As the next game began, Lucas sat at the table, feeling a bit shy and out of place. The other players, seasoned and confident, exchanged amused glances.
“Look at the new guy,” one of them chuckled. “Think he can handle the pressure?”
Lucas tried to focus, but his nerves got the better of him. He made a mistake, discarding the wrong card, which led to his loss in the first round.
“Better luck next time, kid,” another player teased, smirking.
Feeling the pressure rise, Lucas entered the second round even more anxious. As he tried to steady his hands, a card slipped from his grip, falling face-up on the table.
“Ah, the Ace of Spades,” one opponent noted with a grin. “And there’s the Queen of Hearts,” another added, pointing out each card as it fell.
Lucas’s face flushed with embarrassment as he lost the round. Tyrone, watching closely, shook his head slightly, wondering if he had made the right decision in letting Lucas play.
Sensing Tyrone’s doubt, Lucas looked up and promised, “I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”
Tyrone nodded, deciding to give Lucas another chance. But in the third round, Lucas, still flustered, laid down a weaker hand instead of a pair that could have won the game.
The three bosses burst into laughter, mocking Tyrone. “This is your secret weapon, Tyrone?” one jeered.
“Looks like you should stick to waiting tables, kid,” another added, taunting Lucas.
Lucas hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and spoke up. “Honestly, I’m nervous because the stakes feel… boring.”
The three bosses laughed, one of them asking, “Oh really? Boring huh? And what kind of stakes are you thinking of that is not boring, kid?”
Lucas paused, then suggested, “The bets are too low. What if we wager our properties?” He glanced at Tyrone for support.
The room fell silent, everyone taken aback by Lucas’s bold proposal. Tyrone looked at him, uncertain. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, doubt in his voice.
Lucas nodded firmly. “Boss, trust me. I’ve got this.”
Despite his reservations, Tyrone felt an inexplicable confidence in Lucas. “Alright,” he declared, “I’ll wager my villa in Marbella.”
The three bosses exchanged intrigued looks. They knew the villa Tyrone mentioned was one of his most prized possessions. Intrigued by the high stakes, they decided to match his bet with their own properties.
“I’ll put up my penthouse in New York,” one of them said, grinning.
“My vineyard in Tuscany,” added another, with a confident nod.
“And my beachfront estate in Malibu,” the third chimed in, eager to join the high-stakes game.
They all agreed, drawing up papers to formalize the bets. The three bosses smirked, each imagining the luxurious properties they could win. Meanwhile, Lucas watched them with a sly smile, seeing them as clowns in a circus.
The game began with the three bosses exuding confidence. Cards were dealt, and the tension in the room was palpable.
“Let’s see what you’ve got,” the first boss said, discarding a card with a flourish.
“Don’t choke now,” the second boss taunted, laying down a strong hand.
The third boss chuckled, “This is going to be easier than I thought,” as he confidently placed his cards on the table. “I’ve got a flush,” he announced, leaning back with a satisfied grin.
As the game progressed, the bosses couldn’t help but notice a change in Lucas. The once shy and nervous player now seemed like a completely different person-a professional gambler with a calm and calculated approach. However, the allure of the high stakes kept their focus on winning rather than questioning Lucas’s transformation.
The first boss, feeling the momentum, discarded and drew quickly. “I’m building towards a straight,” he said, eyeing Lucas with a hint of challenge.
The second boss, not wanting to be left behind, laid down his cards. “Full house,” he declared, his confidence growing with each round.
Lucas, maintaining his newfound composure, discarded another card and drew a new one with a slight smile. “Three of a kind,” he mentioned, as if it were just another day at the table.
The bosses exchanged glances, slightly unnerved by Lucas’s calmness but still confident in their hands, driven by the thought of winning the valuable properties at stake.
As the final round approached, the tension in the room was palpable. The bosses were eager to see Lucas’s next move, convinced they had the upper hand.
Lucas took a deep breath, then laid his cards on the table with quiet confidence. “Royal flush,” he announced, revealing the unbeatable hand.
The room fell silent, the three bosses staring at the cards in disbelief. One of them, unable to contain his shock, shouted, “No way! How is that possible?”
Lucas leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips.
Tyrone paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, clapping his hands in delight. He shook his head in amazement and patted Lucas on the back. “Lucio, I never knew you had such talent,” he exclaimed. “Choose one of the properties you’ve won, and I’ll give it to you.”
Lucas’s eyes sparkled with gratitude as he thanked Tyrone. Meanwhile, the other bosses snapped back to reality, their faces a mix of disbelief and anger. One of them pointed accusingly at Lucas, shouting, “You! You tricked us! You pretended not to know how to play, but you were hiding your skills all along!”
Lucas shrugged nonchalantly, as if the accusations were of no consequence.
Another boss, his face flushed with anger, accused him, “You cheated us! This bet doesn’t count!”
The third boss, equally furious, added, “We were deceived! This isn’t fair!”
Lucas smirked, his eyes glinting with a mischievous light. “Why did you let yourselves be fooled?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You were so focused on winning that you didn’t see what was right in front of you.”
Tyrone chuckled, enjoying the unfolding drama. “That was part of Lucio’s strategy,” he explained. “It’s your fault for letting your guard down and taking the bait. It wouldn’t be fair to declare the game invalid. If Lucio had truly been weak and you had won, would you have made the game invalid then?”
The three bosses fell silent, the weight of Tyrone’s words sinking in. They realized that their own overconfidence had been their downfall. Though they were still seething with frustration, they knew they had no grounds to challenge the outcome. They glared at Lucas, but there was nothing they could do since he was under Tyrone’s protection.
Lucas met their sharp gazes with a faint, knowing smile, seeing them like a clowns.
Tyrone laughed heartily and turned to Lucas. “Get dressed, we’re heading to another casino for more action,” he announced with excitement.
Lucas feigned modesty, scratching his head. “But what if I lose?” he said, trying to sound unsure.
Tyrone smirked, seeing through the act. “You can’t fool me. I knew from the start that you were skilled. You’ve got real talent in this game.”
Lucas smiled, nodding in agreement. “Alright, boss. Let me change, and we’ll be on our way.” He stood up, ready to leave.
“Wait,” Tyrone said, stopping him in his tracks.
“Why, boss?” Lucas asked, curious about the interruption.
Tyrone looked him up and down, assessing his appearance. “Come with me. I have the perfect outfit for you,” he said with a grin.