Chapter 400
Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)
Downstairs, after the crowd dispersed, Tiffanie approached with a pile of chips in her hand, olving Brielle a thumbsâup.
Tiffanie had just left a highâroller suite and wasnât quite clued in on the recent events. Having heard the buzz, she couldnât find any words more fitting than her silent gesture of approval. No wonder Maxie was smitten with Brielle.
But who was this guy with Brielle? Her gaze shifted to Dustin, sizing him up with curiosity.
In Tiffanieâs eyes, Maxle was the crème de la crème of men. Despite this new guy being a looker, she couldnât let Brielleâs attention stray toward him. So, with feigned nonchalance, she wedged herself between the two, casually grabbing hold of Brielle. âBrielle, you must have other fish to fry here at the casino, right?â
Brielle was oblivious to Tiffanieâs subtle maneuver and simply nodded in agreement.
A walter approached, requesting Brielleâs presence backstage.
Brielle wasnât overly concerned about being able to leave with her winnings. The onlookers had already stated it was the casinoâs policy. Plus, she had heard through the grapevine about a gambler who had made a miraculous comeback with a fortune, safely walking away with the loot.
She had a hunch, too, that if there was any danger, Dustin would step in.
âMr. Lynch, shall we meet again sometime?â
Regret tinged Dustinâs expression. âIâm headed back tomorrow. Itâs a shame I canât take you out for a meal. Little Bri.â He genuinely had pressing matters to attend to, or else he wouldâve seized the chance to spend more time with Brielle.
Brielle could tell he meant it, and oddly enough, she felt a twin of reluctance at his departure. âWhen youâre back in town, Mr. Lynch, give me a call. Dinnerâs on me.â
Dustinâs eyes sparkled with mischief, and he barely resisted the urge to tousle her hair.
Tiffanie quickly pulled Brielle behind her, eyeing him with wariness. Dustinâs fingertip drifted up.
playfully lifting Tiffanieâs chin. âTake a look at that. Youâve got some fire in you, too.â
Tiffanie frowned, well aware of who this man wasâa notorious playboy known for his escapades across North America, a heartbreaker of the highest order. Yet, his wealth and status were undeniable. And that face, damn, it was handsome.
Tiffanie silently chanted her boyfriend Masonâs name in her head and sighed. That was the downside of being in loveâyou could look at the feast before you, but you couldnât taste it.
Brielle patted her shoulder. âShall we check out other spots?â
Looking up, Tiffanie realized Dustin had vanished. She felt a twinge of annoyance. âWhen did he 11:08 leave?â
Brielle chuckled, âWhile you were busy admiring that face, nodding and shaking your head.â
âSeriously, that wasnât me being lovestruck. I was just lamenting that heâs not as handsome as Mason!
You have no idea how he toys with women abroad. Stay away from that sort of man at all costs.â
âReally? I thought he seemed pretty decent. But anyway, Tiffanie, I need to see the casino boss. now.â
âArenât you afraid they might carve you up?â
âIt shouldnât come to that. Do you know who runs this place?â
With arms crossed, Tiffanie shook her head slowly. L,âAll I know is theyâre connected to some big shot overseas and have been known to play masked at the tables. This casino is Beaconfieldâs grey area.
Youâve seen the clienteleâwealthy and powerful. Who knows how many secrets they hold over them?â
Indeed, the patrons were all influential, some even with political ties. If anything happened to the casino, the dirty laundry of all who had passed through its doors would be aired. It wouldnât just be Beaconfield facing upheaval but potentially the entire country. That was why both business magnates and politicians preferred the casino to operate without a hitch. It was the secret to its longstanding presence.
Brielle gazed out at the night, curiosity getting the better of her. âHave you heard anything about them holding Beaconfieldâs elite hostage?â
The glint in Tiffanieâs eyes flared with the thrill of gossip. âWell, rumors are all over the place, but nobodyâs sure. There was this one bigwigâs son who got detained here. He came in fat and sassy and left looking like a skeleton. Do you know what happened to him?â
Tiffanieâs voice dropped to a whisper, âRumor has it he was drained dry by a bevy of beauties every day.â
Brielleâs mouth twitched, and she rubbed her temples. Trust Tiffanie to deliver the most. outlandish stories.
The waiting server spoke up respectfully, âMs. Brielle?â
With no other option, Brielle asked Tiffanie to stay put and followed the server.