GAMBLE: Rule of Cards

CHAPTER 37

“SO, IS it really official?” Sandra asked Denton who just got home from his appointment with the resigned game head and the spokesperson. Immediately after he went home, there was Sandra and Paul waiting for him in the receiving area. They are worried about Denton, though fortunately, Denton went home complete and safe. “Is it really official that you will be the game head for the entire two years? Are you sure you can do that? Are you sure there is no danger in doing that? I’m sorry but I am really worried…”

“We are all worried, Sandra,” Denton replied. He heaved a deep sigh after. “I, too, am also worried about us all, about my family, and if ever I would do good or not… but I should do this, Sandra,” Denton continued. “The game must have been one of those miserable times in my life but I can’t really deny the fact that the game was the starting point of my success today. The game started my journey in this field. Because of the prize money I won from that game, we are all living well and even better than before. I know that it was because of my dedication to win the prize money that took me to win the competition but… it was not just it. If I were to think about it, if it was not because of the game, I should have not won the prize money. I will just think of it as a service for the money that I got from them. I believe this will not be hard for me if you two are there behind me, supporting me…”

“You can count on us there. Of course, we are friends. We should always be there to support you,” Paul replied. Unlike Sandra, Paul is becoming more and more positive as the days go by. Paul, at first, was really not complacent about Denton’s decision of leading the game but, after a lot of things that he kept in mind, has thought that it might be the best decision for Denton to keep them all safe. “You should not worry about that. We are there behind you, Denton. You can just tell us what we should do and we’ll immediately follow.”

“I just got back from the game hall, and it was so big. It has a lot of renovations inside, in preparation for this year’s game, Rule of Cards. There are a lot of things that we should do,” Denton replied. “The speaker of last year’s game will also be resigning, together with the game head, so I have to find another one, as the speaker of the game. One will be announcing the game updates and all the announcements. There is also someone who should lead the guards, which must be able to control a massive number of them. We also should start on finding recruits for players already. I don’t know where to start but that’s the initial factorization of the job that we must do for the game.”

“As far as I know, before Sandra entered the modeling career, she was a radio disc jockey, so she might be fit for the job of being the speaker,” Paul continued. Denton looked at Sandra who just nodded in response. He didn't really know that it happened before. “Also, I can help in leading the guards, though I don’t have any experience in holding a gun. I think that can be learned, though…”

“Will you agree with what Paul said, Sandra?” Denton asked Sandra who nodded again, in response. Paul smiled at Denton, he was happy that his plan succeeded. “For now, since we already have you two as the initial workers, we just have to find other people who could help us with this. If ever, we should find someone who’s willing to enter this field of work, or someone who is really short on money and that, he needs it the most.”

“We will be going to find someone, Denton,” Paul told Denton as he tapped Denton on his shoulders. “First of all, you should go to Donna and Denise. They have been looking for you since you’ve gone. They said they can’t sleep without you.” Denton nodded before he prepared his feet on the way to his two daughter’s room. “Also, we should talk to Dennis tomorrow about your plan to let him lead the company while you are going to lead the game. We should sleep for now. Let’s meet tomorrow.”

Denton walked up the stairs and entered the door of his daughters’ room. “Oh, they’re asleep already,” he said as he saw Dennis inside the room, putting a mantle on top of each daughter. “I’m sorry it took me a lot of hours before I went home. A lot of things have happened in the new business I am trying to venture into. Did they just sleep or are they asleep for a time already?”

“Oh, they just slept, kuya,” Dennis replied. He stood up and closed the lamp shade between the two kids’ beds. “We know that you have a job and that you should not worry about them. You still have us here. However, please do not tire yourself. You are still a human, kuya, rest at least. You should go to your bed and rest already. Do not forget to, at least, wash yourself. Good night, kuya.”

“You should, too, Dennis. Thank you for taking care of my kids,” he replied. Dennis left his brother while going to his own room. Denton, on the other hand, closed the door of his kids’s room and went to his own room. He immediately went directly to the bathroom of his own room and washed his face. Upon finishing his face wash, he dried himself and changed into pajamas. He slapped himself on the bed and sighed. After a long, tiring day, he can finally rest. “This was a long day, and I deserve a rest…” That was the moment he closed his eyes, and just for a minute, he fell asleep.

In the morning, Denton and his family were collectively sitting in the dining room and they were all eating already. Like the usual setup, on his left, Sandra and Paul were the one nearest him and on his right, it was Dennis and Jannah. The other parts of the family were sitting far from Denton and they didn't really mind about Denton’s remarks for the people near them. “Dennis,” Denton called Dennis but it was Dennis and Jannah who looked at him. “You know, I went back home late yesterday, right?” Dennis nodded, as a response to his brother’s questions. “It was because of the new business that I want to venture into. My own company is becoming bigger and bigger than my capability to lead it. What I just want to say is that… I want you, Dennis, to be the acting head of my company, just while I finish my other businesses.”

“Me?” Dennis asked, who was shocked about what he heard. Even Jannah, who was just listening, was also surprised by that early talk about the business. Dennis did not talk much more but upon seeing his brother unable to talk yet, continued the talk. “I mean, do you really think that I am capable enough to lead your company? The company is so big that I don’t think I can handle it, kuya. In terms of capabilities, you are still ahead of me, kuya.”

“I know that it is such a big responsibility for you, Dennis, but if it was not you, then who?” Denton asked. Dennis did not reply, instead he looked at Sandra and Paul who just avoided his gazes. “If you’re talking about Sandra and Paul, but they will be helping me in my new business. They will be there behind me, so they basically can’t be the acting head of the company. Also, I believe in your skills, Dennis. When I was just starting the business, you were there to suggest things to improve it… and fortunately, almost all of them worked. If there’s someone behind the success of my business, it might be us all but it’s you who started it, Dennis.”

“If that’s what you want, kuya, then sure,” Dennis replied. “How many months should I replace you as the acting head of the company, kuya? I don’t really have a job right now, because you said I should focus on myself first. If this is what you think I should do, I should do it. I believe in you believing in my skills, kuya. I promise not to let you down.”

“The business will be there for two years,” Denton replied. Denton did not want to bring Dennis inside the business, since he is the lost guard the resigned game head was looking for. It might bring Dennis into danger. “But, it’s situational. For sure, there are months that I will be busy attending the business. Also, there’s time that it doesn't really need my attention. If I’m free, I’ll check up on how you and the business do. Let Jannah help you, since she knows a lot of things. Just tell me if there’s something, if ever. Thank you, Dennis, for doing this for me and the company.”