His Woman (18+)

Chapter XL

THE CASINO

Never lower your standards for anyone, sweetheart.

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CHAPTER XL

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I SPENT THE rest of the day floating through the mall, looking for clothes that suited my taste. Daniel followed me around, much like Anna, but didn't complain half as much as she did and instead sat using his phone whenever I began to execisively try out clothes.

Like all people, he eventually ran out of patience and forced me to leave. What I didn't expect was for him to again pull out his debit card and pay for everything that I wanted to buy - and even the ones that I wanted but couldn't afford.

Arguing was out of the questions so I thanked him and let him do what he wanted. Now we were at the last stop of the day, stationery in an underground parking lot.

Daniel turned to me after he shut the car off and pulled the key out of the ignition. He didn't have to do much to gain my attention since I was already watching him, taking in his every move like a hawk.

“You need to stay beside me at all times,” he said, making me raise my eyebrow at him in confusion. Where were we going? Was it dangerous? “And always wear this. So people don't try anything.”

He reached into my dress and pulled out the necklace he gave me, letting it hang off my neck and rest on my chest. I looked up at him cautiously. “What's wrong, Daniel? Where are we going?”

He stared at me long and hard as if contemplating whether he should take me with him or not before a smirk broke out on his lips. He placed his hand over his eyes and dragged it down his face, biting down on his tongue as he shook his head.

“Have you ever been to a casino, Araceli?”

I shivered at the way he said my name. I didn't think I would ever get used to hearing it from his mouth, but if he continued to use it as scarcely as he did, then I didn't think it would really be an issue.

Frowning, I shook my head. “I don't gamble.”

He chuckled, his eyes holding a mischievous glint to them as he turned to the door and threw it open. “Neither do I, babe.”

He walked around the car to my side and opened the door for me, giving me his hand as I got out. He slammed the door shut and made sure to lock the car before walking towards a white painted door with me following behind him.

The door led to a room with two huge elevators and plain white walls with marble floors. We rose onto the first floor, and the outside metal structure of the elevators disappeared, revealing pristine glass windows that overlooked the entire first floor. I pressed myself against the glass, staring out onto the first floor of the casino in awe.

It was past evening, but not night time, so while the casino was open and running for business, it wasn't quite in full swing yet. The place was dimly lit with either red, purple, pink or blue lights and some lit up screens from casino machines. There were absolutely no windows, keeping me from the outside world and keeping the outside world from me.

The floor was made of dark marble with a few light sources coming from them. There was a lounge area with black sofas and blooming vegetation near a small, indoor water fountain and further away from me, there were halls that led to other dimly lit rooms with pool and poker tables.

Men and women with specially tailored suits and expensive dresses walked around, placing bets and playing high risk games. I found it so odd how they could walk in with millions to their names, but could walk out seconds later in debt. If I ever had enough money to feel worthless about losing, I didn't think I would ever be able to even set foot inside a casino without worrying about going bankrupt; not to talk of actually gambling.