Louisa's p.o.v;
After walking out of the hospital filled with guilt, I headed to the casino hoping to see that rich guy by chance.
At the illegal casino,
When I walked down the alley, it was different than before. There were more people than that day making it difficult for me to keep my disguise. I pulled up the hoodie a bit forward on my face and walked looking down. When the casino was in sight, I spotted guards on the door. They were never there before. How will I get into the casino now? I stopped some few steps away from the casino and looked at it thinking about a way to get in. I thought they'd move away for a moment but they didn't move even after the clock striked 7pm. When will they move away from here?
Someone tapped on my shoulder, when I turned with fear, I saw Nicolas which made my heart beat again.
"Why did you scare me like that?"
Nicolas folded his hands and asked, "Did you come here for that friend of yours?"
"Of all people, why would I get caught by you?"
"I told you that this wasn't the place for girls like you. Can't you listen to your teacher? Do you want me to give you detention for me? Before that, did you finish the assignment due tomorrow? You are supposed to submit it on my table before 8. Do you still remember that…"
"Nick!" I let out a sigh and said, "We're not in school anymore. And, I finished my assignment so please worry about it." And I continued looking at the casino.
"What are you doing here? Peeking at the casino?"
"Because there are guards which make it difficult for me to enter."
"Why do you want to go there? Do you need money?"
If I said the reason for entering the casino, he'd be asking more questions until he heard the entire story. Come up with a lie!
"Yeah, I'm in need of money right now. I lost my part-time job so I need money for my expenses."
"What happened to the money I transferred last time? What did you do with that?"
Why is he asking so many questions? Does he think he's my teacher or my parents?
"Yeah." I shrugged my shoulders and continued looking at the door of the casino being guards by those hunk guards.
Nicolas grabbed my hand and said, "If you need money, I'll lend it to you. Don't go to places like this."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm not going to let you go to that casino again. You're coming with me."
Shit! I didn't know it would backfire on me! What should I do now? Those guards don't look like they're moving away too so let's come back after sometime.
"Are you coming or not?"
"Okay, I'll come with you."
After we came out of that alley, Nicolas asked, "Where's your house at?"
"It's fine. I'll go by myself."
When he gave me a stare, I said, "I won't go to that casino again, I'll head straight home. Believe me."
"Okay, I'll trust you. If you want money, ask me
I'll give you the money you want. Do you get it?"
I nodded at him and headed to the bus terminal. After I boarded the bus, I got down at the next terminal since Nicolas was watching me from afar while I was getting into the bus. After a while, I came to the casino's back entrance. Seeing Nicolas reminded me how I got out of the casino with his help. I sneaked through the back entrance of the casino and walked in pulling my hoodie over my face. Once I got into the crowd of people, I searched for the rich guy among the people.
A guy came and asked me while holding a plate of liquor, "Would you like to have one, miss?"
I shook my head and walked past him.
I was surrounded by the voices of betting, calling out numbers and both happy and upset voices. Around me, people were playing poker, roulette, blackjack, Baccarat and more. I looked at the faces of the people who were playing, I couldn't find the rich guy in here. Didn't he come here? Was it my lucky day?
The guy who offered the drink before asked me, "Who did you come with? Did you come alone?"
When I was about to say something, a guy put his hand over my shoulder and said, "She's with me."
When I took a look at his face, he's the one who dragged me to the casino while I was wandering on the ground floor.
After the waiter left, he asked, "Did you come to take everyone's money again?"
"I'm not here today to play."
"Then what are you here for?"
"I was looking for my friend. Couldn't find him though. Guess he didn't come today."
"Is he a regular?"
"Who?"
"Your friend."
"I guess so." I said while looking around the casino. "I'm leaving."
"What about one game?"
"I'm not in a mood."
"You're a winner. Don't just go like that. Only one game. Help me win it. We can share the money."
"Okay."
I took a seat beside him at the table and said to him, "Only one game."
He gave a thumbs up to me and placed the money on the table and started to play. When the dealer asked for the number, he whispered, "What number should I bet on?"
I looked at the numbers and calculated in my head and whispered, "19."
"Are you sure about that? the ball didn't land in that number for some time."
"If you want your money and others, bet on 19."
"Okay. Let's go with that number."
He said the number I whispered to him to the dealer. After the wheel started spinning, the ball jumped on every number, and in the end it stopped at 19.
He shook me and yelled, "It's a win! You're my knight in the shining armour!"
After winning the rounds in a row, the game came to an end and he said while giving me the money, "It's fine. Keep it. I didn't play for money from the beginning."
"I'm upset but thank you."
I brought him to a place where there wasn't anyone around and said, "Instead I need a favour from you."
"What is it?"
"Do you remember when I said I was looking for a friend? Actually, it's not true. I came here looking for a guy whom I don't know the name of. Can you help me find him?"
"How can I find him without a name?"
"You don't have to find the guy exactly I'm looking for. All you have to do is just tell me the guys similar to my description."
"Okay, tell me about him."
"He's a 6'2 , wears an expensive outfit, and has a bodyguard with him at approximately 6'1.
"So you're looking for two guys?"
"I want the 6'2. Other was just a description. If you saw someone similar to what I said, call me. Give me your phone." After he gave me the phone, I saved my number in his phone and said, "Don't forget to call me. This is really important to me."
"Can I ask why you are looking for him?"
"I'm afraid I can't. Sorry. It's kinda personal."
"Okay. Since I got all the money, I'll do the work for you."
"Thank you. Um, sorry for being rude, what's your name?"
He laughed and said, "Did you just ask me to find those guys without knowing my name? Are you always like this? Searching and talking to people without even knowing their names?" He gave me his card and said, "I'm Arthur, firefighter."
"That's a cool job you got there. By the way, I'm Louisa."
"Louisa what?"
"Keep it low. I'm still an underage to be in a place like this."
"I guessed it. I thought it was something to do with the hormone but you're really young. How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"What!? How did the guards allow you? Did you sneak into this place?"
"I asked you to keep it low, Mr Arthur."
"So you sneaked into this place to find the guy and not for the money."
"Yup!"
"Okay, I'll ring you once I see him."
"Thank you, Arthur."
"Can I call you even if it's not related to the thing you asked?"
"What?"
"Like when I want money?"
"Only if I had time."
"That's totally fine for me!"
I walked out of the place and headed to Ace's house.
After a while, I came to Ace's house. When I entered the house, I saw Ace and his bodyguards being together in the centre of the house. What happened here? I walked beside them to get to my room but stopped when Ace called out my name.
"What is it?"
"What time is it?"
When I looked at the time, it's almost 11. The time really goes fast in the casino.
"Don't you have eyes? Why are you asking me?"
He gave me a stare and asked, "Where did you go?"
"Why do I have to tell you? Are you my parents?"
"This house has rules to follow. Everyone in this house is supposed to be before 8…"
Before he finished, I said, "I'm not a person who goes by the rules. And, I'm going to leave once why I came here. In the meantime, why do I have to follow the stupid rules of this house?" I moved closer and whispered in his ears, "And, I'm not a bad guy like you to be feared by cops." And moved away from him, giving him a wide smile and said, "Can I head to my room now?"
I walked away from them without waiting for an answer and headed to my room. I know I'm late but does he have to gather everyone and question me like a prison guard in front of them?
I dropped on the bed and thought, 'When will i able to find that guy?'
I got a call from Bernie.
"Yes?"
"Did you had dinner?"
"Not yet. What about you?"
"It's 11. And you still had your dinner?"
"I'm going to end the call if you act like you're my mother."
"Why didn't you ate?"
"I'm going to end the call."
"Hold on! I wanted to tell you something. Hear me out."
"What is it?"
"We have a musical event tomorrow."
"So?"
"It'll be good if you played guitar…"
"I'm not! Don't even think about it!"
"My senior asked me to recommend someone who can play guitar…"
I ended the call with him.
How can he ask me to play guitar even after what happened. Did he forgot already?
"I thought you never get mad on your friend. It's your friend isn't it?" Ace said while standing near the door.
"You talk about the rules. But don't you know trespassing other rooms is wrong?"
He walked in and took my phone and said, "It is really your friend."
I took the phone back from him and said, "Don't touch my phone."
"So rude."
Those words triggered some of the worst memories from the past.
Flashback starts,
A senior from my faculty, "I asked one thousand dollars, not eight hundred dollars. What do you expect me to do with it?"
I said, "I didn't have enough time to…"
He covered my mouth and said, "Don't talk back at me. Do you want to get hurt?"
I stared at him with anger.
He slapped my cheek and said, "So rude!" And grabbed my cheek and said, "I want one thousand dollars by tomorrow. Otherwise you know what happens." And walked away.
Flashback ends.
When Ace was walked around the room, i said, "Leave my room."
He walked closer to me while asking, "Why are you scared of me?"
"Why do i have to be scared of…" As he was getting closer, my heart started to beat fast and my breathing lost its rhythm, "St-Stay away from…"
He touched my cheeks and asked, "Why are you sweating? Why are breathing heavily?"
I shouted, "Get your fucking hands off me!"
Suddenly, Ace hugged me forcibly and wrapped his hands around me which made me snap out of that worst past. When i started breathing normally and came to my senses, I broke the hug.
Bodyguards came to the room after hearing me shouting out of my lungs. Ace asked them to leave and closed the door when i thought he was going to leave.
He sat beside me and asked, "What's bothering you?"
I closed my ears and said, "Leave!"
He took my hands off and said, "Look at me while i speak."
When i looked at him, he said, "What happened to you back then? Why did you looked like you had a panic attack?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I don't know. Maybe i don't want anyone to die in my presence."
"It's nothing. I'm Okay. Even if I'm pushed towards death, i won't involve you into this."
"Can't you know how to thank others?"
"Why should I thank you?"
"I helped you with your panic attack by hugging you."
I rolled my eyes and said, "Just leave already."
"What's with being weak then? Aren't you the one who said to be weak wasn't wrong? Is it only to others?"
Before he left the room, he said, "I knew where you went but I don't know what are you trying to do. Just don't get yourself in trouble. Because I'm tired of saving you." And walked out of the room.
I touched my heart and asked, "Why am i still having these panick attack? Didn't it stop after those therapies? And, Why did i get calm after getting a hug from him? It's just a hug not a drug which i used to take during those times.
What's happening to me? Why did i show this sideof mine to him? I feel embarrassed. Will he tease me? I hate being weak around him.
I forgot about Bernie. I got mad at him like a child.
I made a call to Bernie, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Sorry for reminding you something you trying to forget…"
Before he finishes, i said, "I had a panic attack."
"What? Is it because i reminded you? Louisa, are you alright?"
"Hold on. I'm alright."
"Shall I come there?"
"Here? Hey, I'm alright. I'm totally good now. Do you know what time is it? It's almost 12. You shouldn't knock on someone's door in the midnight. I'm alright now."
"Let's meet tomorrow then. I miss you already."
"Okay, we'll see tomorrow."
After i ended the call, i came to have dinner. There wasn't anyone in the kitchen. While i was wandering in the kitchen, Mateo asked, "Your food is here." And gave me a plate of food.
"Thanks."
I sat at the table and started eating the food.
Mateo sat beside me and said, "This house doesn't have rules like what Ace mentioned before."
"Huh?"
"He was just worried about you."
I laughed and said, "You're funny."
"After knowing you didn't come to the house yet, he got mad at everyone for not looking out for you. He gathered everyone and asked them to look for you. That's when you entered the house. He couldn't show that he's worried about you so he acted like he's mad."
"What are you trying to do?"
"I'm explaining the things from other perspective."
"I don't need it. Keep it all to yourself."
"Why are you being dodgy?"
"I-It's just who i am."
"He's not like how you think."
I stood up from the table and asked, "You don't know what he did to me. So don't speak for him if you don't know."
While I was placing the plate on the table, he said, "Because I know."