It was just after eight thirty and nearly time for Alex to go to his third game. He had said tonight was just the build up for tomorrow.

What I had to do was dress up (as if I was wealthy) and go to the warehouse and make my presence known to Mikey. That, and wait for some players to drop out when they had lost all their money.

The hardest part for me was to try and learn how to play poker in twenty-four hours.

“Now, just get to the warehouse for around eleven or eleven thirty,” Alex says.

“Okay, and I have to dress up posh,” I reply.

“The works, it’s not very often a woman gets to play in a game like this, so you have to be convincing,” Alex says.

“I hid the fact I was a nun, so I think I have that under control,” I reply.

“You sure fooled me,” Alex replies.

“I was rebelling against religion, perhaps that life was not really for me after all those years,” I say.

“It has made you who you are, you are very special, or at least you are special to me,” Alex says. He gives me a big hug and kisses me firmly on the lips.

“When this guy outside has gone, leave and get ready,” he says.

“I will, I have the address,” I say.

Alex turns and walks through the door. He walks straight past the blowjob guy and nods and hails a cab. I glance from behind the curtain and watch as the car pulls onto the street and follows Alex to the warehouse.

“That is our time, I have to go and get ready,” I say. “Do you have any really posh clothes Bell?”

“I have a couple of killer dresses, I never made a HABIT of wearing them,” Bell says laughing.

“Very funny. Now get your ass into gear,” I say.

Shona stands and picks up the bags of money. “I hope we are all doing the right thing,” she says.

We head toward the door of Brent’s apartment. I turn. “We will see you sometime tomorrow,” I say. Brent nods and closes his door after we leave.

We arrive back at Bell’s place and quickly get inside. Walking around with two bags of cash is not something that should be advertised.

“So, Bell, where are these dresses?” I ask.

“In the closet, choose what you think is best.”

I open the closet and pull out the one or two dresses Bell had told me she had. It was actually seven. I lay them on the bed so we can look at which one is the best.

“I think that black one will be better for tomorrow, showing that much skin will put half of the guys off,” Bell says.

“You are better wearing that as a hooker,” I reply.

“Maybe you are right, I will have that one.”

“The silver one for tomorrow, that is classy,” Shona says.

“And tonight?” I ask.

“The figure-hugging red one, that and black shoes, you will look a million dollars, or half a million,” Shona says as she chuckles.

“Accessories Bell please,” I say.

“Go for simple, let the dress tell the story,” Bell says. “And keep your cross on, you never know, he might just listen.”

I look at the time. A shower and makeup and it will be time for me to head off to lay my claim on a seat for the last table.

Time flies, and I soon find myself on the way to the warehouse. I was nervous as hell and just have to make sure that I give nothing away about knowing Alex. I have to avoid any lingering looks or acknowledgment that I know him. That’s easier said than done.

The guy on the door greets me and lets me in. I can see the bar area and the game are already in process. Dim lights shine around the warehouse, and thick plumes of cigar smoke rise up toward the roof.

I head to the bar and order a drink. A stocky guy walks up to the side of me. From the smell of him, I can guess he is Mikey, but I have to wait for him to make the introduction.

“I haven’t seen you around before?” Mikey asks.

“Passing through, and I heard about your game,” I reply plainly.

“News travels fast,” he replies.

“What’s the chances of getting a seat?”

“Can you afford it?” Mikey asks, as he looks me up and down.

“I can tomorrow once the bank is open, half a million. Cash.”

“Are you good enough?” he asks.

“You want to test me?”

“Yeah, let’s stand closer, and see how you do,” Mikey says.

I have to touch the table to be able to see the cards. Alex, please help me.

I walk and stand behind Alex. I put my hand on his chair. “Sorry, I hope you don’t mind me resting my hand here,” I say.

“Not at all,” Alex replies.

I push my hand down the back of Alex’s chair. He leans back against my hand. I watch the dealer on the next hand. I lean to Mikey after the dealer has turned the next three cards.

“Player one has a pair at best. I reckon sevens,” I say.

“We will see,” Mikey says.

“Player two has nothing, nor player three. Player four is up for a flush and will go all in from looking at his stack,” I explain.

“Aha.”

“This dude in front of me, I have no idea, I can’t see his face,” I say.

I do know Alex has four of a kind, but it is not good enough.

I hear him about to raise, and I push my fingers into his back. He folds. The dealer turns the final card, and as I explained to Mikey, player four went all in.

He scoops the pot and wipes out two other players in the process.

“I see you have just lost two, does that mean I am in tomorrow?” I ask Mikey.

“Yeah, why the fuck not. If not anything else, it will make it a memorable night.”

“You going to stick around?” Mikey asks.

“I might give it an hour, a girl needs her beauty sleep,” I say.

“And it looks like you have had plenty of beauty sleep,” Mikey replies, overly-smiling.

Oh God don’t make a pass at me. Yuck!!

“Excuse me, someone wants me,” Mikey says.

“A brief introduction is often all that is needed.”