There are several stages to sleep, there is REM for example, there are also several stages to waking up, and I was at that stage just before you are really aware of what is happening, you know, that stage where your brain is working, your eyes are open and your ears are hearing, but nothing is really going in….
I laid there staring at the terrace doors, I could feel Olivia next to me in bed and the room was a tip, cloths, glasses and empty bottles everywhere. I climbed out of bed and stood up, my head was pounding and I felt sick, not just with alcohol but with guilt. All I could do was think of Jane, what had I done? I walked into the bathroom and started to run a bath, I stood looking at myself in the mirror contemplating the feeling of absolute betrayal, not for me, but for Jane. I mind was in a mess as I slipped into the hot soapy water, I closed my eyes and tried to reconcile my thoughts, Jane was dead, and had been for some time now, this wasn’t wrong she would want me to move on and it’s not like I went out hunting for a woman 5 minutes after she died, I waited. I sat up in the bath and splashed water on my face, I was right, I just needed to pull myself together, and a session on the tables would do that. I slid back into the water content I was happy with my choices. I was out of the bath and towel wrapped round me shaving by the time Olivia started to stir, I heard he getting out of bed, she walked into the bathroom wearing one of my shirts. “Morning” she said yawning, “Morning” I replied shaving under my chin, I stopped to smile at her, “WOW, what a night.” I said, hoping for an equally optimistic reply, I was not disappointed, “One of the best I have ever had!” She said, grinning ear to ear. There was a knock at the door, “Ah.” I said knowingly, “That will be our breakfast.” I gestured to her to get the door, she opened it holding my shirt closed tightly around her trying to be more modest, and a young man wheeled in a trolley with 2 full cooked English breakfasts, a pot of coffee and a jug of fresh orange juice, I poked my head around the bathroom door, “On the terrace will do.” I said casually, he wheeled it out to the terrace, I gave him a tip and we sat on the terrace eating breakfast. It was Olivia that broke the silence, “Will I see you again.” She said hesitantly, I looked puzzled “Of course you will.” I responded with an indigent tone. We finished our breakfasts and went back into the suite, Olivia pulled her cloths on and we agreed to meet again later that night, we kissed and she left.
I locked the door and sat on the bed with the money from the safe counting what was left, I counted the money 3 times and I couldn’t quite believe it, I had lost and spent £125,000 in 2 days, this wasn’t good, it was time to recover my losses. I walked to the wardrobe and took out my tuxedo and as I was dressing I went over the plan in my head I would take down £125,000 and double my money, then I would be back to the starting point and I would stop and leave the casino for good, buy a house and start a new life. I tied my bowtie and stuffed the money in my inside pocket, this was it, the start of the rest of my life, after tonight I could move on and start again. I headed for the lift and down to the HRC. “Good afternoon Sir!” the HRC doorman said to me as I passed, I nodded and continued to the poker rooms, after looking around I found a table that had chair one available and sat down, I placed the huge wad of money on the table and gestured to the dealer to give me some chips, he counted the money and pushed a large pile of chips in front of me, I threw my blind, £2,000, on to the table and picked up my cards, I had an ace of hearts and a seven of clubs, not the best start, but the afternoon was young and I wasn’t meeting Olivia until 10 after she finished her shift, so I had plenty of time to win my money back. I placed my cards face down on the table and casually lent back in my chair, it was then I realised, I felt comfortable, this was me, this was right I was born to be a high roller and now I was oh life was good……
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