With that wicked smile across her lips Allison turned over her cards as she described them to everyone, “Trip aces courting a single lady.”
I had been right, trips with a high kicker. Too bad for her that she had missed picking up an accompanying pair. “That’s too bad Allison,” I began as I flipped my ace over to the world. I then took hold of my king and quickly turned it over as I spoke, “Because my trip aces were accompanied by a king.” When I removed my hand everyone could see my unsuited cards.”
Her smile fell for a moment, but her eyes darkened just a hair with frustration and anger. “Of course you would have the king.” She shook her head briefly before standing up to greet her chaperones. “Oh well, the best man won. Well played Marcus, well played.”
Looking her straight in the eyes I tried to appease her, “I am sorry you have to leave on that kind of hand.”
Placing her hands back on the table she leaned over as far as she could all the while staring at me the way a starving eagle would look upon a field mouse. She took a calming breath before speaking, “No Marcus, you’re not sorry. You won, and that means you’re still in the tournament. You may be sorry that you won by the narrowest of margins but in the end losing is losing. It doesn’t matter how close you are.” Her look softened if only just slightly before she added, “But I do appreciate the attempt. Unfortunately, I should have followed Tyson’s lead, oh well.”
“Not that I did it soon enough.” Tyson offered as he looked down upon his stacks of chips, now simply just a shadow of their once former glory. Not that he was in any danger of being eliminated. He still had more than what he had started the game with.
Leveling a stare at him that could have melted stone Allison retorted, “Sorry if I don’t weep for your loss Tyson, seeing as how you’re still well established in the tournament I don’t think I’ll lose any sleep.” As the two goons began to reach for her she whirled her arms just enough to keep them from grabbing her. “I know you two are there and you can simply wait for another minute. I have no intention to distract anyone. I will make my goodbyes and then I will accompany you to my new seat.”
She leaned over and gave Jonathan a quick hug, while she simply waved in Kelly’s general direction. She then rounded the table towards me and leaned over my shoulder to whisper, “You better not lose my money.” She gave a slight chuckle before adding, “I’m looking forward to getting it back.”
Even though her face was out of my sight, I could hear the ever so subtle threat mixed with a promise of pleasure if I cooperated. So I just smiled and said, “I’ll do my best.”
“That’ll do, Marcus.” And with that she turned and escorted her two goons to the audience above.
As I collected my chips Bella came and sat down next to me and asked, “And just who was that, Marcus? I thought I was the only woman in your life today.”
Forcing a smile onto my face, I looked over to her—she had chosen the vacant seat on my right—and told her the truth. “Her name is Allison, and unfortunately for her, she was just eliminated. And between you and me, she didn’t take it all that well. Has anyone ever told her that this is just a game?”
“Marcus I did see the hand. Besides how well would you have reacted if your situations had been reversed?”
“I wouldn’t have made a veiled threat.” I replied with a shrug, “Not that I wouldn’t mind returning her entrance fee to her.” I tried to force some indifference into my voice but I was unable to keep the smile off of my face.
Seeing the smile creeping onto my face, she started to laugh as she leaned in to ask, “So you’re going to give in to her threat?”
Keeping my voice at a whisper I replied, “Don’t you remember what I told you about women and their money?”
Bella’s face took on a hurt expression, she needed practice if she ever hoped for that look to fool anyone other than family. “Why are you treating her so nicely, I thought we were going to be friends?”
Based on our limited time together I had gotten the feeling that she would have a hard time play acting like she was jealous. But here she was giving me a hard time over some other woman I had just knocked out. Was she trying to disrupt my game? She does have at least a good idea of how I feel about her, was she going to try and use that to rock my game? Go figure, I survive the tournament thus far only to go down in flames because I liked her. “We are friends Bella. Have I taken any of your money yet?”
With an ear to ear smile she concurred in a silky voice that let me know she was only teasing. “No, not yet. But you haven’t exactly had the opportunity.”
I leaned in as close to her as I could and with a mask of mock horror I needlessly defended my honor. “Bella, you should know you’re the only one for me.” We shared a moment of private laughter while we waited for the dealer to get us underway. “Well aside from meeting you prior to the final table it is good to finally get some new blood over here.”
“Are you honestly telling me that we’re the first new players to come to this table?”