Billionaire Vacation

by Nella Tyler

  So, despite the makeup sex we had just had earlier today, I found myself once again in a conundrum. There was no doubt about the fact that Ben and I had a definite sexual connection. When I was with him, it was like everything else went out the window, even my good judgment. But cheating? That was something I shouldn’t even be willing to consider.

  The risk of getting caught was certainly not worth the reward. Besides, even if I did help him cheat and I did make more money, what was I supposed to do with it? Deposit it in my bank? How was I supposed to explain that? So, what did I do with it? Stuff in my mattress? Somebody was bound to notice sooner or later that I had nicer things, was wearing nicer clothes, or had upgraded to a new apartment.

  No, someone definitely would notice. Call me naturally suspicious and wary now, especially in light of my past, but I had a feeling that I wasn't the only one who would notice. The casino world was not one in which everybody trusted everybody else. That's why there were so many cameras, so many security guards, and so many pit bosses. Everyone was watched every second. I had been in the surveillance room once. I had been astounded to find no less than twenty monitors set up, their camera angles encompassing every part of the main floor of the casino. The only place cameras were not mounted were in the restrooms themselves.

  No. It was a crazy idea. Plain and simple. I shook my head and muttered to myself as I got ready for bed. You’re nuts, I told myself. Yes, it was nice to imagine having better things than I did, but again, nothing material was worth the risk of getting caught.

  Did I owe Ben anything? No. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became. I had to stop this. No, I would not cheat.

  I would not. Could not. Even if it meant losing Ben.

  The Billionaire’s Bluff #4

  Chapter 1

  By the time I got to work and clocked in, I had changed my mind yet again. I couldn't. I couldn't do it. I had to admit that I had been tempted for a while and even had considered it, but then I scoffed, shook my head, and told myself to think things through. Cheating was against everything I stood for, not only in my recent life, but in my past life. Cheating was cheating. It didn't matter whether you cheated on your spouse, on your taxes, or at the casino. It was a lousy way to get ahead. I knew myself well enough to know that if I ever cheated like that, it would eat me alive.

  So, with my thoughts focused on just doing my job, I approached my Blackjack table, changed out with the dealer there, and began my shift. I saw Ben walk into the casino a little while later looking much better. He was once again wearing a pair of slacks and a long-sleeved dress shirt; his hair was neatly combed and his jaw was clean-shaven. He smiled and sat down at my table. I looked at him, smiled politely, and was just about to deal the first hand when suddenly two security men approached Ben from behind. One of the security personnel placed a hand on his shoulder. My eyes widened with astonishment, as did the others at the table, as Ben glanced over his shoulder and then calmly spoke.

  "Yes, can I help you?"

  "We'd like you to come with us, please," the guard said.

  "What's this all about?" Ben asked.

  "Please come with us," the guard said. "We don't want any trouble."

  Ben glanced at me, at the others around the table, and then shrugged as he stood. I watched him, walking calmly between the two guards as they made their way through the crowd of gamblers, tables, and slot machines toward the bank of elevators on the other side of the large room. My heart was pounding in horror as he was escorted into an elevator. I watched the doors closed and then glanced around my table. It seems the players were just as surprised as I was, but I knew that I quickly had to get things back on track.

  I shrugged, smiled, and spoke. “Shall we play?” Nods all around. Ben was forgotten, as far as they were concerned. I couldn’t say the same for me.

  My mind was spinning. What happened? What was going on? Why had they taken Ben away? No one was asked to go upstairs unless they were in trouble. I felt sick. In fact, as the minutes passed I began to feel more nauseated than ever. My hands trembled and I felt the blood drain from my face. I began to feel cold sensations run through me and my head pounded. I began to see spots. Oh no, not a migraine! I knew that I wouldn't be able to control myself for the remainder of my shift, so I gestured toward the pit boss. He approached me, and turning slightly from the players, I told him that I was sick and had to leave. He took one look at me, believed it, and took a step back. He certainly didn't need to get sick.

  He gestured toward a security guard, spoke softly to him, and then the security guard quickly spoke into the shoulder microphone he wore on his uniform, requesting another dealer to come and take my place. At my table, I apologized to the players and just told them that I was feeling ill and that another dealer would be approaching shortly to take over the game.

  In a matter of minutes, another girl replaced me. I knew her by appearance, but I wasn't quite sure of her name. I nodded my thanks and then quickly took myself to the break and locker room. I felt like my knees were about ready to give way and I sat down on the long bench in front of the lockers. I had to find Ben. I thought up about calling his phone, but realized that he was probably still up in the offices with security and God knows who else. If his phone rang and security had it, they would know it was me calling.

  I was suddenly overcome with a sense of self-preservation. I felt terrible for Ben and wondered what kind of trouble and how deep of trouble he was in, but I didn't want to tip my hand and even hint at a relationship between us by calling him or asking about him. I couldn't imagine what was happening, but I knew it probably wasn't good. Anyone who was even suspected of cheating could get into a lot of trouble. Not many people took those elevator doors, either. Those went up to the upper management offices.

  Still unsure what to do, I made my way out to the parking lot, trying to act calm. I still felt so sick I thought I was going to throw up. If they suspected Ben, did they suspect me, as well? After all, he played at my table every night. My heart began to pound. This couldn't be happening…this couldn't be happening! I didn't know what to do.

  Should I go back to my apartment or go to Ben's house? Wait for him there? I didn't want to go to my apartment because if I was suspected of cheating or helping someone else cheat, someone from the casino might be there waiting for me. I drove around for a while, even parked my car at the park for about an hour, trying to get my thoughts under control. Finally, I decided that since I didn't want to risk going back to my apartment, I would go to Ben's house. After that, I didn't know.

  That settled it. I decided to make my way to Ben's mansion. I was pretty sure I could find my way. Eventually, I spotted the long, winding driveway that rose from the street up to his estate. I turned onto it and slowly drove up the winding driveway. I was shaking now, not sure what to expect. I pulled up to the front steps, got out, and nervously made my way toward the door. Would I be turned away? After all, I had never seen any of the household employees and they probably didn't even know me.

  I rang the doorbell and waited, clutching my purse tightly between my hands. I was so scared I didn't know what to do. The door answered. My heart thundered in my chest. A middle-aged man wearing khaki pants and a dark blue polo shirt answered the door.

  "Hello, my name is Maggie-"

  The door opened wider. "Yes, Ben said he was expecting you."

  "He's here?" I asked, surprised.

  The butler, valet, or whatever he was called, nodded and stepped back, gesturing for me to enter. "I'll let him know that you are here. Please wait in this room," he said, gesturing toward the living room.

  I sank down on the couch as the butler or whatever he was asked if I wanted anything, and I shook my head. My insides were a jumble of anxiety. I found myself holding my breath several times, thankful that he was at least home, but wondering, and somewhat fearful, of what had happened and what still might happen to him.

  From my position on the couch, I was jus
t able to see the bottom half of the stairs. I watched him come down. He looked perfectly normal, as if nothing untoward had occurred. He smiled, but the smile seemed a little stiff as he crossed the foyer and entered the living room. He sat down next to me on the couch.

  "Why aren’t you at work?" he asked.

  For a moment, I didn't know how to answer the question. "When I saw them take you upstairs, which as I know where management is located, I got scared."

  He chuckled and that caused me to frown. There was nothing funny about this. I had just spent the last couple of hours in a tizzy. "What happened? What did they want?"

  He merely shrugged. "I've been banned from the casino – blacklisted," he shrugged again. "Other than that, nothing." He smiled again. "What, did you think that someone was going to shoot my kneecaps or break my fingers or something?"

  My erratic emotions caused me to snap. I shot to my feet, glaring down at him. "This isn't funny, Ben! This is serious! I’ve just spent the last few hours worried sick, and here you are making jokes. You've been blacklisted! I left work because I felt sick to my stomach and I was so worried about you."

  "Sit down, Maggie…it's okay."

  I sat down, still angry.

  "It wasn't necessary for you to leave work. In fact, I wish you hadn't."

  I didn't understand. What difference did it make to Ben if I left work or not? I looked at him, thinking there was something about him that seemed distracted. He seemed a little distant, a little cool. Arrogance, smugness? Was he angry? Was he making light of a serious situation and just trying to keep it from me? I couldn't tell.

  "Are you sure you're okay? That everything is alright?"

  He nodded. "Everything is just fine, Maggie," he said.

  I didn't believe it for a minute. There was something about the look in his eyes that made me doubt him. Finally, after several moments of him watching me, his eyes casting about my face, as if trying to look deep into my mind, I began to feel an inkling of unease. A cold sensation swept through me. I was beginning to understand why he seemed different, while his attitude seemed so cool and lackadaisical. I sat straighter, leaned back slightly from his focused gaze.

  "Wait a minute," I finally said. My breath caught in my throat, my tone rife with disbelief. "Do you think I told them about your counting cards?"

  To my surprise, he didn't deny it, but simply narrowed his eyes and spoke in a contemplative tone. "Well, apparently you knew and didn't care to share that fact with me until the other evening, so what exactly am I supposed to think?"

  My blood boiled. "How dare you!" I gasped, my back stiff as a ramrod. "Who the hell do you think I'm going to blab to? The pit bosses? Security? Management? You think I want to lose my job?" I shook my head, disbelieving. How could even think such a thing of me?

  "Well, it's not like I go around advertising it, after all," he said.

  "Well, I can assure you that I didn't say a word to anyone about it," I told him. I gazed around at the fancy furniture and the big house and once again had to ask why. "Why, Ben? Why do you feel the need to cheat? It's not like you need any money. You've got enough, don't you?"

  He sighed. "That's just it, Maggie, I have everything I could possibly want. Where is the excitement in my life? I need something to get my adrenaline pumping, my blood rushing through my veins. That's the thrill of gambling, don’t you know?"

  "No, I don't know," I snapped. "I wouldn't know what it's like to have so much money I was bored with it all! And, that's another reason why I wouldn't go blabbing to anyone about it, Ben, because I need this job. I don't need to lose it. It was hard enough finding a job as it was, and the thought of not having one scares the living shit out of me. Not that you could understand any such concept!"

  He said nothing for a moment, and if possible, I grew even angrier. Especially after what he said next.

  "Are you sure you didn't say anything to anyone? To get back at me for asking you to help me?"

  I stood up again, stunned, my mouth open in shock and dismay. To think I had allowed him to make love to me, to have sex with me…was this all I could expect from him? Betrayal? Deceit? Accusations? What the hell? I knew it! I knew I shouldn't have allowed myself to get involved with Ben, but no, I convinced myself that he was a decent human being. Showed you how much I knew.

  I put my hands on my hips. My voice trembling with emotion, I responded to the accusation. "I would never do anything like that, Ben, and if you think I would, then you don't know me, you don't respect me, and you certainly don't deserve me!"

  I waited for him to respond. He still didn't take back the accusation. He merely stared up at me, as if he were bored. For him to think I had blabbed to someone about him counting cards was unthinkable and, to be blunt, terribly insulting. I wasn't a blabbermouth, nor was I a gossip. For him to think that I did something like that – something I knew would get him into trouble – was ridiculous. I knew what some casino owners did to cheaters, and even if I were mad at Ben, I certainly wouldn't want anything like that to happen to him. Never. No matter how angry I was with him.

  When it was clear that he had nothing else to say nothing, that we were at an impasse, I decided that it was time to go. "Well, it's been nice knowing you, Ben. Or it was, anyway. To say I'm disappointed in you is an understatement-"

  "You disappointed in me?" he scoffed. "Why?"

  At this point, my emotions were all over the map. "If you can't figure that out by now, then I'm not going to stand here and try and explain it to you. Goodbye, Ben." I turned around and headed for the front door.

  "Maggie, wait-"

  I paused and turned around. "Why? What could you possibly say that would change things? You think that I turned you in, and if you think that I would do something like that… Well, it doesn't say much for the kind of trust we have in each other, does it?"

  I glanced around, made sure that no one could hear me. "You know what, Ben? I'll be honest and say that the sex was great and I was beginning to have feelings for you. But if this is the way we think about each other, then there's no point in continuing this relationship, or whatever the hell it is, because it would be pointless."

  I turned around, reached for the door, stepped outside, and only barely managed to keep from slamming the door behind me. So furious I could spit, I quickly made my way to my car and climbed in. One glance through the rearview mirror assured me that he wasn't standing in the doorway, beckoning me back. Besides, even if he had been, what was there left to say? He was a cheater. He wanted me to cheat with him and that was something I wasn't willing to do for anyone.

  Blinking back tears, I started the engine and pulled out of his driveway. I was still a little afraid to go home, but decided that if the casino figured I was involved, I would have to face the music sooner or later. At this point, I just wanted to get it over with, put it behind me, and move on, if possible. If I had to, I would start looking for another job, although I had no idea what I would do.

  All the way home, the only thing I could think about was my disappointment in Ben. I had really thought, no, hoped, that we had something together. Silly me. Stupid Maggie, always wishing for the impossible. When was I going to get it through my thick skull that my luck in men was less than stellar? Things had moved too fast with Ben. I had been influenced by his good looks, his charm, and his blatant pursuit of me.

  Then again, now that I knew the real reason for the pursuit in the first place, it left me feeling even more discouraged. By the time I got home, I was crying and there was no point in my trying to stop the tears. I parked in my space, looked around, but didn't see anyone waiting around. No one had left a message on my phone, either, so I began to believe that maybe the casino didn't suspect me of holding back information, after all.

  Nevertheless, by the time I walked into my apartment and immediately got ready for bed, I was emotionally exhausted. Once again, I found myself crying myself to sleep, something I hadn't done since those dramatic times with my ex-husband. Ju
st when I thought that I had my life together, everything turned upside down. I had been nothing but tense and anxious over the last week, and to say it was catching up with me was an understatement.

  Who needed this shit? I certainly didn't. To hell with Ben. I don't care how charming and handsome he was, he was turning out to be more trouble than he was worth, and that went for his damned money, too.

  I was determined from this moment forward to try and put Ben out of my mind. I would enjoy the memory of the good times we had shared, but it was time for me to focus on myself, on doing my job, keeping my nose clean, minding my own business, and certainly not getting involved with any man. Period.

  Chapter 2

  I slept rather fitfully, even had a nightmare, thankfully, from which I was able to wake myself up from before it got too carried away. However, early the next morning, just before the sun rose, a disturbing thought began to niggle at the back of my mind. I couldn't quite place my finger on what was bothering me, but then all of a sudden I realized. My eyes flashed open. I found myself staring up at my ceiling, my heart pounding, and my mind reeling with the repercussions.

  Oh my God, I had told an untruth to Ben yesterday. I hadn't meant to, but I had completely forgotten. It was true that I hadn't said anything to any of my pit bosses, security, or anyone official at the casino about my suspicion that he was counting cards, but I had said something to my friend Savannah.

  Oh my God. The moment I thought it, I began to question myself. Had I really said something to her? I couldn’t remember! I kept trying to replay our prior couple of conversations in my head. Yes, I had been peeved and annoyed with Ben, and I knew that I had told her that I was upset that he had asked something so callous of me, but had I come right out and told her that he had asked me to cheat? Had I told her that I suspected that Ben was counting cards? Dammit, I couldn’t remember!