Thread: The Gambling Debt  (Strmas and Camille)

Steve Craseri quickly glanced over the tally sheet his pit boss brought him and initialed it, waving him away. Steve was the senior manager of the Dionysus Casino, an exclusive private club owned by the powerful Istacidi family. Steve had worked his way up the club becoming the right hand man of the chairman, Tony Istacidi who ran the entire family empire. From his seat at the bar, Steve glanced at his watch and over at the private elevators at the rear of the casino that led to the special floors. Paulette had been sent up to the penthouse, the 'house' as everyone in the organization called it almost an hour ago and she still hadn't been sent back down. Tony normally didn't keep a simple 'maintenance' session nearly this long and that was making Steve nervous. And it was getting close to 1 drawing close to Skye's deadline. He dreaded to think what would happen if she was a no show. Tony had not been in a good mood lately. Well maybe Paulette was changing that. maybe not. Suddenly the doors to the casino burst open and in ran Skye. She spotted Steve at the bar and ran over to him and pulled him over to a little hallway on one side of the bar. Steve listened to her frantic story as he clung to his shirt. Steve had heard a thousand stories from gamblers, men and woman, young and old. They never seemed to realize what they were risking until lady luck turned against them. but he always liked Skye. She was a little bundle of energy that he enjoyed just watching as she bounced over the gambling floor. He put his arm around her and gently led her over to a quiet alcove and sat her down in the couch and sat down next to her. Calm down Skye, it'll be alright, he said in a soothing voice as he gently patted her hands. Gail, he said turning to one of the serving girls passing nearby, bring us a whiskey Gail hustled over to the bar and brought back a glass of single malt whiskey. He took the glass and waved Gail away, she quickly faded from sight. Steve put his arm around the shaking girl and let her cheek rest on his chest. Here Sky, this is a little stronger than you normally drink but I think you need it. Just take a little sip, he gently held the glass up to her lips, looking into her tear stained eyes. After she took a little sip, he put the glass down on the table and gently touched her face, moving her hair out of her eyes. I know that had to be scary, those two yahoos tend to get carried away. I wish I could have stopped that but Tony gets upset whenever anyone is late in a payment. He tends to take it as a personal insult and Tony is someone you don't want to insult. He picked up the glass and fed her another small sip of the whiskey. He placed the glass back down and stroked her face again, he had to admit she felt good in his arms, then he shifted her face gently so her eyes met his. I won't lie to you, this is serious Skye. When the club extended you the 25Gs you promised to make it good. The club takes missing a payment or being late very seriously but, he patted her hands reassuringly, it's nothing that we can't work out. You will be punished for not making the payment on time but that will just help remind you to be on time next week. He could feel his words weren't reassuring her as he hoped. He gave her a little more of the whiskey. Listen honey, I know those two bozos made it seem like owing 25Gs was terrible but honestly the club doesn't care if you run up 5, 10, 50, or 100Gs as long as you make the vig payment every week they'll be happy. You just don't want to short Tony. He felt her stiffen up next to her. You ... you do have the 7500, right?