Chapter 145: All In
Last night, Lola hadn’t been able to sleep. How could she, when so many thoughts raced through her mind? Instead, she spent her time reading the files Amala had sent — information about the person who could have been the father of her child.
From the files Amala had gathered, the man in question was... a former pimp. At one point, he’d made a living selling women’s bodies, but then he had suddenly acquired wealth from an unknown source.
And now, he was living the high life.
Sitting in her car, parked a few blocks away from a condominium building, Lola waited. According to Amala, this was where he currently lived. Thankfully, Amala had also managed to dig up his repetitive daily routine.
Lola tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, her gaze locked on the building’s entrance. Her face was dark with focus, her breathing steady but heavy.
Soon, a sports car pulled into the driveway.
Her eyes sharpened as a valet hopped out of the driver’s seat. Lola’s gaze drifted back to the entrance — and there he was.
Her heart thudded painfully against her chest. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened until her knuckles whitened.
A man in a white suit stepped out. Sunglasses shielded his eyes, his shirt unbuttoned just enough to show off his neck jewelry. His clothes screamed luxury, but his aura lacked the refinement of any successful man she had ever met. Even Derek carried himself with more class.
She watched quietly as he handed a bill to the valet before sliding into the sports car. The moment he pulled out of the driveway, Lola started her engine and followed him like a shadow.
****
The man’s schedule was simple. He only frequented a handful of places, but the one he visited the most was the casino. So, Lola adjusted her appearance to match the casino’s dress code.
It was still morning, and he was already gambling.
Lola lingered at the slot machines, keeping her eyes on him as he played poker at a high-stakes table. Narrowing her gaze, she studied him from a distance.
If he stopped pimping... how is he affording this lifestyle?
Even Amala didn’t know. They couldn’t say exactly how much money he had, but watching him lose hundreds of thousands — sometimes millions — in a single game gave her a pretty good estimate.
Though he won occasionally, his losses outweighed his gains. Curious, Lola rose from her seat and sauntered toward the check-in desk.
"Hello." She smiled warmly, earning an equally polite smile from the staff.
*****
Minutes later...
"Haha..." The man in the white suit laughed, pulling in a big win. "I guess today’s my lucky day!"
He grinned smugly as one of the other players left in frustration, his chips gone. The man leaned back, basking in his victory until a beautiful woman slid gracefully into the newly vacant seat.
"Hmm?" His brows rose. His eyes widened when he caught sight of her.
Wow, he thought. She’s... she’s a killer.
He studied her face, then let his gaze wander down to the elegant cut of her dress that revealed the curve of her collarbone and a generous hint of cleavage. He gulped, grinning as he dragged his eyes back up.
I might be able to take her home tonight, he smirked inwardly.
Meanwhile, Lola maintained her subtle smile, her eyes sharp as she caught him licking his lips like a predator spotting his prey. It didn’t matter, though. She had other plans, and that was to play.
Soon, the high-stakes game began.
The first round was simple, as everyone’s cards were straightforward.
"Nice!" Lola clasped her hands together with delight, flashing them a radiant smile. "I won! Lucky me!"
Her giggle rang across the table as she collected her winnings. It wasn’t a big payout, but for a "first-timer," it was enough to make her look thrilled. The other players barely reacted. Understandable, they’d lost and won far more than that in their lifetimes.
"Congrats," the man in the white suit suddenly spoke, making Lola pause.
She offered him a polite smile. "Beginner’s luck."
"Don’t say that," he said. "Who knows? You might wipe us all out today."
"Haha! Well, I don’t want to do that." She twirled her chips playfully, glancing at the other players. They didn’t seem to mind the exchange — in fact, they smiled, clearly charmed by her presence.
"But let’s all have fun, okay?!" Lola beamed. "I hope none of you go easy on me. I trust my luck today."
Her cheerfulness drew a few chuckles and nods.
"Don’t worry," one player said. "At this table, no one goes easy on anyone."
"It’s not a fistfight," another added. "It’s all about luck... and how you play your cards."
"If you lose all your chips, don’t worry about it," another reassured. "We’re here for fun, so no pressure."
The man in the white suit leaned in, flashing her a wink. "Just relax, Miss. Have fun, like the rest of us."
"..." Lola pressed her lips together, scanning each face around the table. Then she smiled brightly. "Let’s all have fun, then!"
She turned her beaming smile toward the dealer, who gave her a small nod. Then, quickly, the second game began.
This time, the stakes were higher. Lola lost, but the players offered her encouraging remarks.
On the third game, she folded. The fourth, she called and lost again.
Round after round, the pressure mounted as the stakes grew larger. A crowd began to form around the table. Maybe it was because the men were showing off with big calls and raises, or maybe it was the way they kept sweet-talking Lola.
Either way, by the ninth game, all eyes were on her.
Lola glanced down at her cards, then at the dealer’s revealed spread. The players at the table had already started giving their answers.
"Call."
"Call."
"Call."
The chips piled higher and higher in the center. Everyone watched her closely. After all, she had been losing all day.
She smiled sweetly. "I’ll raise."
Reaching down, she dragged the briefcase beside her onto the table. Slowly, she turned it around so everyone could see. Her fingers reached for the locks until the case snapped open.
Click.
With a radiant smile, Lola uttered the words that made the table still:
"All in."