The first round was underway.
The dealer placed five dice shakers on the table, turning each one to show they were empty. At Charlotte’s nod, he shook them ten times each, the sound of rattling dice filling the room.
On the other side of the table, three men sat stiffly, their eyes wide, tracking every movement with tense anticipation. The house dealer, seated at the main spot, was rigid, listening for orders through an earpiece, waiting for his boss’s signal.
In the corner, though, things felt totally different. A figure lounged back in a cushy chair, looking relaxed and almost bored. He twirled a round chip between his fingers and tapped it lazily on the table, his voice calm and disinterested.
“You can raise, or you can pass. Up to you.”
The three men glanced at each other, silently agreeing not to raise yet. They wanted to see if this guy was all talk.
Charlotte turned to the house dealer, lifting her chin just a touch. “What about you? The Netherworld Casino isn’t scared to play big, right? Don’t tell me you’re too cheap to raise.”
Anthony, listening in from the private room, heard her clear, young voice and his eyes narrowed. A thin, icy smile tugged at his lips.
Challenging Netherworld? Brave for someone so green.
“Raise by one million,” Anthony ordered, flicking the ash off his cigarette. His voice was low, cold, and final.
The dealer pushed a stack of chips worth a million across the table.
Charlotte smirked, her tone playful. “Alright then. Let’s see.”
She revealed her dice: 6, 6, and 1. Thirteen points.
The three men all ended up with lower totals.
“Pay up,” Charlotte said, barely glancing at them as she spoke to the man beside her.
Adonis just stood there, unmoving. He was used to collecting money, not handing it over.
Jackson was quicker on the uptake. He took a hundred thousand from the lowest roller and split twenty chips each between the other two.
All eyes turned as the house dealer lifted his shaker. The air was thick with suspense.
6, 6, 2. Fourteen points. Just enough to beat Charlotte by one.
The three men smirked. They’d been right. The newcomer was cocky and already down over a million in the first round.
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