John sat at the opposite end of the card table, his gaze fixed at Flora-the current A-list celebrity everyone knew. He nursed his desires to bed her. Flora instinctively shrank behind Victor when she noticed John''s stare.


    She was frightened of John-a gut feeling she trusted.


    "Victor, gonna y or what? You''ve almost lost a hundred million to me already. I don''t run a charity here, so no credit is allowed. If you can''t cover your losses, hand over the chips and get lost," John taunted. The crowd echoed his words,ughing and jeering.


    "Who gambles without cash?"


    "Go on, get out! This ce isn''t for losers like you."


    "Central City''s Victor can''t put up the cash? That''s embarrassing."


    Victor''s eyes were bloodshot as he mmed his hands on the table. He hated being looked down upon, especially as a Robinson, and especially in this charged atmosphere where everyone was provoking him. How could he stand it?


    "Shut your mouths! Who says I can''t take a loss? I''ll show all of you;e on!"


    Flora quickly reached for him, "Victor, have you lost your mind?"


    She knew there was no way he coulde up with that much cash so quickly.


    Victor swung his hand, snapping, "Get lost, it''s none of your damn business."


    Flora staggered back from the p, clutching her face, tears welling in her eyes.


    John nced at Flora with a mocking tone, "Big star, he treats you like that; maybe you should consider someone else."


    Victor red at Flora, "Get over here."


    Flora bit her lip and slowly returned to Victor''s side.


    John raised an eyebrow but said nothing as the dealer took their position, expertly shuffling and cutting the deck.


    Before the cards were even dealt, John confidently pushed his chips forward, "A hundred million. Let''s see if Victor can keep up." Victor hesitated internally as he sat, but being already at the table, he had to bravely face the challenge, "I''m in." John lit a cigar, the sparkle in his one good eye murky and calcting, "That''s the spirit."


    John''s hand was a killer-a royal flush, a nearly unbeatablebination.


    Victor, on the other hand, had hit a streak of bad luck.


    His misfortune set a new record for the evening.


    John leaned back casually, casting a look at Victor. "Hey, Vic, you''ve lost me a cool two hundred million. What brings you back for more?"


    Victor, incredulous, stood up, pointing an using finger at John. "You''re cheating, damn it."


    John slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, unbothered. He gestured with his cigar toward the corner of the ceiling where a surveince camera was nestled. "Evidence, Vic. That''s what counts. You think I''m cheating-go check the tapes. But as for now, you''ve lost. And you''ve got until midnight to cough up those two hundred mil, or you won''t be walking out of here."


    The color drained from Victor''s face. Where would hee up with that much cash on the spot? The Robinsons was a family business, and he was not in charge of it. Besides, the Robinsons'' senior generation was notoriously strict. If his grandfather and father found out he''d gambled away two hundred million in one night, they''d likely break his legs.


    As for the Violet Gold Mine, he had hoped to get his hands on it from Josh Fudge, but the contract wasn''t signed before Josh''s untimely demise. With Fudge''s assets getting seized and the family in a vicious internal battle, Victor wouldn''t dare get involved.