A number of the situations have been inspired by some of the small band of authors whose work I immensely admire. I have attempted to occasionally incorporate a flavour of their imagination in this story, in tribute to them. Without their inspiration, this story would not have been told.
CHAPTER 9: GRACE AND LISA PERFORM
Daniel was exhausted when he returned to his room, the happenings of the entire day had him running on empty. Grace had not yet arrived back from the club and although he wondered if she was okay, his tiredness soon overtook him and without bothering to take his usual shower, he crawled into bed. He hoped that Grace would not be feeling amorous when she returned, but then that was unlikely as it seemed to be some time since she had felt that way with him.
As he attempted to drift off, his mind was preoccupied by poker. The anticipation of competing against Esfandiari and Annie Duke refused to give his mind peace and despite his tired state, he tossed and turned for quite some time before sleep eventually found him. The 'Do Not Disturb' sign on their door was doing overtime as he slept until late morning.
It was late when he awoke and he jumped up, panicking, as he ignored Grace's sleeping body and showered and dressed in record time. Even the connecting shuttle bus had departed when he raced downstairs and he had no option but to abandon his usual walking routine and give the taxi driver instructions to get him to the Rio as quickly as he could.
As he entered the main floor he cursed himself for turning up late again, albeit for different reasons this time. In his flustered state, the numbered tables appeared to be in no particular order and for a while, he found he was wandering around aimlessly attempting to find his table. He looked around to see if he could spot Esfandiari or Annie Duke, but could not find either of them. But he did see Norman Chad. He grabbed the television pundit's arm but before he could speak, the small commentator pointed at him.
"Where have you been?" he asked.
"Long story," Daniel replied, realising that he had promised Norm an interview that morning.
"Well, it can wait," came the reply. "You're supposed to be at the TV table."
Ignoring Daniel's gasp of surprise, Chad pointed in the direction he should be heading and pushed him on the arm.
"Go on kid, get yourself over there."
Daniel's mind raced as he hurried across a crowded room, which this time seemed to contain more spectators than players. He instinctively felt uncomfortable as he thought of what awaited. Coping with the superstars was bad enough in normal circumstances, but to do so in the full glare of the television cameras was something else.
He returned to his familiar defensive mindset of playing as tightly as he could so that when he was knocked out it would be through someone else's good play rather than his own embarrassing errors.
The television table was over the other side of the main room, with its own railing separating it from the other tables. With the reducing number of tables as a result of players being knocked out, he saw that the viewing areas were increasing in size. There was much more room now for the eager galleries of family, friends, players who had been eliminated and interested spectators and fans.
All tables were becoming more prominent and none more so than that set up for the television cameras. As he approached his seat, a member of the ESPN production team intercepted him. He explained what was expected, the most intimidating of which being the requirement to look at his cards in such a way that the lipstick cameras built into each seat position at the table would capture them.
It required a slightly different technique to check his hole cards whilst protecting them from other players but after a few practice sessions it did not take long to get the hang of it. Of more importance, he thought to himself as the session commenced, was the class of players at the table.
Apart from Antonio Esfandiari and Annie Duke, he recognised Joe Awada, a very successful former dealer. And then there was Phil Laak, commonly known as the 'Unibomber'. He had for some time been the boyfriend of the poker-playing actress Jennifer Tilly, was also still in the tournament. Tough competition all round.
He stared bright-eyed around the table and thought that he might as well have been wearing a big bull's-eye target on his white Practically Poker shirt.
*
Katherine had received a call on her cell phone late morning, telling her that today's work had been cancelled and that instead, Mario would drive her to the Club to see Joshua mid afternoon. She was unsure if she had upset her employer and even wondered if the request had something to do with her meeting with Grace at the promotional event. Mario had said nothing when he collected her, other than to make sure she took her usual snort in the back of the car during the journey.
In truth, she had not needed reminding, as she now looked forward to her morning and evening doses of coke on her way to and from events. Somehow, it made her feel much better. But the call to see Joshua had had prayed on her mind throughout the journey there. Could it be that Grace had found out about her and Daniel? No, that was simply not possible. Perhaps Joshua had seen the photos from the shoot? If so, perhaps it was the two of them kissing? She felt a sense of foreboding.
This job had worked out fantastically for her and the pay was so much more than she could earn anywhere else in Vegas. And whilst another couple of days would see her able to return home in a much sounder financial position than she thought possible, her mind had been thinking that she would stay on at Samuel Smith's for as long as she possibly could. That would help her to further improve her financial position and after that, who knows where it could lead?
And if continuing to work at the Club allowed her to see how things would develop between her and Grace, then that was an added bonus. She was still shocked that Daniel's girlfriend had come on to her and equally surprised that she had so readily responded. There was no doubt the singer was hot and fitted both of her cardinal rules about sex. She had to fancy the other person and there had to be danger involved. The fact that it was a woman, and this woman, only added more spice.
She entered the Club with some trepidation, wondering what lay in store. Mario escorted her to Joshua's office and when she walked past the booth in which she had seduced Daniel, she could not help but give a small inward smile. She really would have to find a way to see him again.
She must have appeared really nervous as they waited, as Mario stood closer to her than he ever had and stroked her bare arm. He attempted to reassure her that there were no problems and to help, gave her a second snort of the white powder.
And Mario had been right as when Joshua arrived, he greeted her warmly. The impressive young man took her shaking hand as he dismissed the driver and put Katherine immediately at ease. In his crisp suit, he cut an impressive figure and she nervously accepted the drink he handed to her.
