TWENTY-NINE

Kamilla Lopez

— Make this sweet woman a drink, it's on me.

I hear a man's voice appear beside me, I turn around subtly, and I come across a stunning beauty with brown eyes, I see a smile inhabit his lips and greet me.

— Nice to meet you, Ethan Hunt.

—Kamilla Lopez. — I greet him.

— A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.

The bartender approaches and places two glasses of tequila on the counter, he holds a glass for himself and drinks the liquid without making a scene, then he hands me the remaining glass, I put it in my hand and drink the not very pleasant liquid.

— Where do you live?

— Right here, and you?

— Also… Are you married?

— No, just dating.

As the man talks to me, I'm met with two blue eyes staring at me with a serious expression, his lips set in a single line and his jaw set, he was angry. Nick was a few feet away from me, leaning against a wall with his hands shoved in his pants pocket. Suddenly a blonde approaches him, she says something close to his ear while her eyes are still on me.

— So..... Do you want to play?

— Clear!

Ethan gets up from the bench and extends his hand to me, I looked at his hand and averted my eyes looking at Nick, he was still close to that woman, however, his eyes were on me giving me a deadly look trying to warn me not to match The man. I averted my eyes and took Ethan's hand, he started to guide me to the opposite side of the casino where the games were, I still looked back, but Nick was no longer there. Ethan and I approached a large table where there was a roulette wheel with several chips next to different numbers, on the table, there were three opponents who were already playing, sometimes later more people approached.

— I don't know how to play.

— Don't worry, I'll teach you.

My hands grip the bar of the table tightly, I'm nervous, I took my eyes off the game and wandered around the great hall looking for Nick.

— Make your bets! — asks the game instructor next to the roulette wheel.

— Choose three numbers.

— What....

— Make a choice of three numbers, we'll play on it.

— Let me see..... 6, 9 and 16.

— Need another one?

Everyone around the table turned to Nick, his hard and male voice echoes close to us, I stare at him with an arched eyebrow when I realize that he was next to a blonde who was holding his left arm. On his face there was a flirtatious and satisfying smile, I automatically pressed the table's wood in frustration, a strange sensation tore through my being, I wasn't enjoying that scene.

— The more, the merrier, please come closer.

Nick and the blonde approach and stand next to each other in front of me and Ethan, I see the blonde look at Nick with a certain sparkle and malice, since he didn't have his eyes on me.

— Miss Lopez.

— Yes?

— The numbers, have you chosen?

— 6, 9 and 16. — I repeat.

— Okay, I'll go in the same numbers.

Ethan takes three blue chips and places them on top of the numbers I've chosen, the opponents have placed their bets and chosen certain numbers. Then, the instructor rotated the roulette wheel while a blue ball moved inside the roulette wheel, then, his movements were decreasing and the ball stopped at a certain number.

— 16!

Ethan celebrates the victory, on impulse, he approaches me and kisses my cheek, his unexpected attitude scared me, I looked at Nick and he had a scary look.

— Congratulations. — almost everyone congratulated the achievement.

— Do you wish to continue? — Ethan asks.

— Clear!

— Choose other numbers.

— 19.25 and 30.

The instructor turned the roulette wheel again and threw the little blue ball, the movements stopped, and the drawn number was the one chosen by Nick. The blonde celebrates by jumping with happiness making her breasts sway and calling Nick's attention, she approaches him and kisses his cheek, my heart missed a beat, a feeling of anger took over me. Before he took any action that I would regret, we heard a warning in the spotlight asking everyone to proceed to the great hall. Nick gave the blonde his hand, and they walked off together in the orderly direction, leaving me behind.

— You come?

— Yes....

I take Ethan's hand, and we go to the hall, we go through a door and observe the extensive place with several tables arranged and a large stage where a piano played. Ethan and I approached a table and sat down, a waiter passed us and left champagne for both of us, I took the glass and drank the liquid while my eyes wandered in search of Nick. Soon I found him, he was sitting in the company of the blonde, she was throwing herself on top of him, adjusting her cleavage leaving her silicone breasts more exposed, in an act of fury, I squeezed the glass in my hands and broke the glass, almost all eyes were directed at me.

— Are you well?

— Yes.

At that moment Nick is called to the stage, there, he is given a microphone and starts talking about his newest red casino, he looked like a God exuding power and authority, everyone respected him and boasted with attentive eyes on everything he said. Nick Ross showed everyone that he was a kind man, but due to his dangerous words with double meanings, it makes me doubtful, something tells me that this is nothing more than pretense, that everything is nothing more than a great manipulation designed, for me, he hides his real nature.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm exaggerating, but the way he sometimes treats me, especially looking at me with a certain obsession, trying to control and manipulate me, there's no doubt. Nick leaves the stage and everyone applauds warmly for his beautiful words, he goes back to his table and the pianist starts playing again. I tell Ethan that I'm going to the restroom and leave the room. I walk through the casino and find a closer bathroom, I enter the place and approach a sink, I look in the mirror, I was serious. I'm a pile of emotions, I don't know what my real feelings for Nick are, but seeing him next to someone else makes me uncomfortable.

I hear the door open, I quickly look towards the entrance, I see him walk through the door with a serious expression, Nick walks towards me as if nothing had happened.

— What are you doing here?

— Why are you near that man?

— The same way you are close to that woman.

— I asked you to wait for me, not to be amused by the first one who showed up.

— I wasn't making fun of anyone, I was just talking.

— It wasn't what it looked like.

— Think whatever you want.

I turned my back ready to leave the bathroom, however, Nick grabbed my arm and pulled me against his body, trapping me in his arms with a terrifying expression on his face, I try to free myself, but he dominates me easily.

— Let's get out of this bathroom together and go to a table, go sit next to me and be quiet.

— Do you really think I'm going to stay close to that woman?

— Are you jealous, dove?

— From you? No!

— Of course you are, but we're not going to sit next to the pretty blonde.

— If you think she's pretty, you should have come with her and not made me come.

— You're turning me on, my angry kitten.... — Nick pressed his pouty lips together and kissed my neck, my skin crawling quickly.

— No.... — I try to protest and push him away from me, but the strength of his arms stop me and make my body soften in surrender.

— Come on, let's play a little doll.— Nick released my body from his hold and circled his palm in mine, then led me out of the bathroom.