Chapter 1

• The huge sign with the name of the casino shone at the top of the building. Paul looked at the sign and hesitated to enter. It was the first time he was afraid to do so. He had accumulated a very high debt with the Spencer-Imperial Casino, and it was very likely that they would not let him play again. However, it was a burning need inside him, he had been fighting for the past three days to not succumb to his addiction."
• Yes, Paul knew he was a gambling addict and like any other type of addiction, he was unable to control it. He had lost the fortune he inherited from his parents in less than six months. He had sold his stocks, mortgaged his house, lost his car... he had lost everything.
• With frustration, Paul ran his hand through his hair, his throat was dry and swallowing was agonizing. He shouldn't be there, he only had fifty dollars in his pocket; however, the need he felt for the game was more than he could bear.
• "You should leave, Mr. Summers, I don't think the boss would be too happy to see you again," said the security guard, who already knew him well.
• "Have I been banned from entering?" he asked, although it was a possibility, he dared to doubt it.
• "No, Mr. Ferreira hasn't mentioned anything about letting you in or not, but he ordered that no more credit be given to you. You have nothing left to pay with," the guard muttered as if he were telling a secret.
• Paul swallowed the lump in his throat. If he were a sensible man, he would have taken the man's advice and left, but he wasn't. The need to gamble was greater than anything else.
• "Maybe today I'll be lucky," he muttered.
• The security guard shook his head.
• "That's what you've said for the past two months, Mr. Summers..." he dared to say, aware that he shouldn't meddle in other people's affairs, especially in the lives of casino customers, but he felt sorry to see such a young man lost in the vice of gambling.
• That boy reminded him of his own son, who had lost his life due to gambling addiction.
• "Please..."
• Paul didn't let him continue, he raised a hand to silence him.
• "This time, I'm going to win, Mr. Ramirez, and when I do, I'll give you a juicy tip for your advice," he replied with a smile on his lips.
• The man just shook his head and sighed as he watched him disappear into the casino, knowing that that night would not be any different from the previous ones; however, the guard did not know how different it would be...
• Patrick looked up when the door of his office opened, he put the pen down on the document he was reviewing and interlocked his fingers...
• "I'm sorry to interrupt, Patrick, but... you told me to let you know as soon as Paul Summers crossed the casino doors," Harrison mentioned, from the doorway.
• Patrick raised an eyebrow, revealing his green eyes, inherited from his mother.
• "He dared to come back?" he asked.
• Harrison nodded.
• "He's an idiot," he exclaimed with annoyance.
• "I gave orders not to give him credit again, however, I highly doubt that will stop him. He will do whatever it takes to sneak in between the gaming tables," Harrison replied.
• Patrick stretched his long legs and pushed the chair, stood up and straightened his jacket.
• "I'll have to kick him out personally, I don't like people like Paul," he snapped, looking at Harrison as if his friend were to blame for Paul Summers' addiction.
• "I don't think a confrontation between you two would be good, Pat," he said, calling him by the name only his friends were allowed to use.
• "Paul is bad, very bad publicity for the Casino, he ends up drunk, penniless, and causing scenes left and right.
• "Maybe it's because he lost his parents recently..."
• Patrick walked through the door, causing his best friend to step aside.
• "Nothing justifies his behavior, Paul is not the only person who has lost someone important in his life," he mentioned.
• Patrick was still hurt by the death of his grandmother Carlota. However, for him, honoring his grandmother's memory meant being an upright man, with an impeccable reputation, of whom only good things could be said, but Paul wasn't helping...
• "Wait, Patrick! Wait! What are you going to do?" Harrison asked, grabbing his arm.
• Patrick stopped and turned to look at his friend.
• "I already told you, I'm going to kick him out of here."
• "He'll make a scene if you do, I don't think your mother will be very happy if that happens," he reminded him.
• Patrick thought of the blonde with green eyes waiting for him at home, he was sure she would be very upset if the hotels and the casino had bad publicity.
• "Beat him at the gaming table, I think that way he won't feel like coming back."
• "Do you want me to sit down and bet with Summers?"
• "He won't win," Harrison assured.
• Patrick smiled and shook his head.
• "Games of chance are unpredictable, Harrison, I might give Paul a chance and end up losing."
• Harrison patted Patrick's shoulder.
• "I've never seen you lose, dear friend."
• "There's always a first time," Patrick refuted, taking two steps forward towards the elevator.
• Harrison preferred not to insist and walked by his side in complete silence. The elevator descended to the casino area, an additional service of the Spencer-Imperial hotel. Something he had implemented after arguing with his parents; but in the end, he had gotten his way, not without having to promise not to fall into the vice of gambling..."
• The first thing Patrick saw when he got off was Paul, the man was about twenty-five years old, he didn't look a day younger, maybe one or two years older. He was playing at Ray's table, one of the few men Patrick hated. His ex-girlfriend's ex...
• "Gentlemen," he said as he approached the table. Patrick closed his hand into a fist of steel, Paul had enough money to entertain himself for a few hours...
• "Patrick!" Ray exclaimed, looking pleased to see him. "What miracle made you deign to come down to the underworld?" he asked with malice in his voice.
• Patrick clenched his jaw tightly.
• "I don't usually come for anything, or anyone; but today I'm making an exception. Mr. Summers cannot be here."
• "Why?" Ray questioned, challenging Patrick with his gaze.
• "His debt doesn't allow it," he snapped without further explanation to Ray.
• The man smiled.
• "If debt is a problem, I can take care of it," he assured.
• Patrick smiled in response, his eyes flashing.
• "Are you willing to pay half a million dollars just to contradict me? Do you feel the need to prove something, Ray?" Patrick questioned him without wiping his smile.
• Ray swallowed, looked at Paul with some reproach. He hadn't mentioned to him that his debt was so large. He had the money, but he wouldn't spend half a million on a guy he didn't know just to annoy Patrick. He wasn't stupid.
• "I'll give you my place," he said, standing up. "Kick him out if you want, but first you have to win. If you do, I'll pay that half a million," he assured.
• Ray was convinced that Patrick wasn't a player, he was the owner, but he had never seen him sit at a gaming table and he had known him for a long time.
• "I have no need to do so."
• "Are you afraid, Ferreira?" he challenged him maliciously. "Are you afraid of losing?"
• Patrick gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched and his eyes sparkled with anger.
• "Move aside," he growled.
• Harrison tried to stop him; however, he didn't even get to say a word, Patrick's cold and furious look made him keep silent.
• "Let the game begin," Ray laughed, sure he was going to enjoy Patrick's defeat.
• The game started and Paul saw his opportunity to win, he hadn't done it before, but he was sure that Patrick had no knowledge of the game, so he bet everything on one play.
• Patrick saw Paul's action as a desperate measure. Betting everything was only going to precipitate things, he knew.
• "There's no reason for you to insist, Paul, it's better if you go home," Patrick suggested, intending to end the game.
• "I'm going to win and you're going to forgive my debt and, in addition, allow me entry," the boy retorted determinedly.
• Patrick snorted.
• "Give up, Paul," he insisted.
• "I'm so sure I'll win," he whispered.
• "You have nothing left to bet, kid, go home now," Patrick insisted sharply and coldly.
• "I'll bet my sister," Paul replied without hesitation.
• Harrison looked at Patrick, expecting him to reject such a crazy bet.
• "What?" Patrick asked, bewildered.
• "I'm betting my sister, I won't lose, I assure you," Paul insisted.
• Patrick felt an immense desire to kill him right there, especially because Ray was very focused on the game. The bastard seemed to be enjoying the situation.
• "Show your cards," Patrick requested, accepting the bet. If Paul dared to do so, it was because he was sure he was going to win; otherwise, he was just an idiot willing to do anything to continue the game.
• "Come on, show your hand," Ray urged impatiently.
• Paul nodded, revealing a poker of nines, he smiled at the sight of Patrick's pale face.
• "It's your turn, unless you're afraid of being embarrassed," Ray taunted.
• Patrick looked at him with a grim expression as his hand was placed on the table.
• "Flush," Patrick whispered, his voice choking.
• "Sir, congratulations," said the dealer at the table. "You win..."
• Both Paul and Patrick paled. Paul had lost his sister in a bet, and Patrick had a trophy he hadn't sought.