SHIELD was closed on Sunday and Monday, so on the following Monday Howard went on his weekly visit to the Pink Flamingo Casino. He took Peggy with him, vowing to buy her drinks and win her some cash as an apology. She wore a well fitting, though modest red dress tonight, her dark hair loosely curled, resting on her shoulder. She entered the Pink Flamingo by Howard's side. He was wearing a simple black suit. He bought drinks; a whiskey for Peggy and a tonic water for himself because he was driving. They headed to a blackjack table to begin. Peggy watched Howard play, and flirt with the card dealer. She sipped her drink and surveyed her surroundings, her eyes landing on the roulette table.

A rather large man was laughing robustly, his arm draped around a blonde dressed in rich blue. Their backs were to her, so Peggy couldn't get a look at her, but they clinked glasses before throwing back shots of what looked like vodka. The blonde leaned into him, laughing and generally flirting. Peggy turned back to her own table, but found it far less interesting, so she kept turning back every now and again. When the next round of shots came, she spilled hers, and he drank his. Another round, and she quickly tossed hers into the fake plant pot, and he drank his. The Englishwoman was amused, she was trying to get him drunk while she remained sober, mostly. They ordered a larger number of shots than before and this time she tilted his head back and began pouring them into his mouth for him. When he bent back that little bit, Peggy caught sight of the blonde and her eyes widened. Dottie Underwood! Well now she really had to keep watching. Three more shots down for the man she was with, and he did the same to her. She had one and pulled away slightly, pointing him back towards the roulette. She wanted to keep a clear head, it seemed. He did as she said and Dottie took the opportunity to turn her attention elsewhere. Peggy blinked and quickly turned away.

Dottie smirked from where she stood. "Too late, Peggy." She murmured, raking her eyes up and down the brunette, remembering how their night went last time they met unexpectedly. That dress looked amazing on her, Dottie wouldn't bother to deny. She felt the arm around her tighten and her attention was brought back to the matter at hand. The gorgeous Peggy Carter would have to wait, she was working right now. His name was Laurence, and his hobbies included money and women. Dottie shared that in common, so they had been getting along nicely, not that he knew about the women part. She had was shaken out of her thoughts when Laurence threw his arms up, whooping and cheering, "We did it baby!" He cried, grabbing her.

Peggy and Howard turned around, hearing the commotion, and Howard smiled, nodding, "That'll be me soon." He said, facing the table again. Peggy frowned at him for a moment, he really didn't remember the beautiful blonde? She shook her head a little and looked back over at Dottie who was being kissed on the mouth quite passionately by her companion. Peggy pressed her lips into a firm line and tried to dodge the numerous waves of jealousy she was feeling. It was completely irrational, she had just met the woman for goodness sake. If she wanted to hang around with men twice her age, that was her business and hers alone. She shut her eyes and turned back around, gritting her teeth a little.

Dottie smiled pleasantly at Laurence, though she actually felt like throwing up. "Good job sweetie." She chirped. They went to go bank the chips and received a good amount of ten thousand dollars. Dottie picked up her bag and they headed out to his car, getting into the back of it. Laurence popped a bottle of champagne and poured them each a glass, despite him being quite drunk already. Dottie smiled, this would be easier than she thought. She leaned into his side, stroking his chest before she slipped a pill into his drink, and kissed his cheek. He downed the whole thing and was knocked out after another minute. Dottie knocked on the chauffeur window and it rolled down as she picked up the briefcase and opened it up on her lap, counting out a sum, "Four thousand, as promised for your cooperation." She said, handing him the money. This was the price of silence and deniability.

He took it and pulled out a small gun, "Make that five." He said. Dottie moved back a little, surprised, but looking overall unimpressed. "Oh God please! Don't shoot!" She began crying suddenly, begging for her life. He smiled, looking pleased with himself, until Dottie stopped suddenly, her face stone hard. In a matter of seconds he was disarmed, Dottie holding the gun to his head, "I don't know who told you that size didn't matter, but they were wrong." She said. He moved away, as far as he could in a car anyway, "So what were you saying? You were happy with what you were given? Good. Because it's more than you deserve, you little weasel." She snarled, before hitting him across the temple with the butt of the gun, "You try and fuck me over like that ever again and you won't have a head for me to hit. Understood?" She asked, her tone arctic, blue eyes icy. He nodded, "Yes!" He was actually crying, "Yes! I'm sorry." She unloaded the weapon and threw it at him before gathering her things and getting out the car. Just as she got out and the car pulled away hastily, Peggy and Howard exited the casino.

Peggy had wanted to leave as soon as she saw Dottie. She should have known the woman would be here tonight, but what were the chances? "Your friend go home?" Peggy asked. Dottie shrugged coyly, "You could say that." Howard looked between the two women, "Woah Peg, you know this bombshell?" He smiled at Dottie who fluttered her eyelashes at him. "No." Said Peggy. "Yes." Said Dottie. They both frowned at each other, wondering why the other had given another answer. Howard looked between them, this time in confusion, "Right..." he said slowly. "We had a little something going on." Offered Dottie, which earned a glare from Peggy, "Hardly." She said, earning another frown from the blonde. They stared daggers at each other for a moment. "Oh, Peggy, you two were...?" Howard asked. Dottie smiled, "Yeah." She said. "No." Said Peggy at the same time. The Englishwoman pinched the bridge of her nose and led Howard away, "Alright, look, we nearly did. But we didn't." She said, dropping her voice to a whisper. He raised an eyebrow and looked over at Dottie, "Why the hell not?" Peggy shook her head in disbelief, "I give up!" She cried, throwing her arms up and walking away.

Howard looked back at Dottie and gave her a quick wave before chasing his friend, "Hey, Peg. Peg! Come on. Do you even have her number? You can't just let a girl like that go!" Peggy groaned audibly, "She's a thief, Howard." He chuckled, "Oh yeah, she stole my heart alright." Peggy rolled her eyes and kept walking. "I promise I'll try and be good." Said Dottie, who was following them. Peggy spun around to face her, "Don't you have somewhere better to be?" Dottie flashed a set of perfect white teeth at her, "Now Peggy, where could possibly be better than with you?" She asked. Peggy felt heat rise up her chest and turned around to keep walking, flustered. She got into Howard's car and shut the door before anyone else could talk to her. Howard and Dottie met eyes. "Can I drop you home somewhere or something?" He asked. She nodded, "Thank you." She got into the back and couldn't help but feel amused at the look of disbelief Peggy was giving her from the front seat. Howard got into the driver's side and started up the engine before driving off, ignoring the glare he was recieving from Peggy.

The drive back was silent on Peggy's part, despite Howard and Dottie falling into conversation. They pulled up outside of the building and Howard turned around, "Hey can I get your number?" Dottie stared at him for a second before the corners of her mouth curled up a little, "Only if Peggy agrees to walk me to my door." She said innocently. Howard began rummaging through the glove box before pulling out a notepad and a pen, looking at Peggy hopefully. Peggy looked defeated, "Oh alright." She tutted, opening her door and getting out. Dottie wrote down a fake number for Howard and gave him a little finger waggle of a wave before getting out and going into the building with Peggy. Howard looked pleased with himself and saved her number in his contacts under the name "Casino Blonde". Bombshell Blonde was already taken apparently.

Peggy and Dottie got into the elevator together and rode up to Dottie's floor. When they got to her door, Peggy was ready to turn right back around and go home. "Don't you wanna come in?" Dottie asked, her tone dangerous. "Howard is waiting for me downstairs." Peggy reminded her. "So call him. I'll pay for your cab home." Dottie said, opening her front door, locking eyes with Peggy. "Maybe we can try Saturday night again." She said. Peggy felt it again. That insane attraction that had gotten her into this mess to begin with. She steeled herself, "I don't think so." She said stubbornly. Dottie approached her, her fingers tracing the neckline of Peggy's dress, "We had fun." Peggy swallowed and nodded, "We did." Dottie moved ever so slightly closer, "So what's stopping you?" She asked, pushing some of Peggy's hair behind her ear. Peggy stayed silent for a moment, unsure of how to answer the question, because really, what was stopping her? Dottie moved in closer and kissed her, her hand sliding to the back of Peggy's head, slender fingers threading through curls. Peggy felt herself slipping away again and she kissed Dottie back, hard. Peggy took hold of the briefcase as they moved into Dottie's room, and Dottie threaded the other hand's fingers through Peggy's soft hair. Peggy kicked the door shut on her way in and they moved straight to the bedroom, bodies heating rapidly, kisses intensifying. She threw the briefcase onto the bed and it sprung open.

Peggy pulled away for a moment and looked at it, her eyes widening, "Dottie..." Dottie shook her head bringing Peggy's attention back to her, "Leave it." She said before kissing her again. Peggy pulled away, "A gift from your male friend?" She asked cynically. Dottie shut her eyes, dropping her hands with a sigh, "I deserved it for putting up with him all night." Peggy joined her sigh, her face still flushed from the arousal she had just felt, "Goodnight, Dottie." She said before walking away. The blonde frowned at her, "What is your problem?" Peggy shook her head, sighing, "I loved a very good man once. I won't betray his memory by becoming thick with a thief." Dottie blinked at her, finding her reasoning hard to understand, and deep down, taking slight offence, "Well have fun with that, Pegs." Said Dottie, her sarcasm crystal clear. Peggy studied her for a moment, before heading out, leaving behind a frustrated Dottie Underwood who groaned a little. What kind of a challenge was this woman? It never took this long for her.

Howard put down his phone when Peggy got in the car. "Long goodnight kiss?" He teased. She gritted her teeth and sank down in the seat a little, "Just drive." She growled. Howard did as she said; she looked like she'd kill him if he did anything else.