Chapter 60 Cecily, Beg Me
It had been three years since her first time at the Dorde casino, and she certainly felt rusty as she had forgotten how to play.
Hayden cursed under his breath in silence. Weren’t they all just bullying a woman?
It seemed dishonorable to win this way.
Hayden barely concealed a grin and glanced back at the indifferent Darian.
"Aren't you going to step in for your wife, Mr. Fitzgerald?"
Darian squinted through the smoky haze. He hadn't anticipated Cecily would boldly join the game without really knowing how to play.
Where did she get the nerve?
Though hesitant to take advantage of her, Hayden felt no need to go easy. After all, it was her choice to play, and a loss was a loss.
"Miss Cecily," Hayden said with a smile, "I did try to warn you. Now that you've lost, how do you plan to pay the ten million? Perhaps you should ask Mr. Fitzgerald to cover for you."
"Yeah, why don't you ask Mr. Fitzgerald, Miss Cecily?" Declan chimed in. "If you're willing to ask, I'm sure he'd be happy to pay for you."
Cecily glanced at Darian.
Pleaded with him?
Never in her life.
Hayden seemed to have anticipated Cecily's inability to produce ten million and relished the idea of seeing her humble herself before Darian. To Fitzgerald, ten million was just a trivial matter.
He saw the truth.
These two were simply too proud to show weakness.
If only Cecily would soften toward Darian, all this trouble would be unnecessary.
Darian watched Cecily in silence, knowing fully well that as a doctor, she couldn’t possibly cough up ten million dollars. She had his black card, and if she used it, it meant she had caved. Today's issue would be settled.
As Darian mused over this, Cecily’s cool voice rang out, “Card number.”
With a hint of hesitation, Hayden relayed the card number to her. Cecily took out her phone, and swiftly, Hayden’s account pinged, it had received ten million.
Hayden, with a cigarette between his lips, eyed the notification on his phone and then glanced at Cecily with a hint of surprise.
He hadn’t expected her to transfer the money so effortlessly, without even batting an eyelash.
While Hayden was checking his account, Darian discreetly pulled out his phone to check for any transaction alerts.
One minute... nothing.
Two minutes... still nothing.
Darian stared stubbornly at his phone screen.
Why were there no alerts?
Was there a delay?
After five minutes, with no notification in sight, Darian slowly lifted his gaze toward the cool and defiant woman. His eyes were cold and sharp as ice.
If she didn’t use his money, whose did she use?
He didn't mean to underestimate her, but he knew that no matter how hard she worked as a doctor for five years, she couldn't just have ten million lying around.
Could it be Blaise’s money?
He had almost forgotten, Blaise was wealthy.
Would she rather use Blaise’s money than his?
With an irritable scoff, Darian's face momentarily tightened. He started to drown his frustrations, drinking one glass after another.
He intended to suppress the anger within, but the more he drank, the fiercer his inner fury raged.
Cecily quietly reflected on the game they had just played and then calmly looked at the others, “Two more rounds, let's continue.”
“Continue? Are you here to throw your money away today?” Hayden felt almost embarrassed by his winnings. He started to advise Cecily not to act on impulse, but she cut in, “It’s my business, Hayden. Let’s move on.”
Hayden sighed, realizing it was pointless to argue. If she wouldn't listen, there was nothing he could do.
The other two executives playing along shook their heads in resignation. They figured she was young and naive. However, if someone was willing to give away their money, they were more than happy to oblige.
The second round began and everyone started to draw cards. Cecily’s slender fingers handled her cards with ease, deftly playing her hand.
The other three started off with smirks, thinking they were about to witness Cecily’s downfall. By the time Cecily tossed her last card onto the table, their smirks had faded.
Hayden stared in disbelief at the cards laid out before him, then looked up at the woman who had won. "You won?"
Cecily nodded, "I did!"
Hayden blinked hard, utterly bamboozled. "I thought you didn’t know how to play?"
"It's all just luck," she said with a shrug.
Gazing at Cecily like she was some kind of enigma, Hayden couldn’t grasp it. Luck? Come on. She'd been clueless in the first round, totally out of her element, and here she was in the second, wiping the floor with them!
If she wasn’t feigning ignorance and hiding her skills, she must have an extraordinary memory and a knack for calculating the odds.
They were likely heading for another loss if they underestimated her in the third round.
He shouldn’t have been surprised, how could he forget? This was the woman who had Blaise in her corner. She was far from foolish.
With a worried flicker of his lips, Hayden glanced over at Darian, still cool as a cucumber.
If Hayden didn't make a move soon, he might lose his wife to someone else.
Bending over, Hayden began to transfer the money to Cecily's account.
In the meantime, the man on the couch narrowed his eyes and then stood up with his tall and commanding presence.
Understanding the situation, Hayden respectfully vacated his seat for Darian, who took a place across from Cecily, his thin lips parting slightly, "Continue."
Cecily curled her fingers on the table, locking eyes with Darian.
Darian’s deep gaze held hers, filled with an unreadable intensity.
Cecily knew there was no turning back.
The third round began, and everyone watched with rapt attention as the four players faced off across the felt.
Darian rarely joined in their games, but when he did, he was unbeatable.
Just as expected, it wasn't long before the other two were practically out, leaving only the showdown between Darian and Cecily.
Cecily’s nerves were palpable as she clenched her fists.
There was a technique to the game, and while she was undoubtedly smart, her chances against a titan like Darian were slim, especially considering this was only her second time playing.
Cecily played her hand.
Darian slowly narrowed those deep-set eyes, flipping his cards face down on the table, fixing his gaze on her in silence.
"Beg me."
Cecily's eyes trembled, and her hands, resting on the table, clenched tightly.
Hayden and Declan had already seen Darian's hand and anxiously glanced toward Cecily.
If Cecily was willing to plead with Darian, he would concede the game to her.
Seeing that Cecily remained silent, Hayden and Declan were almost jumping out of their skins in agitation.
Darian's piercing gaze never left her, and for the first time, he repeated with patience, "Beg me."
Cecily's lashes fluttered like the wings of a butterfly.
Everyone also directed their attention to Cecily, by now, it was clear to all of them that Darian cared about this woman before him.
If she would simply ask for mercy, Darian was willing to let her win.
They had never seen Darian take a step back for a woman like this before.
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