Chapter 36 Remove the Tattoo if You Lose
“She must be highly sociable since she befriended Gigi Garland, the granddaughter of the respected Mel Garland, who is a retired senior officer of South Riverside. Someone like her has a vast network that her friends could benefit from,” Stella explained in a quiet voice as she glanced at the lady next to Makenna.
Amber had never really left the house before, she didn’t know much people, particularly in the business world.
That was why Makenna felt so proud of herself; she was nothing compared to Gigi Garland.
“Oh, you’re Mr. Farrell’s ex-wife?” Gigi said, casting a disdain glance at Amber. “Keen on a few rounds of games?”
Amber didn’t even want to talk to Makenna, let alone play poker with her.
While residing with the Farrell, the one thing she learned from Shonna was to pay attention to one’s demeanor and behave accordingly. The instant she talked, she realized Gigi was not a very kind person.
“Certainly, we have time till my friend arrives at ten o’clock,” Amber remarked, “But please spare me, as I’m not good at gaming.” She didn’t want to provoke Gigi and make herself a target because she hadn’t yet achieved success.
Gigi led the group to the poker room with a mocking grin.
“I’ll make sure you don’t lose too much,” Makenna stated when Gigi has gone afar, “It’s okay, we’re just killing the time anyway.”
She learned from a friend that Amber had previously lost over ten thousand dollars to Mr. Longman in poker and the waitress said Amber was a complete novice when it came to poker and couldn’t play at all.
She might be able to avenge herself for what happened at the watch shop earlier.
Amber smiled at Makenna and said, “I should thank you in advance then.”
“Ms. Reed, don’t play with them if you suck at poker, they could set you up,” Stella said as she followed Amber and the others to the private room.
“It’s evident that Gigi is on her side, no matter how many traps she sets up, I need to confront it,” Amber stated.
Stella looked at Amber pitifully and said, “Oh shit, you poor thing.”
The group entered the room, sat down, and began to play. Despite not understanding how to play, Stella quickly learned a bit or too online. Looking at Amber’s poor performance, Stella almost wanted to ask her to quit and play for her.
Makenna’s face lit up as she saw Amber lose to Gigi and herself twice in a row.
“Ms. Reed, do you have the initials of Jared’s name tattooed on your waist?” Makenna asked abruptly.
Amber concentrated on her cards without replying.
“I feel uncomfortable knowing you carrying Jared’s name on your body. You are no longer his wife, so why don’t we make a bet?” Makenna said, her attention locked on Amber. “If you lose, I’ll call a tattoo artist here to remove your tattoo right away, deal?”
“Ms. Gardner, you appear to be over the line, Ms. Reed has the right to have whatever tattoo on her body. This is utterly bullying!” Stella couldn’t take it anymore.
“Who are you to speak when Ms. Reed hasn’t said anything yet? What a noisy wench!” Said Gigi.
Stella was about to fight back but Amber stopped her.
“Deal,” Amber answered apathetically. “But, Ms. Gardner, what if you lose?”
“If I lose, I’ll leave Jared and never step foot inside Olkmore City again,” Makenna stated loudly as she looked at Amber’s card. “If you think I’m taking advantage of you, I can pay a tutor to teach you poker, and then we can play once you’ve learned the game.”
“It’s cool,” Amber responded, “I guess I’m alright.”
“So, do we have a deal?” Makenna inquired.
Amber replied, “Yes, everyone here can be our witnesses, five rounds with three wins.”
Makenna was delighted and proud that she won this round while Amber spoke. This increased her confidence that she would win their bet.
When Stella saw Amber’s cards, she knew she’d lose the first round. She groaned and walked out, saying, “I don’t want to watch you lose. I’ll go get some fresh air.”
She went to the restroom from the private room, lit a cigarette, and her phone rang.
“What are you doing right now?”
“I’m in a club with my boss for a poker game,” she stated as she took a puff. “Would you like to join?” She asked casually.
“I sent you to Olkmore to find a person; who do you think your boss is?”
“What’s the rush? He abandoned his wife and child, and now that he is dying, he wants us to search for his son so that he may make up for his mistake?” Stella was irritated, “He has earned the right to die alone! You should advise him to donate whatever he owns to charity and then die soon. This will keep his children from fighting over his money, which nearly cost me my leg the previous time!”
“Mind your language, Stella,” the person on the other end shouted, “You work as a bodyguard for the Rylands family, your life is theirs, and how dare you curse your boss?”
As she smoked, she said flatly, “Alright, I’m sorry.”This is from NôvelDrama.Org.
“The Fourth Young Master has dispatched his men to Olkmore; be on the lookout.”
“Noted,” said Stella, “Send me information about the Garland family of South Riverside. They pissed me off.”
“Don’t waste your time on insignificant people,” the man on the other end grumbled, “Spend more time on the search. I’ll send the information over to your inbox later,” he said. “Also, I’ve heard that the man had stayed in Ensford Town before, so arrange a trip there.”
“Yes, sir,” Stella said.
This phone call made Stella’s mood worse; she flushed the bud down and walked out of the washroom. On her way back to the room, she ran across a tall man dressed in the club’s uniform who was chatting with a colleague while holding a tray.
Stella froze for a second when she saw that face, then swiftly turned around, took two mints to mask her cigarette odor, and walked up to greet him.
“Repairman?” Stella said as she patted his shoulder.
Hayden turned around, saw Stella and instantly recognized her, “The pretty moto lady at 4S?”
“Yes,” Stella smiled and swept a glance over his attire. “Aren’t you a car mechanic? Why are you working as a server here? You lack money?”
Hayden was speechless, ‘Do I give off an ‘I’m really poor’ vibe?’
He lost a betting in video gaming and now has to serve his pals as a waiter, but he couldn’t care less whether Stella misinterpreted it; instead, he responded, “Yes, I am penniless; I’ve just finished tutoring and am now working here as a server.”
“Tutoring doesn’t pay well and is exhausting,” she commented as she scribbled her phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to him. “Take note of my number, I’ll introduce you to my boss. You can be her driver. The money is good.”
“Oh? So you work for a large corporation then?” Hayden asked, his brows raised.
“Not bad, don’t you know Goldstone?”
Hayden smelt something fishy and said, “Yes, who is your boss?”
“Amber Reed,” Stella said.
“I know Ms. Reed, she’s the new managing director of Goldstone,” Hayden said, his eyes wide with curiosity.
“Yes, she is quite kind and will treat you well. I know the commission is high for alcohol sales,” Stella said as she walked away, “So, send several bottles of premium liquor to room 1288, and I’ll pay the bill.”
As she went away, Hayden stood there watching.
“Mr. Cohen, Ms. Reed from Goldstone is playing poker in room 1288, do you want to have a look?” Said a server who approached soon as Stella left.
“Is there a beautiful lady with a small mole on her glabella in the room?” He spotted Makenna and Amber talking when he went to the restaurant earlier.
“How did you know? Did you go to the room?”
“This is interesting. How would Mr. Farrell react if he knew his ex-wife and his girlfriend are playing poker together?” Hayden said, rubbing his lower lip with one finger.