Two loves most unsuitabl.., p.16
Waking Up in Vegas (The Vegas Series Book 1), page 16
She paused for a moment. “I don’t know,” she shrugged. “On one hand, I would feel so happy to be at a place where I have more responsibility and the ‘Director’ title. But, then you kind of have to do right by ownership, and that meant that you really couldn’t be anyone’s friend. You had to make some tough decisions that people weren’t always so ecstatic about.”
“Yup, you couldn’t have said it better.” I stretched out my arms and put one around her. In the beginning, I had felt kind of sad that I was coming into this role, in a new place, and didn’t really have the chance to be the nice guy I wanted to be, in hopes of pleasing everyone. Instead, I had to come to terms that I was going to make some tough decisions that would cause people to turn against me, and now, even though I don’t always see eye to eye with everyone, I can at least say I’ve done a good enough job making decisions that were beneficial for the hotel.
I reach to turn on the fireplace that we’re sitting across from. I brought over mugs from the kitchen and filled them up with my favorite wintertime drink: a hot toddy.
Marissa grabs the mug from me and wraps her hands around it. “Thanks,” she smiles. “The place looks so nice. Did you decorate it all yourself?”
I nod. “A lot of looking at Christmas decorations from Target, then asking if one of the concierge people could help me pick stuff up. I know I probably won’t be in this room the same time next year, but I wanted it to be special because I’m spending it with you and you don’t get the chance to spend it with your family.”
“Thank you,” she smiled and leaned over to give me a quick peck. “I know I could’ve flown back for a day, it’s not a far flight at all. But with the VIP group, and just all the uncertainty surrounding my life right now trying to catch the Fortune Hunters, I opted to just take a longer vacation when my cousin gets married next year. But I’m happy that you’re here too, at least I’ll be able to spend the holidays with someone. And you even did such a good job making everything look so festive!”
“It was hard work, but I’m glad it paid off. I didn’t do the same for the food though,” I chuckled. “That I had the restaurant concoct something for me.”
We walk over to the kitchen island and I hand her a plate. She’s smiling as she walks around the small space, looking at the plethora of food that I have lined up for our special day.
“Okay, but this is still amazing Kellen. How did you know all these foods were my favorite?”
“Well, the beef stew noodle soup I knew was a for sure. But everything else, I kind of just assumed. The claypot rice is one of my favorites. They do a really good job of making the rice a perfect stickiness.”
We gathered our plates and sat down at the table. I can feel the drool forming in my mouth at how wonderful it smells, and I know it’s going to taste just as good.
“How is Christmas like with your family?” Marissa asked. “Is this the first time you’re on your own for the holiday?”
I nodded. “Christmas is nice…I mean, it’s very small. My parents, my sister, her husband, my nephew, and my grandma. We kind of do the traditional Christmas even though we’re Chinese. It’s the one time that my mom kind of gets excited that she can cook something that also happens to please my grandmother. We usually do a spiral ham, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, and a rack of lamb or prime rib. The decorating is definitely on another level. My mom hires a professional crew of people to help her decorate my parent’s place. From the ten foot Christmas tree, the tinsel that drapes across the room, all these glass icicles that hang down from the ceiling. It’s just as winter wonderland as the Macy’s in Herald Square is. Just less of the mechanical figurines. But I wouldn’t be surprised if she bought a holiday train set to circle around the tree next year for my nephew.”
“So, you’d say Christmas is kind of a big deal.”
“My mom tries to make it.” I feel like it all started because she wanted to be in competition with the moms at our schools on who could have the best decorated house amongst the other Lower East Side kids I grew up with. I think people kind of underestimated her because they assumed Chinese families don’t typically do anything special for Christmas, but she proves them all wrong. And since then, it’s been the one time of the year where she’s felt joy in putting in effort to make something feel magical.
She says it’s because she never had that extravagant Christmas growing up, and neither did my dad, so if she was going to go all out for something it was that. Then my dad decided the same needed to be done for the Lunar New Year as well, which is why the hotel kind of goes all out for those two holidays.”
The holiday decor at the Blossom, I would argue, wasn’t the biggest and the best. Some of the other luxury hotels have grand Christmas trees that are at least fifty feet tall, and polar bears made out of flowers. Ours is just a Christmas tree with some giant pink light up presents surrounding it. But come Lunar New Year, we’ll be doing everything in our power to make sure that we have the most grand decor that will blow everyone else out of the water, complete with lion dancing and Chinese instrument performances in the lobby every hour.
“It makes sense,” Marissa says. “I like seeing all the decorations. It’s like one of my favorite parts about the holiday. Everything is so picturesque, it’s like you have the magic of winter without the snow.”
“Maybe next year, I can take you to New York so you can see how a real winter wonderland looks like.” Of course, if we were still together. If I spoke it into existence, maybe it’ll come true. Forget the forbidden relationship that we have. I’m not going to wait around for a year to be with her. I’m going to defy whoever I need to be with her. Even if that might be my own father. If this time together is proving anything, it’s that I’ve never felt more happy during a holiday then spending it intimately with her. But, until I could figure out what a relationship looked like: which meant giving her all the attention she deserved, I had to restrain myself. Commitment was a word that loomed over my head like a rain cloud, and I was more focused on the storm than the calm before it.
“I’d like that,” she smiled. “You know, if and when we’re together. I know there’s still a lot up in the air about that.”
Ah, so I guess it was weighing in her mind. “No matter what,” I said, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. “I’m just happy being here with you. This is one of the best Christmases I’ve ever had. Even better than the time my parents surprised me with that huge Lego Millennium Falcon set as a present.”
“Really?” She burst up laughing. “Well, don’t want to burst your bubble, but I definitely didn’t get you something as cool for a present.”
“That’s okay,” I tell her. “You didn’t even need to get me a present.”
“I know, it’s just one of those things where I wanted to. You were kind enough to host me for the holidays, and you’ve been nothing shy of amazing to me these past few months. I think it was finally time to tell you how much I appreciate you.”
“Do you want to exchange presents now then?”
“Sure,” she nods. She gets up and reaches for her present that she left by the doorway. When she walks back, she holds the somewhat large holiday themed bag in her hand and hands it over to me.
“It’s nothing much, like I said, but I saw this the other day and I thought it would be something you’d look nice in.”
I place the bag on the floor and rip off the layer of tissue paper covering the present. I pull it out: a tan-colored cashmere button down coat that’s wonderfully soft to the touch.
“I know you probably are no stranger to coats like this, but when I saw it, and then I felt it, it was so nice that I couldn’t not buy it. I hope it fits. I kind of had to guess your size, but if it doesn’t fit you can exchange it. It won’t hurt my feelings.”
“This is amazing,” I say, holding the soft coat in my hands. “Thank you.” I pull her in for a hug and wrap my arms tightly around her shoulders. “This is such a thoughtful gift. Truly. I’m excited to wear it soon.”
“Good, I’m glad. I know that we can’t really be venturing outside much, but I’d like to hope that we’ll be able to get one chance to see all the holiday decorations in the other hotels next year. It’s so fun to see what everyone has planned.”
“Definitely.” I stand up and walk over to the armchair where I was sitting earlier to talk to my mom to give Marissa her gift. I had to get a different bag to hide what store I had bought it from, but it was also in a bigger bag, around the size that she had given to me, in hopes of trying to confuse her on what the size of the gift was.
“I bought this for you, well I actually had to give my card to someone to buy this for you, because I wanted to get something meaningful to you, and this gift I thought was meaningful for the both of us, so I raced as quick as I could to buy it before they didn’t have any left.”
“Okayyy,” she says, giving me a confused look. “I have no idea what this could be.”
“When you see it, I think you’ll see what I mean.” I hand her the bag. “Go ahead, open it.”
She takes the bag and rips open some of the tissue paper I had stuffed in the bag. She peers her head over and gasps much louder than her own natural voice usually projects.
“Oh my god, Kellen.” Her eyes begin to water and she quickly brushes her tears away. “You got this for me?” She takes out the dustbag for the Black Chanel 19 bag that I bought her. This is definitely one of the most expensive gifts I have bought for someone. I mean, I haven’t even bought my mom a Chanel purse. And neither has my dad, yet. When I was thinking about what gifts to buy her, I ultimately thought about this one, because she mentioned to me how she had wanted a Chanel bag her entire life, but could justify buying one. And if she had one, she’d rub it in everyone’s face that she had owned one, and the thought of that made me smile. Maybe because it made me realize that it can be something that ties her back to me.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Don’t think you needed to get something just as expensive or anything. I just got it because I know you were eying that bag, and even though the brand itself has ties to memories of us in more unfortunate circumstances, I think that all your hard work leads itself to this kind of reward.”
“Thank you,” she whispers. She sets the bag down and cups both my cheeks with her hands. She leans forward and gives me a soft kiss on my lips. I can still feel the tears on hers, but I take her face in my hand and brush away her tears with my thumb. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever given me,” she says. “Probably the nicest thing anyone would get for me besides like, an engagement ring or something.”
“You’re welcome,” I give her another kiss. “This is probably the best I can do for now, and I’m glad it’s enough.” I make a note to myself that I’ll need to 1UP myself when I buy her an engagement ring, but that’s for future me to worry about.
“It’s more than enough.” She looks deeply into my eyes and rests her palms on my chest. “It’s everything I could ask for.”
She buries her head in the crevice of my shoulder and I feel my face harden. I breathe in a deep breath into her hair. I know that I got this for her because I care about Marissa a lot, going so far to say that I love her, but life is hurdling so many obstacles at us that I’m starting to ponder if my love is strong enough to hold onto her. Or I love her so much that I think she deserves so much more than my baggage and me.
CHAPTER TWENTY
marissa
After another sales meeting I had with Joelle, I was craving for something sweet to ease my anxiety about keeping my doings with Kellen private. There was a boba stand I frequented at least once a week, and today felt like another day to itch my craving.
I texted Kellen to ask if he wanted anything.
ME
Going to pick up boba before I come back. Want anything??
Kellen
just oolong MT with boba — 50% sweet/ice. Thanks <3 strategy meeting probably only halfway over…dying rn.
ME
ugh sounds awful — lmk if you want something to help with that later ;)
I stuck my tongue out at my phone. Flirt talking was not in my wheelhouse, but I had no idea how else I was going to try and explain I wanted us to relieve our stresses over sex later. Even if I was going to be doing it with a huge secret weighing on my chest.
Kellen
… now I can’t get up from my seat because these pants don’t do a great job of hiding my boner. Thx :P
I laughed, and reacted with a “ha ha” on his last text. I go to the app and order our drinks and pass by the poker room, where at the front there is a sign that says:
“Coming Soon! Blossom’s Lunar New Year Classic Tournament. Guaranteed $750K Prize Pool. Sign Up Online Now!”
Dammit. Kellen didn’t say anything about this poker tournament. Why would he though, he’s not the one who makes the schedule on when tournaments are happening. This felt too good to be true though. The perfect thing that the Fortune Hunters can come and invade. It’d be a stupid idea to have a tournament with that kind of knowledge that they’re still out there, but maybe it’s the exact reason why they’re doing it. Lure in the culprit using a bait. This time, the bait came in the form of a $750K prize pool tournament. I could play and not have anyone find out, right? This is helping Kellen out, if anything. …As long as I can keep my identity a secret. I opened my phone to the sign up page and put my information in. Looks like we’re reviving an old friend.
Kellen wasn’t done with his strategy meeting until near the end of the day, so we just decided to order dinner and eat at his place since I’ll be spending the night. It’s a good thing I don’t have many responsibilities at home, like taking care of any pets, because I spend more time in his room than at my own apartment. He even gave me a section of the closet to bring clothes for the week.
Today’s dinner of choice was a surprising change from the Asian food we felt comfortable with, probably because I for once had a craving for something else, but I let Kellen make the decision on what. He decided on Italian and got us some Pasta Bolognese to share which did just the trick.
As we were slurping up spaghetti with reruns of Bob’s Burgers playing on the television, Kellen’s phone beeps and he grabs it to see what notification pops up. His eyes go wide and he drops his fork on the table.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“Holy shit.”
“Kellen,” I press him again. “Is everything okay?”
It takes him a moment to get out of the mindset he’s originally planted in but he finally nods. “Sorry,” he says, looking at me. “The Director of Casino Services just texted all the Directors. There’s this poker tournament happening in a few weeks. They think it’ll be a good way for us to lure in the Fortune Hunters.”
“Oh. I actually saw the poster when I walked back from grabbing boba. Is that a safe option with everything going on?” I try and seem as nonchalant about it as possible to not stir any attention about it or about me.
“I know, it really doesn’t feel like it,” he says. “But, it might get us closer to who might be working for them and us. That’s kind of why we set it up. To see if the money will draw in something like a raid or something similar. But, anyway, that’s not why I was so shocked. Do you follow poker much? Like know who the pros are?”
I shake my head. I didn’t like that I was lying to him right now. It felt icky and honestly made it hard to stomach my dinner.
“I don’t follow it much, but I watch every once in a while, especially when the big tournaments are on. I know, I don’t play myself, but it’s interesting to watch others play. And the money involved is just on another level. Anyway, there’s a really good poker player who kind of dropped off the face of the Earth a while back and our Director of Casino Services just texted me that their name is in the pool.”
I almost choke on the wine I was drinking. “Oh. What’s their name?”
“Janessa Frost. She was like, one of the top female poker players back in the day. I thought for a moment she’d try and win the WSOP tournament but she ghosted the community one day and no one knows why. But she’s going to be in our tournament. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Yeah,” I shrieked out. How was I supposed to know that Kellen would be so invested in the poker community that he knew who Janessa was? I didn’t think I was that big in the community, but apparently I was wrong, because of all people I didn’t want to know about Janessa, Kellen was at the top of that list.
“But now, it’s like, we need to hope that we know this will attract a Fortune Hunter. And I feel bad but I don’t want to use Janessa as bait, but because of how renowned she is in the poker community, we might not have any other choice.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like, there is a very strong chance she is going to do well. Even though she’s been out of the community for a while, people have seen her playing online again recently and she’s done very well. She hasn’t entered into an in person tournament yet, but she must be feeling confident enough to do so if her name’s on here. And we need to catch that person, so as much as we’ll have security in that tournament, I’m afraid that Janessa is going to get hurt because they’re going to target her during the tournament.”
I started breathing faster. It started feeling like the onset of a panic attack, my pulse rushing and I couldn’t talk. Kellen had seen me like this once before, and the way he had comforted me was one of the reasons why I had fallen for him so easily. Now, I was thinking a mix of different things. I had to tell him right? But he would immediately tell me to pull out of the tournament, and I agreed, this might be the only chance we had to catch whoever was on the inside. And if I couldn’t be that person, than who will? But, I already got hurt once, I don’t think I could stomach that same thing happening again. Especially when Janessa Frost wasn’t even a real person, she and I had the same body. I was perfectly fine with crafting my own plan to take them down, but hearing that Kellen might be using Janessa as bait as well made me start to worry that maybe I won’t be fully in control of my plan.
