Bellissima and Cheshire

 

Katara couldn’t believe she’d been talked into going to Las Vegas.

But here she was—on a plane about to land at Harry Reid International Airport.

She glanced at her friends, Belinda and Neva, and gave them both a look.

Neva shrugged, while Belinda just grinned.

The conversation about the Las Vegas trip replayed in her mind…

▪️▪️▪️▪️

“Katie, please come with us. Belle will drive me nuts if it’s just the two of us in Vegas,” Neva said.

“Why in the world is Belle so set on going to Vegas?” Katara asked.

“Belle won an all-expense-paid vacation to anywhere in the U.S. She chose Las Vegas,” Neva sighed.

“Oh boy. Gambling, clubs, and probably Marcus, since he’s out there,” Katara said.

“That’s exactly what I said,” Neva replied.

“Fine, but I’m giving myself some rules. I’m sticking to the slot machines, I’m not drinking anything stronger than a rum and cola, and one-night stands are out of the question,” Katara said.

“I wouldn’t leave you alone anyway. Though I have no doubt Alan is already planning something for me and him—God only knows what,” Neva said.

“If it comes to that, I’ll be spending some alone time in the hotel room,” Katara replied.

▪️▪️▪️▪️

Once the plane landed and everyone disembarked, Belinda, Neva, and Katara were met by Belinda’s fiancé, Marcus, and her cousin, Alan.

Marcus James was tall and handsome, with long black hair, brown eyes, and a deep bronze complexion that hinted at his mixed heritage. He worked as a consultant for a security firm.

Belinda’s cousin, Alan, mirrored her in some ways. Both had warm ivory complexions, but his hair was reddish-gold and his eyes were a lighter shade of green. He towered over Belinda, standing about the same height as Marcus

Belinda, Neva, and Katara were all about the same average height, each with full yet shapely, plus-size figures. Neva’s long, wavy hair was a deep, dark brown, and her complexion—a rich medium golden brown—spoke of her Afro-Latina background. As for Katara, her chin-length dark brown hair had hints of sandy brown, and her complexion was two shades lighter than Neva’s, reflecting her Creole heritage. Both them had brown eyes.

“Honey Bear!” Belinda exclaimed as she rushed into Marcus’s arms.

“Hey, Sugar Babe,” he said, his voice deep and alluring.

Neva and Katara both laughed and cringed at the couple’s nicknames.

“Honey Bear and Sugar Babe—good grief,” Katara said with a giggle.

Neva glanced over at Alan, who had a silly grin on his face.

“Don’t even think about it, Duende de ojos verdes,” Neva said with a smile.

“I have no idea what you just said, but it sounds sexy coming from you,” Alan replied with a grin.

Neva laughed as Katara shook her head.

“Teach him Spanish, Nev,” Katara said.

Neva smiled. “No need. I could insult him in Spanish and he’d still find it sexy.”

Marcus, Belinda, and Katara burst into laughter. Alan just shrugged.

“She’s not wrong,” he admitted.

Katara shook her head while Marcus continued to laugh.

“And you wonder why I call you a goober sometimes,” Belinda teased.

“You’re a loudmouth, but you don’t hear me complaining,” Alan said with a smirk.

Belinda narrowed her eyes at her cousin.

“Okay!” Marcus said with a snicker. “Let’s get going before this play fight draws attention.”

“Yes, please,” Katara said.

II

The three-bedroom suite at the Crown and the Rose Resort and Casino was stunning. An open kitchen flowed into a spacious dining area. The living room was elegantly furnished, complete with a large bar, a pool table, and access to a private outdoor pool.

Each bedroom had its own bathroom—each one just as large as the bedroom itself, with a walk-in shower, a soaking tub, and dual vanities.

Katara let out a bitter little snicker at the sight of the two vanities in her bathroom. In her mind, it would’ve been better if they had just stayed in a simple hotel off the Strip. Marcus and Belinda could’ve had one room, Alan and Neva another, and Katara would’ve been perfectly content with a single room all to herself.

“Baby Belle… didn’t you win this trip out here?” Katara overheard Marcus ask Belinda.

“Yes,” Belinda answered in that sweet yet unmistakably sly tone—a tone that always gave away when she’d done something on purpose. Katara suspected Belinda had entered the contest just to score a free trip to Vegas.

Marcus laughed. “Babe, you know Alan and I would’ve paid for you, Neva, and Katara to fly out here.”

“Yeah, but while Neva would’ve come willingly, Katara would’ve been a hard sell,” Belinda said. “She already feels bad about not being able to afford any fun trips. Last year, Neva and I had to practically beg her to go to Miami with us.”

Katara sighed. “I should’ve known,” she muttered to herself.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Yeah?” Katara said softly.

The door opened, and in walked Neva, her face showing both concern and encouragement.

“First of all—you are not a burden, so stop thinking that,” Neva said, stepping inside. “Secondly, as Papi told you, anything you need or want, he’ll cover. That’s why he gave you his credit card. Don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to take advantage,” Katara said, her eyes misting.

Neva hugged her tightly. “Katie, you’re my sister. Maybe not by blood, but in spirit. And Papi feels the same way.”

“Same goes for me!” Belinda chimed in, sticking her head through the doorway. “Besides, all the contest covered were the plane tickets. As for the hotel reservation they booked—which I didn’t even like—I took the cash value for that and the rental car, so now we’ve got spending money.”

Katara and Neva stared at her.

“Belle! I swear, I’m surprised you’re not a con artist,” Katara said.

“Same here,” Neva added, just as they heard Marcus and David laughing from the other room.

“Gotta love my Baby Belle,” Marcus said proudly.

“That we do,” Katara replied. “Be grateful God loves her too—with all the stunts she pulls.”

Alan burst into laughter.

“You can say the same for Alan,” Neva said with a grin.

▪️▪️▪️▪️

The first night in Las Vegas was wonderful.

A little gambling led to Katara winning $500. Once she hit that, she cashed out and walked away.

Dinner was at a local restaurant—nothing too upscale, but definitely above casual. Afterward, the group headed to a nearby dance club, where the five friends danced the night away. A few friendly gentlemen asked Katara to dance, which brought a smile to her face. None of it led to an exchange of phone numbers, which was fine by her; she wasn’t looking for anything that might turn into something purely physical.

When they returned to their suite, the ladies changed into their bathing suits while the guys played pool.

In the hot tub, glasses of champagne in hand, Neva, Katara, and Belinda engaged in their usual girl talk.

“So, about that last guy you were dancing with?” Belinda asked.

Katara shrugged. “He was a computer sales tech from Cleveland, Ohio—here for a tech convention. No, he wasn’t married, and no, he didn’t have a girlfriend. But he did mention he was here for business... and maybe a bit of pleasure. I just said, ‘Okay, cool.’ After we danced, I walked away.”

“Smart move. Especially since he was a creep anyway,” Belinda said.

“Why do you say that?” Neva asked.

“Because Marcus and I were watching him the whole time he danced with Katie,” Belinda explained. “He was checking out other women while he had her in his arms. After he and Katie went their separate ways, he went to another woman and dropped something in her drink.”

Katara’s eyes widened in shock, as did Neva’s.

“Good thing I turned down his offer to buy me a drink,” Katara said.

“As am I,” Neva replied.

“Don’t worry—the jerk didn’t get away with it,” Belinda said, smiling. “I made my way over and ‘accidentally’ knocked over her drink. Then I bought her another and whispered to her that he’d slipped something in it. She thanked me, grabbed her replacement drink, and walked away. I’m sure that creep was furious.”

Katara shook her head. “I’ll never understand why some men think roofing a woman’s drink is the only way to get laid. It’s not like there’s a shortage of women willing to have a one-night stand.”

“It’s not about getting laid—it’s about ego and control,” Belinda said.

“Then his ego must be paper-thin if he has to stoop that low,” Katara replied. “Makes me wonder how much confidence he actually has in his so-called sexual prowess.”

Neva burst into laughter as Belinda smirked.

“You’ve been hanging around me way too long,” Belinda teased.

“That’s not it,” Katara said with a smirk. “I’ve always had a none-too-nice snarky side. Being around you just brings it out.”

“Same here,” Neva laughed.

▪️▪️▪️▪️

Meanwhile inside the suite, as Marcus and Alan played pool.

“So, about this ‘secret’ casino,” Alan said to Marcus with a grin.

“I told you, Alan — entry’s by invite only, and it has to come from one of the exclusive members. I got in once, back when it was in Chicago. It moves from city to city.”

“And you said it’s here in Vegas. So where is it?” Alan asked.

“No idea. If I get an invite, I’ll let you know,” Marcus replied, sinking the eight ball into the center pocket.

“How’d you get invited the first time?” Alan pressed.

Marcus looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

Alan gave him a puzzled look—until the realization hit.

“Him?” Alan said.

“Alan, stop asking questions,” Marcus said with a smirk. “Like I told you, if I get an invite, I’ll let you know.”

Outside, the ladies were still deep in their girl talk when Belinda lifted her glass toward the night sky.

“I make a wish to God,” Belinda said, her voice warm with affection, “and I ask that our best friend, Katara, be blessed with true happiness. The kind that inspires her talents, reminds her how beautiful she is, and lets her know how lucky we are to have her in our lives.”

Neva raised her glass as well. “And I offer the same prayer before you, Dios. Let it include her passions, her quirks, and that open heart she guards so fiercely because of the hurt she’s endured. May there be someone who truly sees her and loves her for all that she is—good and bad. And… it wouldn’t hurt if he were patient and maybe a little eccentric himself,” she added with a playful smile.

Katara couldn’t help but smile at her friends. “Raising glasses of champagne while saying prayers—never thought the two would go together,” she said.

“Faith is a strange thing, Katie,” Neva replied softly. “Sometimes God grants what we ask for, even if the method is unusual. It’s the sincerity behind it that matters.”

Katara thought about her words. “Strangely enough… that actually makes sense.”

“We live in a strange world, Katie,” Belinda said.

“No need to tell me that,” Katara replied with a smirk.

Finally, Katara lifted her glass.

“Heavenly Father,” she said quietly, “I know that You and I haven’t always been on the best of terms. I’m insecure… about a lot of things. And because of that, I struggle to have faith—to fully trust. So, I ask that You just walk with me. That’s all I can ask… because it’s all I’m able to ask. It’s the only thing I still have faith in.”

Tears glimmered in her eyes. For a moment, there was silence. Then, together, the three of them whispered,

“Amen.”

III

For three days, the Las Vegas trip had been wonderful—aside from one ugly incident with a drunken fool who tried to force himself on Belinda one night.

That fool ended up with a black eye, a bruised ego, and a one-way trip to the county jail.

It was mid-afternoon, and Neva, Belinda, and Katara were walking along the Strip—shopping, window-shopping, and taking in the sights. The three of them exited a smoothie shop, debating where to go next, when Katara and Neva noticed that Belinda was staring at something.

“Belle? Hello?” Katara said, waving her fingers in front of her friend’s face.

“Uh, Katie… I think you’ve got an admirer,” Belinda said with a sly smile.

“What?” Katara asked.

“Kat, turn to your right and look straight ahead,” Neva said.

Katara turned and saw a tall, handsome man watching her. He wore a dark gray suit that complemented his warm, fair complexion, and a streak of gold ran through his short dark hair. Rimless shades hid his eyes, lending him an air of quiet mystery as he stood beside a sleek black convertible.

Katara turned back to her friends. “He’s hot,” she said.

“Yeah—and he’s looking at you,” Neva said.

Katara risked another glance. The man’s gaze was steady, though she couldn’t tell if he was truly looking at her or just in her direction.

“Are you sure he’s looking at me?” she asked.

“Yes, we’re sure,” Belinda said with a grin.

Katara turned back one last time. This time, he smiled at her. She quickly faced forward again.

“Ookay,” she murmured.

Neva and Belinda giggled.

▪️▪️▪️▪️

He had been staring at her since he approached his car. He couldn’t help himself.

Behind his rimless, dark rectangular shades, his gaze traced every curve of her figure. The dark capri pants and red top she wore complemented her in a way that made it hard for him to look away.

He needed to know her name.

Sliding into his car, he started the engine and eased closer to where she stood.

“Katara… he’s right behind you,” Belinda whispered with a teasing smile.

Katara turned and saw him sitting in the car.

“Oh boy,” she said softly.

“Go talk to him,” Belinda urged.

“Just… be mindful not to give him too much information,” Neva added.

“Hopefully he doesn’t think I’m a hooker,” Katara muttered.

“I get the feeling that’s not what he’s thinking,” Belinda said.

Katara took a breath and walked over to the car.

“Please don’t let him be a jerk,” Katara murmured under her breath as she walked toward the car.

“Hello,” she said, her voice cautious but polite.

“Hello, beautiful,” he replied.

His voice was smooth and confident, carrying a melodic accent that was difficult to place—part Celtic rhythm, part Mediterranean warmth, and something uniquely his own. Each word rolled from his tongue with effortless charm, the kind that hinted at both worldliness and danger.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Katara,” she said. “And yours?”

“Cesare,” he replied with a faint, knowing smile.

“Nice to meet you,” Katara said, her tone a mixture of curiosity and nerves.

Even behind the dark tint of his shades, she could feel his gaze tracing her features—intense, assessing, yet oddly gentle.

“So… do you live in Vegas?” she asked, trying to break the silence.

“It’s one of many places I call home,” he said smoothly.

“Well, my friends and I are just visiting,” she replied.

Cesare reached into the glove compartment, retrieved a sleek black card, and handed it to her.

“Meet me there tonight,” he said. “You can bring your friends.”

Katara took the card hesitantly, her fingers brushing against his for the briefest moment.

“Uh… thanks,” she said softly.

“See you tonight, Bellissima,” he said before pulling his car into the street and driving off.

“Bellissima? Ooh,” Neva said with a teasing smile.

Katara turned to Neva and Belinda, still holding the card in her hand.

“What did he give you?” Belinda asked, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

Katara looked down at the card. It was elegant—black with gold lettering and a symbol of each card suit in the corners. The inscription read:

“This card represents that you have been exclusively invited to The Gilded Court.”

Location: 3940 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

“Isn’t that the address for the Crown and the Rose Hotel?” Neva asked.

“Oooh, a secret casino! Awesome!” Belinda said, grinning.

“A casino within a casino… interesting,” Neva added thoughtfully.

“Actually, that doesn’t sound all that strange,” Katara said, glancing between them.

“Ooh, we have to get special dresses just for this occasion,” Belinda declared excitedly.

“Why?” Katara and Neva asked in unison.

“Seriously, you two. The Gilded Court sounds very exclusive. Only the best will do for a place like that,” Belinda said.

“The ‘best’ meaning very expensive,” Katara muttered with mild annoyance.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything,” Belinda said, pulling out her phone.

“Who are you calling?” Neva asked.

“Marcus,” Belinda replied matter-of-factly.

Katara pressed her palm to her face. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Same here,” Neva said, shaking her head with a laugh.

▪️▪️▪️▪️

“Who gave this to you?” Marcus asked, studying the card.

“A man. His name was Cesare,” Katara said.

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

“So, I take it you know him?” Katara asked.

Marcus smiled faintly. “Yes, I know him. Interestingly enough, he also sent me an electronic invite—and told me I could bring whoever I wanted.”

“Well, looks like we’re all going to the Gilded Court tonight,” Neva said with a grin.

“Yes, we are,” Marcus replied.

Belinda caught the subtle shift in his tone. It told her that Marcus knew more than he was letting on.

“Well, Neva, Katara, and I are going to need special dresses for this occasion. And I already have a place in mind,” Belinda said.

Marcus smirked, instantly catching what she was hinting at.

“Fine, I’ll let you use my card, Sugar Babe.”

Belinda smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Honey Bear.”

“Oh God, I’m heading to my room,” Katara said. “Let me know when you two are ready to go.”

Neva giggled as Katara disappeared down the hall.

“I concur with Katie — this cutesy name-calling is nauseating,” David said.

Neva laughed while Belinda narrowed her eyes at him.

“This coming from the man who secretly nicknamed Neva ‘Velvet Nova,’” she said with a teasing smirk.

Neva turned to Alan. “Velvet Nova?” she repeated, smiling.

Alan grinned and pulled her into his arms.

“It was the only thing that came to mind. You’re like a bright star, and your skin feels smooth like velvet.”

“Don’t ever make fun of me and Belle again,” Marcus chuckled. “You’ve lost all privileges after that confession.”

“Fine, I won’t,” Alan said with a grin.

“I need to make a call,” Marcus said as he walked away. Belinda followed close behind.

Once they were out of earshot, Marcus looked over his shoulder. “Yes, Belle?” he asked, pulling out his phone as he turned to look at her.

“It’s about the invitation Katie got from that man, Cesare,” Belinda said. “Something in your tone told me her invite might be different.”

“That’s because it is,” Marcus replied.

“How so?” Belinda asked, her eyes widening with curiosity.

“The electronic invitation gets you through the door — free drinks, a fifty-thousand-dollar gambling limit, the usual perks. But a personal invitation… that’s another matter entirely,” Marcus said. “It’s a direct invite to play at a specific table or to observe a high-stakes game up close in one of the private rooms”.

“Well, since Katie’s more of a slot machine person, and this man, Cesare, personally gave her a physical invite… I’m guessing he wants her to observe him play whatever his preferred game is,” Belinda said.

Marcus smirked.

“His preferred game is poker — and it’s likely he wants to impress her.”

“By showing off his poker skills?” Belinda asked teasingly.

Marcus snickered. “That, and maybe he just wants to get to know her. Cesare Calder is an enigma. Plenty of women have tried to get his attention, but as far as I know, not many have succeeded. Clearly, Katara caught his eye.”

“That she did,” Belinda said.

“And on that note…” She held out her hand.

Marcus chuckled, reached into his pocket, and pulled out his wallet. He slid a gold credit card from one of the slots and handed it to her.

“Don’t go over $5,000,” he said.

“Not a problem,” she replied, and they kissed.

IV

7 p.m., and all five of them were dressed in fine attire as the elevator carried them down to the basement floor of the Crown and the Rose Hotel.

Belinda wore a stunning gold halter calf-length dress with matching gold heels. Neva wore a sparkling white ankle-length dress with thin straps and white pumps. However, it was Katara who stood out the most.

She wore a black strapless satin dress with a high slit, paired with black elbow-length gloves, black pantyhose, black strappy pumps, and a gold choker. Her hair had been styled in soft waves and streaked rose gold and white—something both Neva and Belinda had talked her into.

Marcus and Alan were both dressed in suits. Marcus’s was a dark grayish-brown, while David’s was a deep navy blue.

Security guards stood at the entrance. Marcus pulled out his phone and showed them the electronic invite. Once it was scanned, the guards opened the doors, and all five of them stepped inside.

▪️▪️▪️▪️

The Gilded Court was a lavish private casino.

Its tables were made of either black marble with gold accents or dark polished wood. The chairs and couches were upholstered in the finest velvet, and the entire space carried a rich color scheme of black, gold, deep burgundy, and gunmetal gray.

“Did it look like this when you first visited in Chicago?” Belinda asked Marcus as she took in the view.

“Yeah, it did,” Marcus replied.

As they walked deeper into the room, Katara began to feel uneasy.

Extravagant places like this always made her feel out of place—uncomfortable, sometimes even unwelcome.

The ladies headed to the bar, while Alan and Marcus split off toward the gaming tables. Marcus’s game was blackjack, while Alan preferred craps.

“So, where’s your boyfriend, Katie?” Belinda teased.

Katara gave a small, uncertain smile. It was a smile Neva recognized immediately.

“You’re not comfortable here, are you?” Neva asked gently.

Katara shook her head.

“Can I get you ladies anything?” the bartender asked.

“I’ll take a Mai Tai,” said Neva.

“Cosmopolitan,” Belinda added.

“Rum and cola, please,” Katara said.

“Mai Tai, Cosmopolitan, and rum and cola—coming right up,” the bartender replied.

“I’ll pay for our drinks,” Belinda said.

“I thought the drinks were free?” Neva asked.

“Well, Marcus has the invite on his phone, and I don’t have it with me,” Belinda explained.

Then she remembered Katara’s invitation.

“Kat, show him your invite,” she suggested.

Katara opened her black clutch purse and pulled out the invitation she’d been given.

Once the bartender set their drinks on the bar, Katara placed the black card down.

He picked it up, scanned it, and handed it back to her.

“There you go. And miss, your host is waiting for you in Room 19,” the bartender said.

“Room 19… where in the world would that be?” Belinda asked.

The three of them scanned the entire floor before noticing a hallway leading toward several private rooms in the back.

“I’m not going back there,” Katara said firmly.

It was clear to both Belinda and Neva that Katara wasn’t just nervous—she was frightened.

“Let me go talk to Marcus,” Belinda said, and she made her way to the blackjack table.

“Hey, sugar babe,” Marcus said as he glanced up.

“Hey, babe,” Belinda replied, her voice tight with concern. Marcus immediately knew something was wrong.

“Belle, baby… what’s going on?” he asked.

“Katie is scared,” she said, and quickly explained why.

“Give me a moment,” Marcus said, and Belinda nodded.

After winning his hand, Marcus stood up from the table and headed to the cash cage to turn in his chips. Once that was done, he and Belinda walked back to the bar.

They found Katara shaking, on the verge of tears, while Neva did her best to soothe her.

Marcus turned to the bartender.

“What’s your name?” Marcus asked.

“Zack,” the bartender replied.

“Zack, can you please call up Room 19 and ask the host to come out here and greet his guest? Tell him that would go a long way toward impressing her,” Marcus said.

Zack nodded and did exactly as he was asked.

▪️▪️▪️▪️

Cesare stepped onto the main casino floor.

He was dressed in a black suit with a dark gray button-down shirt, black tie, and matching shoes. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on the bar, and he began walking toward it.

Marcus looked up, spotted him, and met him halfway.

“Greetings, Marcus,” Cesare said.

“It’s good to see you too, Cesare,” Marcus replied. “Look, I’m not here to ruin your evening. I just want to give you a heads-up about Katara. She’s a very open-hearted person who sees the world in a way most people don’t understand. Because of that, she’s been taken advantage of—and she’s been mocked for it. It’s not naïve or childish; it’s just… different.

“She’s not cynical, but she is guarded, and lately she hasn’t trusted easily. So if your interest in her is strictly sexual, just tell her that. The worst that will happen is she’ll walk away quietly. But make no mistake—she’ll feel foolish, like she should’ve seen it coming.

“However,” Marcus continued, his tone firm, “if you intentionally make her believe you’re genuinely interested in who she is, only for her to discover that all you wanted was a fling… it’ll haunt her. She’ll carry that hurt for the rest of her life, and she’ll feel worthless.”

He let the weight of his words settle between them.

Cesare raised an eyebrow as he looked at Katara.

She was dressed beautifully, but he could clearly see the uncertainty and fear in her expression.

He walked toward her.

“Excuse me, ladies,” he said gently, extending his hand.

Katara looked up at him.

Cesare offered a warm smile, his hand still outstretched.

She hesitated at first, then slowly placed her hand in his and rose to her feet.

A single tear slipped down her cheek, and Cesare brushed it away with a light touch.

“I’m Cesare Calder,” he said with a soft smile.

Katara returned it. “Katara Ameson.”

“I’m glad you came. Will you be my guest?” he asked.

“Yes… and thank you for the invitation,” she said.

“Yes, thank you!” Belinda added in a slightly too-loud voice.

Neva, Marcus, and Katara laughed.

“I’m going to join Alan at the craps table,” Neva said, picking up her drink and giving Katara a reassuring hug before heading off.

▪️▪️▪️▪️

Room 19 was a fairly large space, centered around a huge poker table that seated ten people. A bar stood in one corner, and lounge chairs and couches formed a comfortable ring around the table.

Katara sat in one of the lounge chairs, watching as Cesare focused on the game. Every so often, he glanced up at her and smiled. She smiled back as she sipped her drink. Still, an unsettled feeling gnawed at her—out of the corner of her eye, she caught three slim women shooting her dirty looks. She had no doubt they were whispering unpleasant things.

When she finished her drink, she set the glass on the end table beside her.

She tried her best to ignore the snide looks, but it was difficult. A waiter approached.

“Another drink, miss?”

“No, thank you,” she replied.

He nodded and walked away.

It took all of Katara’s willpower not to reach into her purse for her phone as a distraction from the ugly looks she was getting from the three women.

Suddenly, the waiter returned.

“Mr. Calder would like to know if you’d like to sit beside him—much like the other ladies are sitting next to their hosts.”

Katara had noticed the women seated close to the poker players when she entered. She’d found it strange and felt it wasn’t for her, which was why she chose a lounge chair instead. But with three catty women glaring at her…

“Yes, I would,” she said.

The waiter nodded. Katara rose, and he placed a chair beside Cesare. She sat and thanked him.

“I thought I should rescue you from the ugly stepsisters,” Cesare joked.

Katara smiled at that.

“I’m hardly Cinderella.”

Cesare turned his gaze toward her—those intense green-gray eyes softened with warmth.

“And what if I see you that way?” he said, smiling.

“Then I’m flattered,” she replied.

Katara watched closely as Cesare resumed the game.

She knew the basics of poker—Royal Flush beats Four of a Kind, ace outranks king—but she was only familiar with Texas Hold ’Em, which was exactly what they were playing.

“Do you have any questions?” Cesare asked.

“About…?” she said.

“The game. Or how I ended up with a private room?” he teased lightly.

“I might distract you, so I won’t ask anything.”

“You’re already distracting, Bellissima,” he said flirtatiously.

Katara blushed as she smiled.

“What does he want with that fat girl?” one of the women muttered.

Katara sighed quietly. Cesare, however, was not amused. He calmly set down his cards, but the look on his face made his anger unmistakable.

He turned toward one of the other players—a man in a gaudy red sequined jacket and matching tie emblazoned with dollar signs.

“Why did you invite them?” Cesare asked pointing to the three women.

“They wanted to come,” the man said dismissively.

“Do you know why they wanted to come?” Cesare asked, his tone tightening.

“They wanted to see the Gilded Court,” the man replied.

Cesare let out a cold, humorless laugh.

“Allow me to enlighten you, Mr. Tanner. Those three gold-digging vultures have been chasing me for quite some time. They followed me from Milan to London to Chicago, and now here. You never did tell me how you met them.”

“Ahem—my lady here is friends with them,” Mr. Tanner said, gesturing to the woman beside him.

Katara stayed silent as Cesare rose from his chair.

“Since this is ‘my’ private room, I’m going to let you gentlemen finish the game. My guest and I are leaving. Please—enjoy.”

He turned to Katara. “Bellissima,” he said, extending his hand.

She took it, and they left the room together.

“I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble,” Katara said softly.

“Bellissima, you did nothing wrong. I invited you. I had no idea one of my guests would bring three man-chasing twits,” he said.

“Have they really been following you?” she asked.

“Yes. They probably think I haven’t noticed.” He smirked. “I notice everything.”

“You do?” she said.

Cesare smiled. “Perhaps I should explain my occupation. I’m a security analyst. I own a Cybersecurity firm. Marcus works for me—he’s actually here overseeing the opening of the Vegas branch.”

Katara exhaled in relief and smiled.

“Are you feeling better now, Bellissima?” he asked as he gently pulled her into his arms.

“Yes… but I do have a question. Why are you calling me ‘Bellissima’?”

“Because you’re beautiful, gorgeous. And I like curvy, full women,” he said with a mischievous grin.

Katara raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Sì, Bellissima,” he purred, his voice rolling like velvet.

The sound of his voice made Katara shiver.

“So, do I have the pleasure of your company for the rest of the night?” he asked.

“Yes, you do,” Katara said.

V

It was 2 a.m. when the six of them returned to the suite.

Alan was on cloud nine—he had won five craps games and was slightly drunk.

“I think me and my Imp are calling it a night,” Neva said as she guided Alan toward their bedroom.

“Yes, please,” Belinda groaned. “I don’t think I can take another one of his lame jokes.”

Alan drunkenly flipped her off.

“My jokes are fine… unlike your—” he started, but Neva quickly placed her hand over his mouth.

“Amor, say nothing else. Your Velvet Nova is asking this of you,” she said sweetly.

Katara laughed, and Cesare arched an eyebrow.

Alan nodded and let Neva lead him away.

“Velvet Nova?” Katara asked.

“Yes, Katie—that’s what Alan calls Neva,” Belinda said with a laugh.

“I told him he lost all rights to complain about the nicknames Belinda and I use for each other after that was revealed,” Marcus said.

“Sugar Babe and Honey Bear. It doesn’t get any cutesier than that,” Katara teased.

Belinda stuck her tongue out playfully.

“I like calling Marcus my Honey Bear,” she said in an exaggerated girlish voice.

“Oh God, Belle, please,” Katara groaned. “Not the little girl voice.”

Cesare laughed as he settled onto the couch, Marcus chuckling along with him.

Belinda only smiled.

“Come on, babe. Let’s sit by the pool and watch the sun come up,” Marcus said.

“Alright,” Belinda replied, and the two of them headed outside.

Cesare and Katara were alone.

She took a seat beside him.

“So, how long will you be in Vegas?” she asked.

“A few more days, and then it’s off to Toronto,” Cesare said.

“Are you opening a branch there?”

“No. A company hired my firm to install a new Cybersecurity system. I’m going to make sure it’s installed correctly and that they know how to use it.”

“Must be nice—traveling from place to place,” Katara said.

“Sometimes. But it can be lonely. No one to talk to… no one to have dinner with.”

“Is there any one place that’s your permanent home?” she asked.

“Not really. I’m always traveling. Maybe one day, if I find the right place, I’ll settle down.”

“It would be great to travel, but I don’t know if I’d like living out of a suitcase,” Katara said.

Cesare took her hand and kissed it.

“What if it were with the right person? Would you consider it?” he asked.

Katara paused, thinking.

“If I knew in my heart and soul that he was the one—the person I could share all my hopes and dreams with, who wouldn’t be scared off by my flaws—then yes… I’d consider it.”

“And if I wanted to share all of your hopes and dreams?” he asked softly.

Katara raised an eyebrow.

“And what exactly did Marcus tell you about me?”

Cesare smiled. “That you’re open-hearted. That you see the world differently than most people. And because of that, you’ve been taken advantage of or ridiculed. But in the time I’ve gotten to know you… I want to learn more. I want to see the world through your eyes. I find you genuinely intriguing—and beautiful.”

Katara smiled and inched closer.

“Tell me more about yourself. How did you become a security analyst?”

“That story will take the rest of the night,” Cesare said.

“I don’t mind,” she replied gently.

He kissed her hand again, smiling.

They settled comfortably on the sofa and spent the rest of the night talking.

Epilogue

It had been six months since Katara and Cesare met. They had fallen deeply in love and married unexpectedly. It wasn’t a Vegas wedding—just a small ceremony at the local courthouse, followed by a private plane trip to Glasgow, Scotland, where they held the reception with all their family and friends.

Afterward, Cesare whisked Katara away to Venice, Italy—one of the many places she had longed to visit. A few days later, they traveled to Paris, France, and their final stop was back in Scotland, where they spent their time tucked away inside a cozy cottage owned by his family.

“So, where should we set up permanent residence?” Cesare asked as he walked into the living room, handing Katara a cup of tea.

“I think we should hold off on that,” she said. “I’m really getting used to traveling to different places. I’ve found that it helps me get out of my comfort zone—and it inspires me.”

Cesare smiled.

“In that case, our next stop is Rio de Janeiro.”

Katara’s face lit up. “Another place I’ve always wanted to visit.”

“Bellissima, there are so many places I cannot wait to take you. You are my soulmate,” Cesare said, taking her hand and kissing it.

“And you are mine, Cheshire,” she replied.

“Cheshire?” He raised an eyebrow, smirking.

“Well, your eyes are like a feline’s. And you have that mischievous side. Plus, sometimes the way you speak—especially when you’re being affectionate—your voice reminds me of a purring cat. Not a bad thing,” she said with a grin.

“Then Cheshire I will be,” he said in that soft, purring tone that made Katara shiver with delight.

“I love you, Bellissima,” he murmured.

“I love you, Cheshire,” she replied—and they kissed.