The games we play

3

Dexter holds the deck in his hands his voice is smooth and as he stared at her he said, "What are we betting for miss Carly?" It wasn't an easy choice she had to start small working her way up to something she could huge as leverage in her case. "I think, I'll go for honesty." He doesn't know what game she's playing narrowing his eyes he asks, "Honesty? What do you mean, I thought we were playing to win something?" A slow smile spread across her face, "Honesty is the most valuable thing a person can give you, Dexter. There is nothing else I'd want more." For once his gaze is not on her but on the deck already shuffling cards and she feels relieved. "As you wish, Carly. If you win we each have to answer 1 of your questions truthfully, and you know what let's make that the same for everyone, fair first game, eh? " Everyone agreed and he dealt the cards. Luck was on her side she was dealt 2 and 10 , Joe and Calvin both bust leaving Stephen, Dexter, Hugo and Carly who all took a hit, and with pure luck she was dealt a 9 . Smiling like a cat that got cream she thinks about what to ask them, and that's when it came to her. "OK I have it. Name the 3 most valuable things in your life, things that you would do anything to keep safe, replace if lost, do anything to protect." All five men looked at her with uneasy expressions, they didn't want to be that honest that vulnerable, especially not infront of each other. She had to show them hers before they would show them theirs. "Fine, even though I won, I'll say mine first, "First Family and friends that turned into family," she did all she could not to look at Hugo, she didn't want them to know how close they really were, put their friendship at risk. "Secondly, all the people I work with, my clients so to say, and..." She paused wondering if she should a table of men what her most prized possession was but Dexter would know of she lied, she just knew he would, feeling silly she took a breath and embarrassingly said, "and thirdly a rock in half-moon shape filled with crystals and diamonds." They all sat there staring at her, it wasn't enough, they still needed a little push so she continued. "Long story short, my grandfather he found it with me when I was little, we had this thing where we went into caves exploring, looking for fairies. He always told me that when a fairy died they turned into either a diamond or a crystal and so we went hunting until we found it in a cave, ofcourse years later I know he must have had it made and placed there, but the day we found it was one of the happiest of my life, and the fact that he went through all the trouble just to make me happy warms my heart , so it's one of my most precious possessions, worth more than anything I have." Hugo lets out a, "Whooo Hooo, some deep s**t babes! I've seen that thing a thousand times and always wondered whe you kept it!" Carly gave him a smile, "Now you know, so you're up next, come on dish!" Hugo half smiles, "Yeah, ok... so it's my boat.." giving Dexter a sad look, but he looks back at her and continues, "My 1st edition records from Elvis and ofcourse my Mama." He gives her a wink and throughs his hands in the air, "And that's the truth Carly-babes!" She gives him a knowing look, he she knows all about the boat, his dad spent a lot of time with him on it every summer until he died and Hugo had gone through a lot to get it back after his father had died and it was sold. "Ah your boat, we should really take it out again! Is it still in the workshop or is that baby water ready?" Hugo can't look at her his eyes are fixed on the drink in hand. "No, I, uhm I don't have it anymore..." Carly is taken aback she didn't know what to say, was he having financial problems? A very tense silence fell over them and Hugo couldn't look up. It's Stephen that breaks the silence, "Hugo lost that baby of his playing cards with Dexter, a few months ago and lady luck has just not been on his side to win her back." Carly feels Hugo sadness, but she's mad so mad that he would out his dad's boat up for grabs in a stupid card game. "Hugo, your Daddy's boat? Really? What where you thinking?" Hugo hangs his head even more and she can feel Dexter's gaze on her. Refusing to look in his direction she gathers herself and mutters under her breath,"Men, bloody fools, the lot of you!" Calvin, Stephan and Joe all name things that include paintings, a watch, a signed baseball, an elephant sanctuary , family and then it's Dexter's turn, all eyes are on him but his stayed firmly locked with hers. "My golden ring," he lifted his hand to show them, it sat fat and big on his pinky finger fitted with a green emerald, it looked to be a family heirloom, "The Porsche," and all the men gave him an 'of course of course nod', "And the twins." She blinked at the word twins breaking eye contact. Stephen jumped up, "Well I need the little boys room, I'm out on the next hand, no more heavy stuff for the rest of the night,ok?" Calvin and Joe followed suit. "So a game for the three of us then?" Dexter asked as he started collecting cards and reshuffling the deck. Hugo looking very nervous now, "You know I'll let you two have your little c**k fight and be the dealer, eh?" Dexter's laugh boomed through the little garden, "It's hardly a cocktail fight Hugo!" Hugo knew better," Well, then my friend, you have a lot to learn about our Carly here! You are most definitely in a c**k fight.... and Dexter ... I'm afraid you're going to lose!" Carly loved the fact that Hugo was fully in her corner, it must not have been easy for him being in the middle of two childhood friends like this. Dexter however looked taken aback by his friends statements, disbelieving even. "Well, now I am infact very intrigued Miss Carly, you can deal Hugo." He said getting up and placing the deck in the middle of the table so he could reach it. Hugo clears his throat and shrugs, "I knew I shouldn't have let you come here." Carly felt a slight pang, but understood him all the same. "Hugo, babes you're the one making a big deal right now. It's a game of cards and what have you lost so far? Exactly nada, now come on deal em!" Dexter sat quietly looking at the two of them bicker, "Not so fast, what are the stakes?" He asks holding his hands up so Hugo wouldn't put down the first card that was already in his hand. "I chose the first round, so you choose now?" She offered. Dexter liked this, she could tell his mind was turning and spinning already, his eyes burning on her skin and his smile turning into a sly one. "Bold of you." Carly felt uncomfortable his words came at her making her shiver again. Like he knew her secrets and would use them against her but infact he knew nothing. After one more minute he finally spoke, "If I win this round I want your fairy diamond rock. " His words flat emotionless, but they didn't match his eyes, his eyes held all kinds of emotion, darkness even. Carly gasped sharply, "Oh you wouldn't !" Shock on her face. Or so she had hoped. She knew he would want her to bet something so close to her heart, but what he didn't know was that she had a relic made a few years ago for insurance purposes, the real rock with with real diamonds and crystals was under lock and key in her safe while the identical fake one sat on a shelf in her living room, no one had known. That's why she had told them about it. She wasn't coming to a bull fight unprepared! Dexter gave her a small laugh, "We don't have to play, but if we do that's what I'm playing for." Carly shivered visibly, he just took whatever and whenever he felt like it. Showing her the dangers that everyone keeps warning her about, but she come this far, she's really close. She needs to do this. After pretending to think about it for some minutes she finally says, " Fine, Dexter Moore if you win you can have my fairy rock, but if I win I want that Porche of yours." His face almost dropped, he hadn't put any thought into what she would demand but he, too was far too deep into this to back down now. Groaning loudly he breathes," Deal. Now let's play."

Hugo dealt the cards facing down and Carly checked to find an ace and 10 ... a soft hand. She smiled but not too much, she had won. She just knew it. Dexter didn't look happy as Hugo had asked what they wanted to do. Carly said stay and Dexter had nervously tapped the table meaning he wanted one more card. All eyes on him as he checked his cards. His eyes turned angry and she knew she had what she had went there for. Hugo very carefully asked them to reveal their cards and when he saw that he had lost he smashed a glass to the floor. Carly jumped up and moved behind Hugo covering her hands, had this been a push too much? Or was this his temper everyone was scared shitless off? Dexter continued to swear and behind Hugo's back she heard a few more things breaking. She was visibly shaking, but she knew she wouldn't back down! "Dex, come on now man, you're scaring her!" For a moment there is silnce and Hugo speaks again, "Carly, babes maybe we just forget that game and play for some money instead?" Carly was so pissed off, so much so that she finally came out from behind Hugo's back to face the beast that Dexter had unleashed, taking a step to face Hugo she almost screams at him in anger, "Are you kidding right now? Do you think for one second if the tables were turned he would take it back? Spare my only sacred childhood memory? Do you? Isn't this how you lost your boat to him, too? Did that stop him... seeing the pain in your eyes when you talk about that boat, the only thing you have left of your daddy?... No, this is his game, he knew the stakes and the car is mine, and that's that, no matter how many plates Mr. Moore here breaks or how badly he behaves himself." Hugo looked like a child that had been lashed still he pressed on ," I know Carr it's just, let's not do things like that when we're all drunk." Carly couldn't believe him, she had never been that upset with him. Turning to face him again she almost spät, " And how sober were you when you lost your Daddy's boat hhhmm? How?" Hugo looked at Dexter, "Sorry man, I tried to reason with her but you're on your own here." Dexter seemed to have finally calmed down he was sitting in his chair again looking more than just a little pissed off. No piercing eyes were staring at her now, instead he was holding a tequila shot between two fingers, downed it and said, "I do apologize for my short temper, Carly. I am a man of my word and the car is yours." Reaching in his pocket he took out a pair of keys and put them rather harshly on the table. "There you go." She looked at him in utter surprise.... "Oh,you drove it here?" He sat back in his chair and gave an slow nod. "Well am I not the luckiest girl tonight, coming in a cab and leaving with a Porche!" Dexter got up ubruptly and stalked away, her guess was that he was going home. Being defeated was not easy for a man like Dexter Moore, but if everything went to plan he'd have his precious car back the very next day. Hugo turned to her once again, "Carly, hollly fuckkk, what are you doing??! That car means more to the man than his own mother! You're playing with something far more dangerous than fire!" Carly had to sigh. " I know , I know! Don't worry by tomorrow it'll all be forgotten, ok!" Hugo has both hands in his ash blond hair, his very light blue eyes filled with worry, more worry than she had ever seen in them. He suddenly looked his 35 years although she'd always thought that he looked much younger. His muscular shoulders hanging as he slumped back into his chair. "Why did I let you talk me into this, more like how, how did I let you talk me into this? He will not let this go, oh no. Oh no. Do you know who he's going to punish, me. Oh f**k. Fuuuuck... " Carly walked over to where he was sitting and put her hands on his shoulders, "Hugo, stop, you're going to have a panick attack! This is just how he plays his games, he knows I won't really take it from him and that he'll get it back,ok? I thought you've known him for years?! " Hugo takes a moment to take in what she had said. "What? Are you insane? Carly, he does not play games!" Carly looked over her shoulder to make sure they were still alone, "Hugo, I've never known you to be a p***y, now man up! I swear on my life, this is a game to him,ok ? Chill!" She stood and slowly rubbed the creases from her pants. Taking the last tequila shot and downing half she gives the other half to Hugo, when he takes it willingly she waits for him to finish, "You know he's waiting to give your boat back to you right? He's just waiting for you to challenge him for it, the longer you wait the more he enjoys your weakness, your pain." He gives her a look and shakes his head, "I just like having all my fingers on my hand, not like the last man that challenged him!" Carly is surprised at how afraid he is. "Pfft, suit yourself. But I'm telling you the next time you get together and the stakes are high say you want your boat. He'll even lose on purpose to give it back to you." Hugo has an unbelieving look on his face,"What make you so certain, you've known him, what three hours?!" Carly has seen a new side of Hugo and she's surprised that he's a businessman at all. All these rich men did was play games, manipulate, calculate their next steps how was he still alive in their world? "Jesus Hugo, how are you even a businessman? I deal with people like him everyday, it's called reading people! It's half of my job!" Just then the other three men came swinging and dancing back to the table, Dexter surprisingly still there walking slowly behind them. "Carlllyyyy, I heard that YOU'VE got yourself a new car! That's my girl!" Calvin slurred and held his hand up to give her a high-five. She could she Dexter's mood growing somber, "Oh, Calvin we don't celebrate our friends losses..... but thank you," she whispered. The rest of the night went seemingly well they'd had more tequila and food and they were trying to guess personal facts about her, she'd promised to tell the truth if they'd guess right but they hardly even got one answer out of her. At 3am the restaurant closed and just before they were asked to leave Carly got pen and paper out of her little golden clutch and wrote a simple contract for the Porche, just to be sure. Dexter was so drunk she wasn't even sure he knew that he was signing away his beloved car. She had said her goodbyes and called her brother to come pick her and her new car up when Dexter stopped her. "Carly, she's my baby, take care of her, she's old. Ok ? " She gave him a simple nod when he grabbed her arm , "You do know that she's the 3rd Porche that was ever made right? That's why you wanted it, not just because I said it was important to me, right? " His words were unsure, slurred and he looked like a child who had lost his favorite teddy bear." Her brother was getting very annoyed, 3.30am wasn't his favorite time of day to pick up his drunk big sis. "I'll take very,very special care of her, Dex. I promise!" And then she surprised even herself when she leaned forward and gave him a long lingering kiss on the lips. He hadn't returned her kiss at first and when he started to she pulled away, realizing her mistake. She hopped into her brothers car and was in bed roughly 20 minutes later. With the keys and a contract to one of the most valuable cars that ever existed. She would definitely call her night a huge success!

The morning had been brutal, she hadn't had that much tequila in a while! Only getting herself to work had taken four asprin and slapping herself in the face about ten times. Bernie had given her his usual big brother number and even yelled at her for the first time since she's worked for him, so she had to convince him to help, even though he didn't really have the balls for it, but she knew that Dexter was coming to bargain for that car, he wasn't about to let it go because of a stupid little card game and she had the perfect bargaining chip. Michael was telling her about his night out and how he ended up dancing top less on the bar of the gentlemens club he frequents often, he had a video and it was rather amusing, she laughed until the tears came, when suddenly without warning her door all but flew open, revealing a very tired looking Dexter Moore standing in the door.