Breakfast

You get up wanting to try the hotel’s acclaimed breakfast buffet.

You pay for your plate and head over to the buffet. It is impressive. Everything from lobster tails to eggs Benedict line the buffet. You want to try everything. You head back to a table with a full plate.

As you begin eating you overhear the couple at the table behind you.

“Supposedly the Queen is going to be paying a visit to the high stakes room this morning!”

“Damn! I wish we had the pull to get in there. Think we could sneak in?”

You reach into your pocket and run your fingers on the edge of the card. It seems like you will be heading to the high stakes room.

You follow the signs and you have to present your card no fewer than three times. Finally, you walk into a room. It is smaller than you expected. The crowd is sparse, attractive, and well dressed. Your leather pants and bustier draw more than a few scornful looks.

You go to one of the blackjack tables. The minimum bet is a thousand dollars. You stand and watch. You can’t believe the players are winning and losing more than fifty thousand a hand.

A woman’s hand caresses your shoulder.

“Too high stakes for your taste?”

“Yes…well no. It just seems wrong to lose so much.”

“But, nothing ventured nothing gained. Come sit down with me.”

“Well, ok.”

The table clears out and the two of you sit. You glance over at her and she is breathtaking. She has large breasts, lush feminine curves, and a model’s face.

You put a thousand dollar chip down. She puts down a pile of a hundred. The dealer begins to flip cards. She flips a ten for the woman, a four for you and an eight for herself. She does a dramatic pause.

Then she deals an ace to the woman.

“Blackjack.”

The crowd gives a little clap. She deals seven to you, then slides a card face down under hers. You pause. You feel nervous, sweaty. You roll another thousand dollar chip out and tap the table.

The dealer flips a card. It’s a ten! You wait for the dealer to reveal his card. It’s a ten and you exhale.

“See, my dear, a little risk isn’t so bad.”

“Yes, I suppose.”

“Though the stakes are perhaps a bit high for you, no?”

“Yes. I really came here to meet the Queen.”

“Such honesty, I like you. What is your name?”

“Lily.”

“Such a lovely name. My mother stuck me with the name Pulchramalum. My friends simply call me PM.”

“I hope I’m your friend. I’m not sure I can pronounce Pul…Pulchramalum.”

She laughs. “Call me PM, Lily. You know I have some pull with the Queen. Come let me show you my room and I’m sure I can arrange a meeting.”