The Casino

Emily stood outside the mansion gates with her file clutched tightly against her chest.

Beside her, a few other girls waited outside. No one talked to her and she didn't bother talking to them either.

The sound of the approaching vehicle broke the silence.

A white mini bus rolled through the gates before coming to a stop in front of them.

The driver lowered the window.

His eyes landed on Emily.

"Are you assigned to the casino?" he asked.

Emily nods.

The man jerked his head toward the bus.

"Get in."

Emily climbed inside.

The doors shut behind her.

There were only four other people inside besides the driver.

No one looked particularly interested in conversation.

Slowly, the mansion disappeared behind them.

Emily found herself staring through the window.

The bus stays silent, not even the radio was on.

The attention of the other girls was still glued to their phones.

Their fingers moved quickly across their screens.

Emily looked away.

She didn't have a phone.

She pushed that sad feeling away.

Instead, she focused on the scenery outside.

Cars moved through the streets.

People walked along sidewalks.

Small shops lined the roads.

The movement of the bus felt calming.

The passing scenery made her feel less trapped and suffocated.

Emily lowered her gaze to her hands.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

She really got a second chance at life.

The thought still felt impossible.

The Collins family had killed her.

She remembered it all…

Lying on that road unable to move…..Unable to fight back.

Unable to understand why the people she loved hated her so much.

Then with their mouth they told her why

She stared out the window again.

She can never forgive herself for loving those people and crying because they didn't love her back.

A quiet sigh escaped her lips.

She would never understand how she came back.

Maybe it was a miracle.

Maybe it was a dream.

Maybe she really beat time and went back hours before her death.

She still doesn't have a logical explanation for it…

And honestly, she no longer cared.

The reason didn't matter.

The only thing she was certain about now was revenge.

She needs an excellent plan, a flawless one.

She has a plan already but she needs plan B, maybe plan C too, maybe even D to Z if possible.

She can't afford to waste a second life that was handed to her free of charge.

She would make them suffer.

One after another.

She would destroy everything they built, everything they cherish.

They sold her father's company.

Then they used the money to build their own.

They sold her parent’s house…then they used the money to buy theirs.

They erased photographs.

Destroyed memories.

Burned evidence.

Spent years making sure nobody even remembered her parents existed.

Emily's eyes darkened.

She would make them pay.

Every single one of them.

She would eat them up from the inside like a worm.

Slowly and quietly until there will be nothing left of them

But to do that...

She needs power.

And power meant Ghost.

Her fingers tightened around the file.

Yes she got this position but that doesn't mean she should think ahead of herself.

She sighed softly.

Whatever this is, she still needed to be careful.

Getting close to Ghost wouldn't be easy.

The man she met that day and the man she saw that day are two different people

She shook her head.

She can't afford to act like she is special.

She wasn't.

Knowing his name meant nothing.

Saving his life meant nothing.

Even sleeping with him meant nothing.

Not to someone like Ghost.

Her heart wanted to believe that night was important.

That somehow it meant something.

Reality was proving otherwise.

The bus suddenly slow down

Emily blinked.

Her thoughts disappeared instantly.

Something enormous appeared ahead.

She straightened in her seat.

Golden lights illuminated every floor.

Luxury cars filled the entrance.

People moved in and out continuously.

The entire structure looked like something from another world.

Emily found herself staring.

The Ghost casino.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

This was beautiful.

For someone who had spent most of her life locked away….

The sight felt almost magical.

This was the first time she had seen something like this in her life.

The mini bus drives into what looks like an underground parking lot before finally coming to a stop.

The engine died.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then the girls inside immediately stood up and got down.

Emily quickly followed after the two girls from Ghost’s mansion

The underground parking lot alone was bigger than the entire shopping area near the Collins house.

Luxury cars lined every corner.

Black SUVs.

Sports cars.

Vehicles so expensive she didn't even know their names.

Everything looked polished.

Everything looks like a completely different world, different from the one she had grown up in.

The sound of heels clicking against the floor echoed around as the two girls walked in front of her.

Emily hurried after them.

Neither girl looked at her.

Neither acknowledged her existence.

They walked confidently like they knew exactly where they were going.

Unlike her.

She had absolutely no idea what she was doing.

Her fingers tightened around the file she was carrying.

What exactly was she supposed to do right now?

Maybe she should just keep following them.

Or maybe she should stop being shy and ask questions.

She opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

The words refused to come out.

Before she could gather enough courage, the three of them reached an elevator.

The doors slid open.

The girls stepped inside.

Emily followed.

The ride lasted only a few seconds.

When the elevator opened again, both girls walked out immediately.

Then something worse happened.

They went in completely different directions.

Emily froze.

Her eyes widened.

She stared left.

Then right.

Then left again.

Who was she supposed to follow?

Her heart sank.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

After a few seconds of panicking internally, she randomly picked one direction and hurried after one of the girls.

"Hello, excuse me."

The girl didn't even turn around.

Instead, she walked straight into another elevator.

Emily rushed forward.

The elevator doors began closing.

The girl finally looked at her.

And the glare she received almost made her stop breathing.

"Why are you following me?"

Emily immediately raised her hands.

"I don't know which—"

The elevator doors closed.

Leaving her standing there alone.

Emily stared blankly at the closed doors.

For several seconds she simply stood there.

Then she sighed.

"Just freaking great."

Her voice came out as a mumble.

She rubbed her forehead.

This place was huge.

She looks around

The hallway stretched endlessly in both directions.

People moved around carrying files.

Security guards stood at various checkpoints.

Employees walked past her wearing uniforms.

Nobody looked lost and confused.

Only her.

Emily looked down at the file in her hand.

Her assigned work section was written clearly.

VC Card Game VIP.

That should be her section.

The place where she would work.

All she needed to do was find it.

Easy peasy.

She started walking through one of the long corridors.

The deeper she went, the more intimidated she became.

Everything looked grand.

The floors practically reflected her face.

Golden lights decorated the ceiling.

Paintings hung on the walls.

Fresh flowers stood inside expensive looking vases.

Even the air smelled rich.

Emily suddenly became aware of her shoes.

Were they making too much noise?

Could people tell she didn't belong here?

She felt like someone would suddenly appear and scream at her for stepping on the floor.

The place looked too expensive for her existence.

She continued walking.

Then she spotted a cleaner pushing a mop bucket.

Relief flooded her immediately.

Finally.

Someone she could ask.

Emily hurried over.

"Hello, excuse me."

The woman stopped mopping and turned toward her.

Her expression wasn't hostile.

Thank God.

Emily smiled awkwardly.

"I'm sorry to bother you. Please, I'm looking for the VC Card Game VIP room."

The woman studied her briefly.

Then she points toward another section.

"This is not the floor. Card rooms should be on the fifteenth floor. Just get there and ask questions."

Emily's face brightened instantly.

"Thank you so much."

The woman nodded before returning to her work.

Emily stood there smiling for another second.

Then quickly resumed walking.

Now she just needed an elevator.

A few minutes later she spotted one.

Her pace immediately quickened.

She reached it.

Pressed the button and waited.

The doors opened.

She stepped inside.

The elevator was empty.

Thank goodness.

No judgmental stares.

No angry employees.

Emily pressed the button for the fifteenth floor.

The doors slid shut.

The elevator began moving.

Her reflection stared back at her from the shiny metal walls.

Her borrowed dress.

Her slightly damp hair.

Her nervous expression.

She still looked like someone pretending to belong here.

The elevator continued climbing.

Floor after floor.

Her stomach twisted slightly.

This casino was where Ghost spent most of his time.

His office was here.

His business was here.

His empire was here.

And now...

So was she.

The thought made her heart beat a little faster.

She quickly shook her head.

Calm down Emily

A soft ding echo around her

Fifteenth floor.

Emily straightened immediately.

The doors began sliding open.

She prepared herself to ask for directions again.

The doors fully opened.

And the world around her stopped

Her thoughts vanished.

Everything disappeared.

Because standing right outside the elevator...

Was Ghost.