Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
She wanted to run to the door of her suite, but instead she turned calmly to smile at Forsyne. “It was lovely to meet you.”
“If security takes you to task for helping an old man out, you call for me. I’m next door.”
There were only four suites on the entire floor, and his suite was directly across from hers. She shared the elevator with Forsyne. The other two suites had their own elevator on the other side of the floor.
“I’ll do that.” She was very proud of herself for not looking at Zale as she inserted her gold key into the lock and the door opened for her. She stepped inside and closed the door, nearly going to the floor, her legs turning to rubber.
She had never thought she would see Zale Vizzini again. Not ever—and she didn’t want to see him. She wasn’t a woman to make a fool of herself over a man. He’d walked away from her without a backward glance. That had hurt. Really hurt. She knew better than to have any faith in men, but she’d wanted to think she’d mattered to him. She hadn’t. So, okay. She’d gotten her heart broken just like a million other women. She was tough. She could take it. She didn’t want a repeat of the process, and seeing him and feeling her instant reaction told her she was susceptible to him.
Vienna slid down the door to sit on the floor. There was no one around to see her moment of weakness. She had learned to take those moments if they came. She was decisive as a rule. She’d been raised by a single mother and they had struggled financially, though not at first. They seemed to have money coming in, and they lived in a nice neighborhood in a nice home. But when it came time for her to go to school, that hadn’t lasted.
She’d had to learn at an early age not to let other people’s opinions bother her. Her clothes weren’t good enough. The car her mother drove wasn’t nice. They eventually lived in a run-down apartment so the money could go to private school tuition. Soon, they didn’t have the money for that. Vienna was grateful that they didn’t have the money and she could leave that school where the girls weren’t nice to her. She got odd jobs to help out, contributing the money and feeling like it was the two of them, her mother and her, against the world. They were so close, and she loved that.
Vienna took a deep breath and looked around the far-too-large-for-one-person suite. It was gorgeous, from the marble floors and grand piano, to the sweeping views and up-to-date high-tech gaming room, to the deep soaking tub, Jacuzzi, private hot tub on the balcony, walk-in marble shower and enormous far-too-comfortable bed with fireplace and views. There wasn’t anything she could possibly think of that had been left out. If she did need anything, she simply had to pick up the phone and her own personal concierge would immediately provide it for her. Best of all, it was free. Why? Because she’d been invited to play in their tournament. The one with the enormous prize at the end. How could she possibly resist coming out from behind her anonymity for a chance at millions, especially since she was already going to be in Vegas?
She’d been there for over a week, playing along with more than a thousand hopefuls trying to get a seat in the semifinals. She’d steadily advanced, one game at a time, until she’d finally managed to make one of the coveted seats.
Her phone buzzed and she glanced down. Stella Harrison. The bride. One of her best friends. “Right here, but I’m not sure I’m speaking to you at the moment,” she greeted.
“Uh-oh. What’s wrong? Are the other players being mean?”
“I can handle players in a tournament,” Vienna said. She stood and ran her finger back and forth along the beautiful table. There wasn’t a speck of dust. Not one single speck. Now she was putting fingerprints on it. She felt a little guilt over that. “Do you remember when Sam had some of his friends take us to Shabina’s house because he felt it was the safest place to be when the killer had threatened us?” She couldn’t make herself say the killer’s name. It still hurt, after all these months.
“He threatened you specifically, Vienna, and me,” Stella said. “But yes, I remember.”
“I wasn’t so happy about being forced to leave work by some man I didn’t know. He didn’t give me much choice. And he didn’t talk much either. It wasn’t like he explained the situation.”
“As I recall, none of Sam’s friends were big on talking, but then, Sam isn’t either,” Stella agreed. “We’ve just gotten used to Sam over the years we’ve known him.”