Ninety-Eight
Eri was looking at with sparkling eyes as I adjusted my tie and cufflinks in the mirror. Once we had finished the long, playful ti in the hot tub, we had all refreshed ourselves and started to change, ready for the evening ahead. I had dressed in the expensive suit I had rush-ordered, as well as all the matching accessories such as a rather nice watch, and if I did say so myself I thought I looked rather dashing. Eri also seems to think so.
“I did yeah, my big bro is past his pri, if soone doesn’t push it he’ll miss the boat and stay a virgin forever, but…” she trailed off then, realising she was effectively telling us, her brother and best friend, to… well, to put it bluntly, make love. “Yeah I’m happy that Eri-chan and my bro can get that passionate, but please, we are right here! Have a heart!”
I blushed to match Eri, causing Shaeula to snort laughter. Trying to change the subject I complinted them on their looks, borrowing my sisters’ turn of phrase. “Wow, Eri, Aiko, you two look like a pair of sister supermodels. Those dresses really suit you, well worth the price. And you, Shaeula. There is sothing really sexy about a girl in a nice suit, but few can carry it off like you.”
Yeah, she’s petite and doll-like, which juxtaposes with the fact that it is usually older won in suits. As for my sis and Eri, the slightly daring dresses also balance their youth and good looks. They’ll be the prettiest girls in Las Vegas, I’m sure.
“Do I really look good in it?” Eri asked , seeking reassurance, and I kissed her again, careful to make it a modest one.
“You sure do. I have no need to lie. You should be more confident in yourself. After all, you did bag a big catch in , so you are set for life now, right?” I winked, and the room was filled with yet more happy laughter.
“Seriously, photo ti!” my sister said, lining us up to take a series of shots, firstly and Eri, then her and Eri, then and Shaeula, her and the girls and lastly all of us together. “We need to have records to rember this day! Besides, we can show these off back at school and everyone there will know we are the true princesses of Nishimorioka. “
“Just don’t boast too much.” I warned. “It’s important to keep your friends…”
“I know, I know. Wow, just let have so fun, all right? Anyway…” she looked at Shaeula and I in our business attire. “What’s the plan for this evening big bro? You’ve got business, have you?”
I nodded. “Well, in a bit Shaeula and I have a client eting. But that should only take a few hours. After that Shaeula will co back and et you two, and you can have so fun together, while I have a solo eting with another executive.” We had decided that since Shaeula was not really suited to poker, that after we had done so gambling before the tournant at Casino El Diablo she would return to have so fun with the girls while I hopefully cleaned up in the tournant. After all, If I can win that, our financial goals should be cleared easily enough. Worst case scenario we have most of tomorrow to gamble hard. I want the girls to make as many precious mories as possible while we are here.
“That sounds great. I’m sure Eri-chan and I can kill so ti while you two are busy. Then we can have a girly night again. We have lots to talk about, right Eri-chan, Shaeula?”
“Sure, that sounds lovely.” Eri agreed. “Though I was hoping to spend more ti with you Akio…”
Ugh, my heart… that sweet look in her eyes. She always used to be cute, but she’s grown up so well…
“Don’t worry, we’ll have ti tomorrow for that. Anyway, we have a couple of hours’ first, what do you want to do?”
“Oh, I know, I know!” my excitable sister chid in once more. “We have co all this way to Las Vegas. We need to gamble! It’d be stupid not to, right?”
Shaeula t my gaze and we both held in smiles. Yeah, we know. That’s why we are here, little sis. “You can’t, you are under twenty-one.”
“Sure, but you two can, right? We can just watch. It’ll be fun, right Eri-chan?”
“I don’t want you to lose all your money, Akio.” Eri began, but I stopped her.
“Don’t worry, your boyfriend isn’t a fool. We have so spare cash we can wager. How about we let you pick a series of colours/trebles and you can have a cut of any winnings? That way we can all share the fun.”
“Sounds good. Let’s go, let’s go!” my sister ushered us out of our suite, eager to play.
*********
We went to the Bellagio, once more admiring the fountain display, and headed to the casino floor. Shaeula was asked for her ID as usual, and the security seed a bit put out when they realised she was old enough. My sis and Eri sat on a table overlooking the nearest roulette area, and after ordering drinks (non-alcoholic for the girls of course, as we weren’t alone in our suite now) we set our strategy. Shaeula subtly buffed us both with her fortunate winds, and I was feeling powerfully lucky, after all, my Fortune was even higher now.
“So, don’t forget to stick a ton on twenty-two, that’s Eri-chan’s birthday. You NEED to rember that. Her birthday is the 22nd of September. Don’t forget it, all right? As for the other bets…”
I couldn’t help but laugh as Aiko was so hyped up. Of course I rember Eri’s birthday. How long have I known her? Shaeula had wandered deep into the casino floor, following her instincts, and had drifted to the slot machines, which she was studying with interest. Leaving Aiko and Eri to chat I hit the Roulette tables, going straight for the high-roller ones. I couldn’t bet too much, or my sisters would be worried, but while they could see the table from here, it was too far away to make out things like bet limits, so it should be fine to drop so big chips…
Cashing in ten thousand dollars I received my chips in denominations of five hundred apiece, and proceeded to follow the betting sequence, rembering to put a chip on 22 each ti like Aiko wanted. Giving them a little wave when they looked over I watched as the ball spun around the wheel. It first ca up on Red 5, which I won on the trebles, and after that I had more small wins and losses, until on the fifth spin it ca up 22 Black. Nice. That’s a sweet profit…
My sister was pointing excitedly at us as I swept over my chips. I could feel my luck swelling, the winds of fortune whispering in my ear. Taking a long gulp of my beer to steady myself I listened to where it was leading. 22 Black again. This ti I peppered the area around 22 black with as many chips as the table limit would allow. My sister and Eri looked nervous as all my winnings went back on the table, but monts later…
The dealer was looking at enviously, as once more the ball landed on 22, the winds around shivering in triumph.
The large pile of chips pushed my way were filled with many high-value ones, and I didn’t even have ti to count them before putting more on the table, following the selections I had been given. Over the next twenty minutes 22 ca up twice more, and a half-dozen people around were also well up, following my bets.
Uhh, I think I’ve won too big here… The dealer was sweating profusely, looking rather sick, and several burly n in black suits were watching in the distance. It was probably ti to cut and run… but before I could do so a series of loud sirens rang out. Fire alarm… no, people seem excited?
Gathering up my chips I decided this would be the ideal ti to call it. Everyone was gravitating over to the slot machines, and I could hear people excitedly talking about a jackpot winner. I suddenly had a strange feeling. It couldn’t be, could it… surely not…
A high-ranking mber of the casino staff was rushing over, flanked by four security guards. I followed them, mixing with the curious crowd, to where a machine was lit up and giving off loud music. Standing in front of it, looking sowhat puzzled, was indeed a young amber-blonde woman in a sharp suit. Shaeula. Holy hell, this looks a big deal, how much did you win?
She was cocking her head, looking confused, but her eyes lit up as she saw . “Ahh, Akio, there you are-are. I followed the wind which led to this machine. I can not-not say I understand it well, but it seems I have won sothing. Do you know how much?”
The staff mber had checked the machine, and with a pained smile asked to see Shaeula’s identification. “The machine is in order.” He allowed. Looking at her passport he nodded. “So, Japanese citizen. You don’t have to pay US taxes then, but you should report it to your own revenue authority on your return as they will want to levy their own taxes. It’s around thirty percent, if I recall. Still… I think you’ll be happy with your winnings anyway.”
“Help , master!” Shaeula pleaded, eyes spinning at his long spiel of complicated concepts. “What should I do-do?”
I patted her on the head comfortingly. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll go through the paperwork with you.” Turning to the staff mber I asked the burning question. “So, I’m guessing this is a decent win. How much is it, exactly?”
All around us I could hear silence, as everyone waited for the man to answer. “Two point seven million dollars and change. Congratulations. And thanks for choosing the Bellagio for your gambling today! Do you mind if we get a celebratory picture so we can use it for publicity? We’d appreciate it. We can then get your cheque sorted out.”
My wind went blank. That’s… just under two million dollars after we pay our taxes, and we’ll have to, as unlike our other winnings this will be public record… Uhh, so… roughly two hundred million yen?
Shaeula looked at concerned, but I pulled her into a hug, getting cheers and catcalls from the surrounds. “You’ve done it Shaeula! With that sort of money, our next stage is in the bag, no matter what happens later!”
As she preened, impressed by my praise and the attention, not really understanding just how much she had won, I realised that we couldn’t see Eri’s table from here, and my sis and her weren’t able to co on the floor, being underage.
“Sure, we can get the publicity shot, but can I bring my sister and her friend? They are underage, but for this they should be able to access the floor, right?”
The man nodded. “Sure, it’ll make the photo look better. A real family affair, lives changed and all that…”
I hurried back to the table, my sister and Eri showing relief when they spotted . “Hey what’s going on big bro?” Aiko asked, and Eri echoed her, saying she was worried when I ran off.
“Err, well… co this way. Shaeula had an incident…”
“An incident. She’s okay, right?” Eri asked, concerned. I rely patted her head gently.
“I say incident, but I an a win. A big one. Co on, we are getting a publicity photo taken.”
Ushering them through the crowd, security clearing a path, we lined up with Shaeula, as the casino staff took our picture several tis, arranging us artfully.
“Yeah, you are all so pretty and handso.” The photographer admired us. “This story should be worth the losses. If we can have a few words after this, get your thoughts, that would be great. If you do, food and drinks are on the house all night, VIP treatnt guaranteed!”
“So, wow, this… uh… seems a big deal bro.” Aiko said, nervous. “Just… just how much did she win?”
“Well, she’ll have to pay taxes when she takes the money back to Japan, but after that…” I dragged it out, causing Aiko to punch my arm. “… around two hundred million yen, give or take?”
“Wowowowowowowow. I think I misheard you. Did you say… two hundred… million… yen?”
Beside Eri looked faint, so I put an arm round her, shielding her from the crowd.
“Yep, a bit over two point seven million dollars, though thirty percent of that’ll be taxed away. Guess she hit the jackpot.”
“So… wow. Yeah. Just wow.” Aiko swallowed. “That’s… that sure is sothing. But hang on a minute…” she suddenly flashed a malicious smile. “That’s got to be bad for you, big bro. With that sort of money Shaeula doesn’t need to work for you anymore. She’ll kick you to the curb, right?”
Eri shook her head. “Shaeula won’t do that. You know that.”
“Indeed, how could you say such a thing, Aiko?” Shaeula protested, having overheard. “I shall stand by Akio until the end-end. This is but the beginning of our rise to power!”
“I’m joking… I’m joking. Wow, my head has gone funny. I can’t keep up with this.”
“Yeah, too.” I agreed. “Makes my winnings look positively anaemic in comparison.” I took out the mound of chips I had accrued. “I only made around two hundred and ten thousand dollars. I’m such a loser…”
Eri and Aiko looked at , then at each other, then back to , who was grinning victoriously. “Your big bro can pull off a win too, can’t he? You can’t have it now, but each of you can have ten percent when we get back. Save it and don’t spend it recklessly, okay?”
“Are you sure?” Eri asked and I held her closer.
“Of course. After all, wasn’t it thanks to you two we decided to gamble here today? Besides, sharing the wealth is what family does, right? Anyway, shall we go? I think that the staff want to interview us and sort out the details…”
Following the casino staff through the excited crowds to a private room, we spent so ti sorting out the particulars, answering so questions and saying what we would do with the money. At so of Shaeula’s answers the man looked puzzled, but even so we managed to get through it without embarrassing ourselves too badly…
User Comments
0 comments from readers