To the biggest casino in town

The velvet drapes of the Elysian Casino did a fine job of keeping out the chill of the Gotham night, replacing it with the heavy scents of expensive perfume, top-shelf bourbon, and old money.

John Doe stood near the entrance, adjusting the cuffs of a pristine, custom-tailored suit that had cost him a cool three grand—over half of what he'd walked out of the Stacked Deck with, but pocket change compared to what he was about to win. In his right pocket, his fingers traced the smooth, metallic edge of the gold coin. Ever since he'd picked it up, an electric, unshakeable confidence had settled deep into his chest. He wasn't a **** debtor hiding in the grime anymore; he was the man holding the ultimate cheat code.

His eyes swept the high-roller lounge, instantly locking onto a woman sitting at a semi-private Texas Hold'em table in the back, looking like an absolute queen among Gotham's corrupt aristocracy.

She was breathtaking. Her short black hair was styled into a sharp, flawless pixie cut, framing fair skin, red lipstick, and striking green eyes highlighted with subtle purple eyeshadow. She wore a backless, violet evening gown that hugged a remarkably curvaceous and fit physique, and had a diamond rivière around the neck. She exuded an air of absolute control, casually twirling a high-value chip between her fingers with nimble, effortless agility.

According to the whispers of the tuxedo-clad patrons nearby, she was Selina Kyle, a wealthy socialite who grew up poor, until she inherited a massive fortune from a distant relative. The perfect rags-to-riches story. But more importantly, she was a beautiful, immensely wealthy woman, and exactly the kind of high-stakes prize he wanted.

He smiled, slipping his hand out of his pocket, and walked over to her table.

"Mind if I take the empty seat, gorgeous?" John asked, his voice steady and dripping with a charm he hadn't known he possessed until tonight.

Selina paused, her piercing green eyes locking onto him. A flirtatious, razor-sharp smile touched her lips. She liked a man with confidence, even if he looked like a newcomer. "The buy-in is a hundred grand, handsome," she purred, her tone witty and teasing. "You sure you can handle the heat?"

"I think I can manage," John said, pushing a massive stack of high-value chips onto the felt.

The dealer nodded, thoroughly shuffling the deck and dealing out the first hand.

John didn't open his mouth to make any absurd declarations or impossible claims. He didn't need to—the simple fact of sitting at a casino table was in itself a bet against all other players, after all. He just sat back, letting the coin passively rewrite reality with every shuffle of the deck. He peeked at his cards: a two and a seven of different suits. The absolute worst starting hand in poker. He didn't blink. He casually shoved all his chips into the pot. "All in."

Selina raised an eyebrow. Her naturally impulsive, thrill-seeking nature kicked in. She looked at her own hand—a pair of Kings—and matched him. "Let's see what you've got."

The dealer flipped the flop, the turn, and the river. Reality subtly bent around the table. The cards fell exactly as they needed to: three more sevens. John had a full house.

"Beginner's luck," Selina chuckled, her green eyes flashing with stubborn determination. She didn't hold a grudge or suspect a thing; she just rationalized it as a bad beat.

But the pattern only repeated. Hand after hand, John won. When Selina held a flush, John miraculously hit a full house on the river. When Selina tried to bluff with absolute confidence, John casually called her with a higher kicker. The magic of the coin didn't just ensure John won; it **** Selina to continuously match his escalating bets, completely bypassing her natural instinct to never trust easily.

By the tenth hand, the atmosphere at the table had turned electric. Selina's stubbornness was fully on display. She was a master thief, an expert at reading people, and she knew how to play the odds. Yet, she was getting utterly dismantled.

"You've got the devil's own luck, don't you?" Selina breathed, a light sweat breaking out on her collarbone. She was losing her composure, her pride deeply stung by how thoroughly she was being cleaned out. Yet, the coin's magic **** her mind to completely rationalize the streak. It's just a statistical anomaly, she thought. The thrill of the chase. I can break his streak on the next one.

"Just a lucky day, Selina," John said, using her name deliberately.

"Double or nothing," she insisted, her voice tight but still laced with that dangerous, flirtatious edge. She shoved the remainder of her chips, her high-society bank drafts, the deed to her luxury penthouse, and even her diamond rivière into the center.

John called. Five minutes later, John revealed a royal flush.

"Well, aren't you a devil," Selina breathed, her breathing slightly shallow. She was completely broke. Her entire fake socialite fortune, drained in under an hour. Her stubborn pride was stung, but the supernatural aura of the coin kept any real anger or suspicion at bay. Instead, she felt an intoxicating, irrational rush of adrenaline. "I don't usually lose like this."

"Everyone has a bad night, Selina," John said smoothly, leaning forward over the table. "Unless, of course, you want to try and win it back? A blind draw. One card each. Winner takes all."

"You've taken everything I have, John," she said, gesturing to the empty velvet felt in front of her. "What exactly am I betting with? I'm broke."

"You're betting yourself," John said, his voice dropping to a low, commanding whisper. "Everything I won from you tonight, against your absolute compliance. If I win, I own you for the rest of your life. You'll be mine and you'll have to serve me loyally, obeying my every order with no thought of escape or defiance—only blind, absolute devotion."

Selina's eyes glazed over for a split second. The absolute compulsion flooded her mind, seamlessly blending with her thrill-seeking persona. She didn't see anything wrong with the bet—instead, her mind rationalized it as the ultimate high-stakes gamble.

A slow, sultry smile spread across her red lips. "An all-or-nothing gamble for my freedom? You have a lot of chutzpah, John. I like that in a man. You're on."

The dealer, entirely oblivious to the magical contract that had just been sealed, slid two face-down cards across the table.

Selina reached out with a manicured hand, flipping her card over. A Queen of Hearts. She let out a soft, triumphant purr. "Beat that."

John didn't hesitate. He flipped his card.

The Ace of Spades blinked up from the green felt.

Selina let out a soft, sharp intake of breath. She had lost, and the coin's power ensured she accepted it completely, holding absolutely no grudge or resentment toward him. "Well, look at that," Selina muttered, her green eyes locked onto John with a sudden, intense heat.

She stood up smoothly, her agile and nimble movements turning heads as she glided around the table. She slid her arm through John's, leaning her curvaceous weight against his tailored suit. "As you said, winner takes all," Selina purred close to his ear, her eyes flashing with the devotion the bet demanded. "I'm all yours, Master. Forever."

John smiled into the dimly lit lounge, his fingers brushing against the cool gold coin in his pocket. Gotham truly was his oyster. And as he led one of the city's most elite socialites out into the night, he knew this was only the beginning.