The Heiress's Wager Chapter 4

Julian stared at me, his chest heaving.

"You're bluffing," he said, but his voice wavered with uncertainty.

"Am I?"

I pulled my phone from my clutch and dialed my lawyer. "Marcus, I need you to draft an agreement. Yes, now. International waters clause. Send it to this number."

I recited Leo’s number.

After hanging up, I looked at Julian. "Five minutes. We'll have a legally binding contract. Unless you're scared?"

The trap worked.

Julian Thorne’s ego was his greatest weakness.

He couldn't look weak in front of a crowd.

He couldn't look afraid of a woman.

Especially a woman he had always looked down on.

"Fine." He sneered. "If you want to ruin yourself, go ahead."

"But when you lose, you jump. Alone. In that pretty red dress."

"And I'm keeping every dime."

Sienna grabbed Julian’s arm. "Babe, this is crazy—we don't need her money—"

Julian shook her off. "Shut up. I'm playing."

Leo’s phone pinged. He looked at it, his face losing all color. "Contract's here. Sera... are you sure?"

"Print it. I'll sign."

Ten minutes later, the contract was printed.

Three pages.

Page one listed all my assets.

Page two listed the terms: If I lose, Julian Thorne gets everything; If Julian loses, he and Sienna Banks must jump from the yacht into the ocean, and the engagement is void.

Page three was for signatures.

I signed.

Julian signed.

Everyone in the room signed as witnesses.

"Done," Leo’s voice trembled. "This is binding now. No take-backs. You both understand?"

I nodded.

Julian nodded.

"Then let's begin."

This hand, it was just me and Julian.

Everyone else folded immediately.

No one dared to touch stakes like this.

Sienna wanted to play, but after looking at the chips, she chickened out.

She folded and hid in the corner, looking like she might faint.

Just me and Julian at the table.

Leo’s hands shook as he shuffled.

"Okay. Hole cards."

He dealt us two cards each, face down.

Julian peeked at his. A smirk spread across his face.

He had a monster hand.

I didn't look at mine.

I left the two cards face down on the felt, untouched.

Julian frowned. "You aren't looking?"

"No need."

"Betting open," Leo said.

Julian pushed a massive stack forward.

I called.

The Flop—three community cards.

A♦ 10♦ J♦

Julian’s grin widened. He shoved more chips in.

I called.

The Turn.

8♠

Julian didn't even hesitate. He pushed more chips.

I called.

"Seraphina, you haven't even looked at your cards," Julian taunted. "Are you that desperate? Praying for a miracle?"

I looked at him. "Maybe I don't need to look."

"Maybe I already know I'm going to win."

He laughed, a sound full of contempt. "You're delusional."

The River.

K♦

The Board: A♦ 10♦ J♦ 8♠ K♦

Julian’s eyes lit up.

He stood, shoving every chip in front of him into the center.

"All in."

He looked at me with absolute confidence. "Call it, Seraphina. Let's end this."

The room held its breath.

Slowly, I pushed my entire stack forward.

"Call."

"Showdown," Leo whispered.

Julian theatrically flipped his cards.

A♠ K♠

Two pair—Aces and Kings.

In Texas Hold'em, that was a strong hand.

Julian leaned back, beaming. "Two pair. Beat that."

The room erupted.

"God, that's a killer hand—"

"Sera is done—"

"She just lost everything—"

Sienna’s face broke into ecstasy. "Babe! You won! You won!"

Leo looked at me, pity in his eyes. "Sera... I'm so sorry."

Julian walked over to me, leaning down to whisper in my ear. "I gave you so many chances to walk away. But you insisted. Now—"

"Now you're going into that freezing ocean, and I'm going to watch."

"When they fish your body out tomorrow, everyone will know—Seraphina Vane died because she was a stupid, stubborn bitch who didn't know when to quit."

I slowly lifted my head and looked at him.

And then I smiled.

"Flip my cards, Leo."

Leo paused, then reached out and turned over the two cards I had never touched.

First card: Q♦

Second card: 9♦

In an instant, the world went silent.

Then Leo’s voice rang out, trembling with disbelief.

"Straight Flush..."

"9, 10, Jack, Queen, King... all diamonds..."

"It's a straight flush."

Brody suddenly stood up, screeching. "Wait! Check the deck! She cheated! She never looked at her cards, how could she—"

"Right!" someone else yelled. "That's fucking impossible! New deck! Re-deal!"

The crowd began to riot.

Leo immediately grabbed the deck and checked it.

Card by card.

Front.

Back.

He checked under the table.

He checked for five minutes.

"The deck is clean," he finally said, his voice barely audible. "No marks, no bends. No cheating."

"But the odds—" Brody stammered.

"Are astronomical," Leo said. "Rare, but possible. And she hit it."

"She played blind, and she hit a straight flush."

Julian’s face went from smug to shocked, then to sheet white.

He grabbed the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white. "No. No. This is—this isn't possible—"

"But rules are rules, Julian," I said, standing up.

"You said it yourself."