The games we play

2

Carly wakes up filled with regret, she drank way too much and that a night before one of the biggest cases she's about to tackle. She imagined this differently in her head. Looking to her bedside table she can't help but smile, the keys to a very special car she won in a drunken bet, lay there. Along with the contract drunkenly signed by both parties. Offically naming her the new owner. Her smile grows, she already has the upper hand in a battle that only she knows is about to start. Her stomach turns and she scrambles to the bathroom heaving into the toilet.

Under the shower she recalls her very successful night and can't help but picture a certain face the whole time. He doesn't know what's about to hit him. Her old friend Hugo had done her a favor and invited her to one of his 'weekly hangouts' with close friends. It'd bascially a group of friends that's been hanging out since the 1st grade. Usually they meet at a country club or an exclusive restaurant but yesterday they decided to go casual and meet at a little Mexican place where Carly has never been, the eating area being outside added a certain ambience. Large trees covered the sky like a massive tent over all the tables, string lights hung in every possible direction making the lighting feel soft and romantic, music playing and the sounds of soft chatter coming from nearby tables. Their table had been in the corner for some privacy. She had begged Hugo to bring her, and it was no easy task. Especially when he heard the reason she wanted to come. Hugo had been her neighbor growing up and they've stayed in contact all these years, their friendship an honest one. She didn't lie to him and he was reluctant to help her, his words still running through her mind, "Babes, I'm not in the business of betrayal, no matter what Dexter Moore has done, I can't help you, what kind of man and friend would that make me?" Guilt ran through her for forcing him to take her anyway, bascially black mailing him into it, but it was all for the greater good, he'd see that in time. She'd arrived late and joined an already tipsy table, which was her real advantage. She decided to wear tight guess jeans that hugged her ass just right with a plain V-neck t-shirt dipping low, her brown hair hung in fat curls to her shoulders and her white strappy heels rounded off the look. Hugo had told her to dress casually but knowing that she'd be at a table with some of the richest and most influential men of the city she knew that their idea of casual and hers was different so it was a challenge getting dressed. She had not intended on being late but that seemed to be to her advantage, too. The five friends were sitting at the table, their laughter booming, and two pitchers of beer already empty. The table was right at the back almost in a corner, ivy growing wildy up the walls and fairy lights hanging in between chosen ivy vines. They looked happy and care free, enjoying each other's company. From where she stood they almost looked like frat boys and not like influential, maybe even dangerous, 30 something year old men.

Hugo noticed her and gave her a small smile before jumping up towards her, " Hey babes, youuu made it! Come on, I've got a shot of tequila with your name on it!" He was clearly already tipsy. Taking her hand he dragged her almost roughly toward the table, "Guys, meet Carly, the baddest chick I know!" She gave them a shy smile and rolled her eyes at Hugo's description of her. Staring back at her were four sets of eyes looking her up and down making her feel very uncomfortable. "Let me introduce my dear Carly-carl ," he pointed at the man sitting closest to where they were standing, "Stephen Jay," Carly took a step toward him and held out her hand but instead of shaking it he surprised her by turning her hand and placing a kiss on her fingers, "Nice to meet you Carly, after all these years of listening to Hugo ramble on and on about you it's nice to finally meet you in the flesh!" She gave Hugo a look, had he really been talking about her? Snapping back to the fact that Stephen was still holding her hand she slowly pulled away, " Well then I am at a disposition, Hugo hardly ever mentioned any of you, nice to meet you, Stephen." She gave him a warm smile and Hugo did not miss a beat continuing to introduce them, next to Stephen was Joe Carter, across from Joe sat Calvin McCabe and at the head of the table Dexter Moore. He sat with his back to the Ivy wall making it hard for her to properly greet him so she gave a little wave, "Hi nice to meet you!" He gave her a smug look and simply gave a nod. Hugo took the seat at the other end of the table leaving her to sit between Calvin and Hugo. There was a short akward silence and she felt bad for disturbing their care free banter from before. Hugo jumped on it quickly, "Carly babes, you are behind, here 2 shots to start you off with," He says putting two the shot glasses covered in salt infront of her. She isn't really a big drinker but she can hold her liquor and Hugo having partied with her often knew this. She was hoping to stay as sober as possible. "Oh, I should probably eat first..." Hugo interups her, "Nonsense Car, we both know you can handle it!" She knows what he's doing, trying to get her to shift her focus, maybe abandon her plan all togehter. With a tight smile she looks him in the eye and took both shots without blinking, all five men started cheering and whistling and she made a bowing movement with a smile. They started talking about how she knew Hugo, which led to multiple embarrassing stories of an eight year old Hugo professing his love for an almost 6 year old Carly, they had promised to marry and build their dream house in Hugo's backyard, in the form of a tree house. The men seemed to love the juicy details and burst out laughing when she told them the story of how Hugo had a naked phase and even stripped down in church on his cousin's baptism, his parents were contacted by the priest later asking if they needed any therapy for their clearly disturbed son.

Although she knew that they knew each other from going to the same private school she still asked which started off a trip down memory lane, they spoke and told their stories about their school days trying to embarrass each other. All while drinking beer and occasionally a some tequila. The air was easy as she sat joking and laughing, Stephen was like Hugo easy to talk to and open, making jokes and always ordering more beer and shots.

Eventually they ordered food and Carly was greatful she needed something in her stomach to soak up the tequila. Their food was brought out and a young girl screetched as she put her plate infront of her, "Miss Carly!" It took Carly a few minutes to place the girl. She was the daughter of one of the pro bono cases she took on a few months ago. Her father wanted to open a Mexican restaurant but was continually denied a license to do so by the city, with no real grounds. She helped him to file a racial discrimination lawsuit against the city, and in all of three days they settled and her client got a good settlement package. Even though he didn't have to work ever again with the money he had gotten, she was so happy to see that he still followed his dream and opened his restaurant. They had continually invited her to visit them, have a meal with them but she was impossibly busy.

Before she could even get out a word the girl had pulled Carly out of her seat and had her arms tightly wrapped around her waist giving her multiple squeezes, " Oh, hello, Gloria," She managed between hugs. The table of five men staring at her. Just as she was about to explain Gloria let go of her waist and grabbed her hand pulling her towards the restaurant, "Come,come, daddy will be so happy that you finally came! He was really sad that you missed our opening night!" All she could do was focus on not falling flat on her face while being pulled in the direction of the little restaurant.

Once inside she was embraced once more and thanked what felt like a hundred times over. She beamed at the family and felt proud that she had helped them to find their happiness. While talking she couldn't help but feel eyes burning into her, risking a glance out the window to their table one set of eyes were fixed on her with an intensity that almost made her uncomfortable, Dexter Moore was staring at her shamelessly like she was his prey, his eyes held something she couldn't describe, was it lust? or dislike? It felt dark to her and made her shiver slightly. She started unnecessary chit chat to avoid going back to the table but after 15minutes she started feeling light headed, she needed food. He didn't take his eyes off her for even a second in all that time she stood there. Mustering all the courage she could she said goodbye and headed back, hoping she looked confident and unphased that he was staring. Blowing up her cheeks and blowing all the air out she exited the restaurant and his eyes never left her, it made it hard for her to concentrate on a simple task like walking but she made it without falling flat on her face or tripping over her own two feet. Sitting down they all looked at her half expecting an explanation, "Work, you never know when you're going to run into someone you know!" And with that she took a huge bite of her enchilada before having to answer any more questions on an empty stomach. Dexter wasn't satisfied with her answer. "That's all we get miss Carly? " His eyes on her as she takes another large bite buying herself some time. She looked at him and realised from the slight tone in his voice that it was a challenge, he doesn't know anything about her they'd spent the majority of the evening talking about Hugo and his embarrassing childhood moments and then their school memories. He is intrigued by her. Staring her down one eyebrow c****d slightly she decided to challenge him. Swallowing the last of her food and taking a sip of beer, she makes him wait intentionally before she says, "A woman must have her secrets Dexter, it's never wise to lay your cards on the table, too soon." Her words came out as n purr, even though she hadn't meant for them to sound so mysterious. Dexter's eyes took a light and almost looked like they were sparkling, he wanted to play this game with her, wanted to test out her weakness he relished in the mystery and she could tell by the look in his eyes that he thought he had her figured out. With a sly smile he continued to pressure her ,"Ah, a woman who plays cards?" Looking to his friends he adds ,"But is she any good?" The challenge clear from the tone of his voice. Stephen whistles low after she gives no answer, " Well, Miss Carly, do you?" He asks with a goofy grin. Hugo is the only one that looks nervous, he almost looks stressed. She knows that she going to make it worse for him but this is all part of it. Playing games with Dexter, luring him out, being his prey. With a smile almost wicked she said as sweetly as she could, purposely ignoring Dexter, "This woman does play, you're going to have to find out how good I am." The whistles came from Calvin this time who reached for something in his jacket pocket, and after a few seconds a deck of cards is thrown on the table. Hugo laughs, but she can tell that it's forced, "Now now, gentlemen, Carly here is a lady and it's just not right to put her in the middle of our little card game." It's Dexter that speaks next, "What's not right is having to listen to you talk about Carly for years and years, but not getting to know her once you finally decide to introduce her to us, wouldn't you say? It doesn't seem fair, she's been getting to know all of us all night and yet we don't even know her last name." A look of defeat on Hugo's face, "Fine." He blurts out. "But no stakes tonight, just for fun! This time Carly cuts in, "Oh, I'd like to play for something, Hugo babes," and with a wink she adds, "What's the fun in playing when there's nothing to win?" Dexter claps his hands, one loud bang, "Then it's settled, the lady gets to name the first game." Another challenge, but she plays smart she wants to give him the feeling of being in control, "A woman deciding a gentlemans game? I wouldn't dream of it, Dexter. What's your poison?" She can tell that he loves the control, the sly look on his face tells her so," Alright, let's go easy on her boys ,how about black jack 21?" She's not surprised by his choice, some strategy mixed with a little luck and some bluffing. Carly smiles brightly, "Yes, boys do go easy on me." Carly could feel how uneasy all of this was making Hugo, she had only hoped that he could forgive her.