage room. Then Jazz and Barbara hurriedly help her.

Once the glasses of white wine are served good on the table, then everyone can enjoy the beverage together.

“How about we do the next gathering in Alec’s house?” says Sonia suddenly.

Emilie and Illana immediately glance curiously at her. They think it’s weird that she suddenly says that.

“Alec’s house? Don’t even think about it! He has so many snakes come around, it’s dangerous!” Jack shouts, making his cousin embarrassed.

Alec smashes his board shoulder, until Jack growls in pain. But then they laugh together.

“That’s a total lie! How could snakes come around my cozy house anyway?” Alec shouts back. “And by the way, if you really want to visit my house, the door surely wide opens for you, Miss Sonia Ash!”

Sonia giggles at his humor.

Then suddenly, Barbara clears her throat and says, “How about we try another gateway for next week gathering? How about a restaurant with a beach view?”

Jazz quickly shouts, “Ah! Good idea. It will be refreshing for all of us.”

Sheryl and Jack then nod concurrently, while Alec seems a little surprise when she talks.

Then Sheryl says, “I think that’s good. We never actually try it. I agree, anyway. How about you, my Babe?”

Jack glances at her and smiles sweetly. “Yeah, I agree.”

“If Babara goes, I will go too. That’s a good idea,” Alec says, looking excited.

Sonia narrows her eyes in disbelief at everyone who agreeing with this next week plan. And so, she hurriedly snaps cynically, “Are you not afraid with the shark that will bite you off there?”

“Hey, Sonia, try to respect her opinion, even if you are not agree with her,” Jazz snaps back.

Sonia chuckles at him. “Ugh, God…”

“That’s okay, Jazz. I just want to state my opinion. If you are not agreed, it’s okay anyway,” Barbara says with a flat voice, like she doesn’t want to make a big of deal with her. “I just feel like, it’s getting boring to go from one house to another.”

“Yeah, me too,” Alec shouts. “Santa Monica’s beach is good, by the way. How about we go there next week?”

“Whatever,” Sonia growls again.

This social gathering ends with everyone finally agrees with Barbara’s idea. But before they go home, Sheryl shouts out loud, drawing their attention again in the middle of the living room.

“Hey, sorry, but I have to remind everyone again! Don’t forget to attend tonight’s grand party at the high tower. Make sure you come to my parents’ annual Wine & Co celebration!” Sheryl says excitedly to them.

“Ugh, celebration, huh? Whatever, Beefy Girl,” Sonia mutters.

And Emilie says, “Yeah, just let’s see tonight.”