The Billionaire's Gamble

Chapter 4: Chasing the Feeling

Monday, May 7th, 12:53 AM

As he approached the bar, Mako traced the woman's outline. She caught him looking for a moment, but she responded with the same smile she had given him before. He leaned against the bartop with his hands and nodded for a drink.

"Sitting all alone in a place like this can't be very fun," he said with a half-grin. "Not much of a gambler?"

The woman leaned over as well and tilted her head directly toward him, revealing her gorgeous amber eyes.

"Mmmm, I enjoy watching much more than playing," she said with a voice of honey. "Seeing men rise and fall like ocean waves to the irresistible storm of gambling brings me … entertainment."

Mako took a hold of the mixed drink prepared for him and sipped it.

"Then, by all means, I hope I was able to provide," he said.

"Oh, yes," she said. 'I quite liked seeing your eyes light up and deflate with each hand.'

Her words revealed just how much she had been paying attention to him, allowing him to further their flirtation.

"Are you going to tell me your name?" Mako asked. "Or are you going to remain anonymous as you throw jeers at me like I'm made of steel?"

Her growing smile and light chuckle told him that his joking manner had played off. Mako grinned in return.

"Elise," the woman said.

"Elise? That's it?" Mako asked.

She remained quiet as Mako waited for more.

"I suppose you'll have to earn the rest," Elise said.

Mako's fascination with her reached a climax. The subtle chase edged him forward. He inched closer with his drink in hand.

"I've been able to gather your name, however," Elise said. "You've made yourself quite noticeable on the first night of the cruise, Mr. Ruvic."

"Please," he said. "I only like being called that by those performing a service or who work for me."

"Then what shall I call you? I'm getting rather tired of 'handsome gambler.'"

Mako took a sip of his drink and looked down at the bar. The flirtatious atmosphere puzzled him as it had been so long since he'd been in a position to charm a stranger.

"Mako," he said.

"Mmmm," Elise said through closed lips with her deep eyes fixated upon him. "I like it. And how is it that you found yourself here, Mako? What line of work permits you to throw away millions of dollars like pocket change?"

Smiling, Mako raised his eyebrow.

"I work in aerodynamics," he said after a moment.

"Interesting … that's all you wish to tell me?"

"I suppose you'll have to earn the rest," Mako said, using Elise's own words against her in a playful tone.

Elise softly laughed and raised her drink.

"To earning the rest," she said.

As Mako took a sip of his drink, he watched the life drain from Elise's face as her eyes moved past him. He set his glass down, turned to see where her eyes had so fearfully glued to, and held the same concern in his expression.

The double doors to the far entrance to the casino hall swung back and forth, and a sinister looking man walked through with a hulking bodyguard on each side. Mako centered his focus to the thick scar on the man's upper lip and the serpent tattoo that wrapped around his neck and up the right side of his face. He felt uneasy at the man's presence and then looked back at Elise.

"Do you know him?" he asked.

Elise's eyes quickly darted to the floor. Mako noticed the mild shake in her hands.

"What's wrong, Elise?" he said.

"Nothing-it's … it's nothing. Forgive me."

Mako slid his hand toward her, not meaning to touch hers but to provide comfort in any way he could.

"It's … complicated," she said after a moment. "I do know him, yes. It's hard to travel aboard this type of cruise without knowing the organizer."

"You're saying he owns this ship?"

Elise's gaze flicked over to behind him one more time.

"Not exactly," she said. "Let's just say … he's a person of interest on this trip. To everyone."

"I'm not sure 'interest' is what I feel for him," Mako said, turning to take a glance at the black-suited man once more. "He doesn't exactly strike me as the 'plays well with others' type."

Elise giggled for a moment, reigniting the flame between the two of them.

"Well, if you'd like my advice," she said. "I'd stay away from him."

Mako watched the man take a seat at the captain's table and buy into the game that he had been taking a break from.

"That doesn't exactly seem like an option for me," he said.

"Going back to win more of the captain's money?" Elise asked.

With a raised eyebrow, Mako leaned closer to her.

"As long as you're there for me to gaze at when I win."

The joy fell from Elise's expression once more.

"I … I'm not so sure that's a good idea. It's getting rather late, anyway."

"Oh, leaving so soon?" Mako asked. "The night's barely begun for us."

He noticed the hesitation in Elise's face as she looked to the bar. Something inside her warred with her desires.

"I think I'm going to go for a swim … Mako," she said, standing from her seat at the bar. "I've grown rather tired of the gambling hall anyway."

Disappointment flooded him, making it difficult for him to keep the grin on his face.

"That's … that's a shame. I've rather enjoyed our brief time together," he said.

"Who says that has to end?" Elise said.

She gave him a teasing glance and started to walk away. Mako couldn't help but allow his eyes to drift over her swaying hips. The red dress gave him a full view of her curves, the light jiggle probing his carnal desires.

"You know," she said over her shoulder. "I've heard that the executive suites have a good view of the pool. But, I'm sure you wouldn't have any idea, would you?"

Elise's playful nature allured him. He thought about whether to return to the poker game he had invested millions of dollars into, but his heart followed her out the door.

Mako tapped his fingers on the bar and watched her disappear into the next hallway. Unable to fight it anymore, he downed the rest of his drink, set his glass on the bartop, looked around for a moment, and made his way after her, leaving everything else behind.