As his property portfolio expanded, Charles’ eye was caught by the Royale Casino, a poor play on words but a popular venue with a well-heeled clientele. This allowed him an ideal opportunity to establish a network of powerful contacts while attaining no little prestige and, in some cases, useful leverage. He made sure there were private tables behind locked doors to cater to the elite and wealthy, poker rooms that never closed. His staff were hand-picked and guaranteed complete discretion. What happened in the Royale Casino stayed in the Royale Casino; secrets shared with no-one. No-one except Charles Steele.
Knowledge became power and, in time, it became an obsession. Charles bought the top surveillance technology to spy on every corner, sought out memory men and women to spot the card c
