Encounter

The lights of the casino were bright and blinding. I blinked a few times, waiting until my eyes adjusted. It was so noisy here. The sounds from the betting machines, the people exclaiming happily when they won and their disappointed wailing when losing pierced through my eardrums.

Oh my God, why did I agree with Yan Si's plan? It was such idiocy. I was supposed to find Bei He and charm him. He was forty years old unmarried man and had a liking for younger women. Thank you, Facebook, Instagram and Weibo, for giving me this information. Next, when he was head over heels for me, which I thought was totally impossible, I had to take him out of the casino where a rented yacht will take us away to a more secluded place. Then, Yan Si and I will let Xi An and her military training took care of Bei He.

It looked like a piece of cake. However, many variables could screw us. I walked around the many slot machines which the people played, stopping for a second or two because I was curious. This was my second time coming to this casino. In my previous life, when I still had feelings for Leonardo, I came to Italy to search for him. I didn't know his home address, but I knew where the casino was. Thinking about these memories, I felt ashamed of myself. How stupid was I? How could I travel all the way from Scotland only because he became cold to me? I just had to accept the reality back then. Were my feelings really that strong? Somehow, after I received a second chance, I didn't feel a speck of that love. Maybe that was because I felt kind of animosity towards him. I couldn't say that I hated him, but I thought I would want to gouge his eyeballs if I saw him right now.

Without realising it, I was near the staircases on the second floor. On it, there were card tables and roulettes. When I climbed the stairs, the atmosphere became quieter. It wasn't like the first floor, lively where people's emotions showed without restrictions. There, most of the players, especially the ones immersed in poker or any other card game, were focused and incomprehensible. Only at the end of the floor where the roulettes were, it was louder.

Hmm, I wondered where Bei He would be. Earlier I hacked some of the CCTV cameras and saw him entering the casino. It was a three-storey building – first floor for the slots machines, the second for card and roulettes and the third for Leonardo's office staff. I didn't think there is a risk of a chance encounter between us because he was in Scotland during that time in my other life.

So, if Bei He worked in this casino previously, he would be on the third floor. Should I have pretended to be dumb and go there, hoping he would be mesmerized by Euro-Asian appearance? There was a high possibility he would find me ugly. I didn't exactly fit the East Asian criteria of beauty. That's why I thought this plan was total crap. But Xi An wouldn't be able to pull it through any better than me. Her body was muscular, and most Chinese men would find her unattractive. That was really stupid. If I had her perseverance, I would like to be like her. Her body looks so healthy, agile and flexible. Her elegance when she moved reminded me of a cat. Alas, that was something not everyone could appreciate when they had their own vision of what beauty is and refused to change it.

I decided to see if Bei He was playing tonight. If I didn't see him on one of the tables or roulettes, I would check the third floor. Finally, I had some luck. I approached him, looking at the roulette wheel. There were four more people. They were placing their bets. I just watched with anticipation. Bei He won a large sum. He sneered, and the others complimented him with false sincerity. I wondered what to do to be acknowledged.

''Excuse me, I want to bet.'' I smiled amiably at the croupier, and he nodded in response.

''Sure, did you play roulette before.''

''Yes, I did.'' I noticed that the eyes of Bei He watched me curiously. It was good. I took Yan Si's credit card, and now I could play to my heart content. Not a second passed, and my phone rang.

''Luo MacCarner, don't you dare to make me broke. I'm watching the CCTV camera and judging by your face you plan to spend all my money.''

''That's not true.'' It really wasn't. I would let him some money to buy rice.

''Liar.'' He closed the phone, and I smirked.

''Was this your boyfriend?'' I heard Bei He' Mandarin near my ear. I shivered unpleasantly but tried to hide my disgust.

''No, just my cousin. He is like a brother who constantly checks me. By the way, I'm single.''

''Oh, is that so?''

''Yes. You see, I am into older men, and that doesn't look very good in China. So, my previous boyfriend was European. However, one day, I would love to be with a Chinese man.'' I hoped I looked cute, naïve and a little bit stupid while babbling, confessing all these things to a man who I didn't know. And I was praying that my internal wish to vomit wasn't as obvious as I feared it was. He smiled like the perverted uncle he was and circled my waist.

''Really? Then I think we are a match made in heaven? Hmm, do you want to come to my room? It's on the third floor.''

''Can't we go somewhere else?'' I assumed something in this plan could go wrong, but I didn't want it to be that crucial. It was better if I could make him come to my territory, not the other way around.

''Unfortunately, no. I'm still working. But I will make up to you in the future.'' Please, no, I didn't want to see you ever again.

''Are you a big shot here?'' I exclaimed in a fake surprise, and he patted my head.

''Yes, a manager.''

''Oh my God, that's so cool.'' He leaned over me, and I tried to hold my breath because it looked like he doesn't know what toothpaste meant at all.

''Are you in for some fun?''

''Sure, I am.'' I followed him to the third floor. When he received a phone call, he briefly explained where his room was and left me alone. I was happy I could call Yan Si. After telling him that Bei He wanted me in his room, he said he would send Xi An to take me away together with Bei He. I wondered how this would work, but my cousin assured me that she had her ways. After hanging up, I entered the room. I didn't even have the opportunity to look around before a loud bang scared me out of my skin. I screamed, terrified and my fear transferred into pure terror after seeing the figure which barged in.

''Leonardo…''

''Are you f*cking stupid?'' He roared, making my body trembling. ''How can you flirt with a man twice your age and follow him to his room?''

''It's not your business…'' I wanted to fight back, but he didn't let me a chance.

''Of course, it isn't. When I am not around, and you are in Scotland, your father is his business to watch his stupid daughter. However…'' He made big strides to me, lifting my chin with his finger. I watched his angry turquoise eyes changing colour to a darker shade of blue. ''When you are in my territory, it's my f*cking business what you do.'' I was so shocked and confused. He never cared about me. In my previous timeline, we were closer than we are now, but he only gave an impression that I was important to him. But, the truth was the only important person for him was Bianca. So, what was the real meaning behind these abrupt actions? Why was he so emotional? I decided to contemplate that later. I pushed his hand away and looked at him angrily.

''Is that so, Mr D'Arcangelo? I am in your territory, and you can shout at me like some barbarian and call me stupid? Who do you think you are? I suggest you watch your tone; otherwise, you will regret it.'' His loud mocking laugher followed my threat.

''Miss McCarner, if you are going to threaten someone, at least make sure you can fulfil what you say.'' He inched towards me, looming his body over mine. He was 1.90cm, and for a moment, I felt scared. He leaned over with his nose, almost touching mine. I shrank back involuntary, and he gave a deriding smile.

''Go home, Miss McCarner and keep yourself away from problems. If you want to play in my casino, do it to your heart content, but stay away from the men here. I don't want your father to blame me if he finds out something happened with you while you were in one of my casinos.'' There was the reason for his 'concern'.

''You aren't supposed to take care of me. I am no one to you.'' He didn't answer and was ready to head out. I stopped him. ''Wait, the reason why I flirt with your manager is that he stole money from Kang Xianliang. I'm sure you know something about this case.'' His body froze. Slowly, he turned around, his eyes cold as Siberian winter. I shivered uncontrollably because the wrath in his eyes was more intense than anything I have seen in my two lifetimes.

''Where do you know him from?''