Viva Las Vegas!
"Las Vegas…Finally!" breathed the young woman as she exited the large plane and a blast of warm hair hit her in the face.
Two years of careful planning had finally come to fruition, two years of training in that damn hotel and major ass kissing to get that transfer had paid off. She was here, in Sin City with the promise of a sweet job, an apartment with a room mate, and a couple of old friends she had to look up.
The last time she had seen those big brown eyes and cheeky cocksure grin she had been a 19 year old waitress working part time, now she was 21, confident, and about to start work in the food and beverage department at the brand new Hyatt Grand Resort and Casino on Las Vegas Blv.
Alli wondered if he would be able to recognise her, the last time they had seen each other her hair had been short and a dark red and her figure had been much fuller and she had been a bit shy.
Now she held her head high with unruly chocolate brown curls that fell past her shoulders. She's lost about ten kilos and where she used to have a bit of a stomach, was now flat and defined abdominal muscles and her arms boasted strong lightly toned biceps. Her shyness was now replaced with an unconscious confidence and grace that often drew people's attention.
As she stepped on to the tarmac her pant leg became entangled on the final step of the stairwell leading down from the plane. She managed a full on face plant on to the ash fault. People raced forward to see if she was alright, they looked at her very strangely when she cracked up laughing and brushed off her clothing.
"it wouldn't have been a real trip for me unless I stacked it at some point on the first day"
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Alli watched the casinos and hotels whiz past the window of the taxi as she drove towards her new home. She thought about the first time they had met.
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Flash back two years
It was a usual Saturday night crowd, the over paid and bored fuddy duddies, a function or two and the odd intimate twosome either ending a relationship or the beginning of one. Alli and Dee were a little miffed at the lack of male eye candy that night and would have to make do with perving on the hot desert chef and that new American waiter from San Francisco
Alli was delivering meals to one of the middle tables when she heard a loud voice coming from over by the window, a loud New Yorker's accent coming from a table with three men. Two had long dark brown hair and the third had short black hair with red and blond streaks cut in a popular emoish hairstyle with a long side parted fringe and short layered back.
She walked over and pulled out her pad ready to take their orders.
"Good evening and welcome to the Round House, are you ready to order?"
She was directly facing the youngest of the three with the kick ass haircut. He looked up and smiled. Alli would know that face anywhere.
"Thanks, I'll have the Beef Fillet, well done with sauce on the side and my brother's will have the hot sambal prawns and the Aussie fish and chips."
"Sure thing and to drink"
"Um two Heinekens and a bourbon and coke"
He said all of this with out ever reading a menu or even talking to his brothers…cheeky bastard.
She wrote down the orders and smiled.
"All right, it'll take about 20 minutes for the steak to cook, and I'll just go get your drinks in a couple of minutes"
Her bright blue eyes met his dark brown ones and held each other's gaze.
"Hurry Back"
She winked and went off to process their order, as the tiny blond waiter walked past Alli tapped her on the shoulder and told her to check out the hottie at table 14.
She went back to the bar and picked up their drinks.
"Ok so two Heinies, and a JimBeam and Cola"
He looked up and grinned.
"check this out."
He held a tooth pick between his thumb and forefinger, he clicked the fingers on his other hand over the tooth pick making it disappear. Then he reached up and made it reappear.
She nodded in an impressed manner then as she walked past she whispered in his ear
"nice trick but I can see the sticky tape on your thumb nail"
It was like that for the rest of the evening, as Alli brought out their food and cleared away their dishes they had a little playful and flirtatious banter.
As one of his brothers was picking up the bill he walked over and tapped her on the shoulder.
"I was wondering if you wanted to join me for a drink when you finish work?"
Alli looked up and paused with a smile.
"I'd like to but, I'm meeting some friends at a club later"
"Which one?" he took a step closer his dark eyes boring into hers.
Alli blushed
"It's called Church, it's down on Synagogue St jus off Rundle St in the city"
"I should be there around 12, I usually end up upstairs in the R&B room near the DJ station"
He smiled, a smile that started in his eyes and travelled down to his mouth.
"I'm Criss"
He held his hand out, she clasped it in a firm grip that raised his eyebrows.
"I know, I'm Alli"
He kissed her knuckles before turning away, something was in her hand…it was $20!
He looked back and grinned.
"Tipping's customary where I'm from".
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Alli flashed her ID and a smile at the bouncer and strode into the night club, the bouncer stole a glance at her legs as she walked through the door, she short black pleated skirt flicked around her thighs. Her curvy figure clearly outlined in thered t-shirt with the giant red butterfly across the front. Her feet clad in black chunky heeled maryjane shoes…well shod. Her rust coloured curls bouncing around her face.
She spotted her friends sitting in the lounge area with a couple of cute guys, she walked over and greeted each girl with a hug and a friendly swat on the ass.
The three girls then left the cuties behind and made their way up the stairs to the R&B room, where they played all their favourite r&b and hip hop tracks as well as having a bar and pool tables.
The usual crowd was there and the various people that they knew all said high and some gave a high five.
The girls headed to the bar and bought their drinks before heading to their favourite area near the dj station.
As Alli consumed the alcohol she felt her body loosen up and the music take hold of her. Since she was a trained hip hop dancer she could hold her own on the dancefloor with out harming anyone or embarrassing herself. A few guys came over and danced with the group but she didn't encourage them. At about 12:30 she looked over at the door and noticed a familiar face, looking decidedly hot in his usual scuffed docs, artfully torn jeans and affliction t-shirt with bling. She stood up and waved him over.
"Hey, didn't know if you'd show up…how'd you like our little hang out?"
She had to yell to be heard over the music, she grabbed his hand and lead him over to a small area where people could sit and have a smoke if they wanted.
"Why wouldn't I show, Criss Angel never goes back on his promises"
Alli smiled and put a warm hand on his knee.
"I didn't invite Criss Angel, I invited Christopher… just be you"
That night changed a lot of things for Alli, she got to know a great guy and some how a 21 year age difference didn't have any impact. They spent a few days together and exchanged numbers and email addresses.
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Present Day
As the taxi passed by the Luxor hotel Alli looked up at the top floor and smiled.
"Be seeing you soon Angel Face".
The cab pulled into her new apartment complex and she paid the driver.
"Keep the change mate"
He looked startled at the sound of her strong aussie accent.
When she had all her luggage up in her new apartment she walked out on to the small balcony and pulled out her mobile. She punched in a number and waited for an answer.
"Angel Productions, J.D. Sarantakos speaking…"
"Hey there stranger it's Alli, you'll never guess where I am"
"Holy Crap! You're here aren't you?"
"Yeah, just got in an hour ago, it's bloody amazing…is Houdini with the little weenie there"
"ha ha, no he's having lunch with Felix…hey you busy tonight?"
"no but it sounds like plans will be made shortly"
Alli heard laughter across the phone line.
"We're going to the VIP room at Rum Jungle, I'll leave your name at the door so you don't have to wait in line"
"Thanks J.D., but don't tell Chris that I'm coming…I wanna surprise him"
" sounds good…I'll see you there"
click
Alli snapped her phone closed and colllapsed onto the couch in her new living room. her eyes slowly closed and she floated off into a jetlag educed sleep.
End Chapter one.