The Grand Uchiha Hotel sits right in the middle of the bustling city of Konoha. It is known for its world-class hotel, amenities and of course, its casino. Dubbed as the ultimate betting arena for the country's high-stake rollers. The hotelier? None other than the youngest son of the Uchiha family. Sasuke Uchiha, the notorious and ruthless gambler.
The casino is situated in the hotel's 39th floor which offers a stunning view of Konoha. The entire floor is pretty loud, with much of the strobe lights coming both from the machines and from the stage that sits right in the center of the expansive room where scantily-clad women are dancing provocatively. The roar of the patrons all playing different games, the ringing of various machines, and the noise of the guests all echoing throughout the entire room.
But not where Sakura works. For the past five years, ever since the Grand Uchiha Hotel was built, she works as a casino attendant and as a dealer for the VIP matches. That is why the VIP lounge– one floor above the main casino, she's worked in is not loud and boisterous as the one below. In fact, it is downright eerily quiet as the players throw around million to billion dollars in one sitting.
Sasuke Uchiha sits in one of the VIP rooms, partaking in his usual array of games for the night. Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, and of course his area of expertise– Poker. After a successful rounds for the Roulette and Baccarat, Sasuke entered the Poker room. His opponents: Orochimaru, the president of Oto Laboratories; Gaara, the son of a big political figure in Suna; Tsunade, the legendary gambler with such an unfortunate luck; and Zabuza, who runs a big weapons empire around the globe.
"I've won money tonight that can last me until the next 5 lifetimes. I say, why don't we spice up our bets?" Sasuke said as he adjusted his suit jacket before sitting down, each eyeing his opponents carefully.
"What do you suggest we bet, dear Sasuke-kun?" Orochimaru answered while licking his lips.
Zabuza laughed creepily, "Ah! I'll bet 30% of the rights of my company then." He said confidently while his eye glinted devilishly.
"Interesting.… Hm, I'll hand over the rights and ownership of my laboratory for whoever is the winner in tonight's game." Orochimaru said while Tsunade remained seated and looked at the guy flabbergasted.
Sakura, the VIP casino attendant, entered the room and handed them a glass of bourbon or whiskey each before settling the Boite cigar box near the poker table. Then she stood in front of the table neatly stacking up the cards and chips on her side. Her dainty hands shuffling the cards deftly. One would think that with beautiful hands such as hers, she should be holding all the fine jewels and prettiest flowers in the world, and not cards, chips or dices.
"A free pass for whatever business conquest you wish to do in Suna. No permits or formalities needed, I am the Governor's son afterall." Gaara muttered. This peaked Zabuza's interest since he always wanted to expand his weapons company in the south but unable to do so because of the strict business ground rules Suna has.
Tsunade laughed as she waved her glass of whiskey, "Fine, fine! Since I have such an extraordinary luck, whoever wins tonight will have 15% stock in my hospital and I will make you a beneficiary with 100% free medical pass.
"That's what I am talking about. We don't need any more money, do we?" Sasuke swirled his glass of bourbon, making the ice clink. "Then… I'm betting 100% ownership of the Grand Uchiha Hotel then. The hotel will be all yours." He smirked arrogantly, all the while keeping his eyes on the shell-shocked game dealer in front of the table.
Sakura couldn't believe what she was hearing. These people… the epitome of high-stake gamblers who just randomly bet their businesses, as if it's a mere thing. Sakura kept her eyes focused to Sasuke, silently pleading to stop and take back what he said, in which Sasuke did nothing but winked at her. "So shall we start, dealer?" He asked.
Being a dealer is easy– you aren't required to do a lot of critical thinking or calculating. You just draw the cards and watch the match closely. The fate of the players relies on the dealer, or rather the fate of the players heavily relies on what the dealer deals. And tonight's game is probably going to be the most nerve-wrecking game Sakura will ever have. The bet pool is too high and risky, one wrong move each players could lose something important to them; Sasuke could lose his pride, blood and sweat– his hotel.
Onto the first three burns of the dealer, Sasuke's smirk is growing bigger and bigger by the minute. With his cards in his hand, he intently looked at Sakura, studying the way she deals the deck for the players in the table.
"Call." Sasuke winked at Sakura while the rest of the opponents are looking at him, "I raise the bet… fifty billion dollars."
Zabuza whistled, "Damn, Uchiha. The hotel and a fifty billion!"
"You must have quite a good cards. You've never lost a game ever anyway." Orochimaru said as he waved the waiter for another glass of whiskey.
"There's always a first for everyone. Maybe this game's shall be your first loss." Tsunade laughed as she eyed the young hotelier and the dealer carefully. There's nothing going amiss in her sharp eyes.
"If I win, I'll get to take home pinky over here. She sure is hot as fuck, when she draws the card… it makes me wonder what else can she do with those magical hands." Zabuza said, eyeing Sakura as if undressing her with his creepy gaze.
Tsunade can never miss the way Sasuke stiffened in his seat, the way he gripped his glass so hard she wondered if it'll shatter, and the way the pink-haired dealer gasped soundlessly. That's when everything clicked into place in Tsuande's brilliant mind.
"Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself." Sasuke muttered coldly, the earlier gloating and arrogant attitude is gone. "The dealer is off-limits. Whatever is in the pool, shall only be the prize."
"Come on, Uchiha. She's just your employee. I want to fuck her… maybe in one of your swanky ass suites here." Zabuza gaunted while winking at Sakura, "You'll be screaming my name out of so much pleasure tonight, pinky. I bet you're into hardcore shit."
Tsunade cleared her throat, "I'd appreciate it if we continue, gentlemen," With a game this risky she sure as hell don't want to involve herself in petty fights that's bound to happen if Zabuza continued with his lecherous ways.
Sakura straightened herself and continued her work. She looked down, her hands trembling lightly and drew out a shaky breath as she dealt the seventh and last card– Queen of Spades. Sasuke's smirked came back full force.
"Chin up, my Queen. My goddess of luck and victory. I told you, I only play to win." Sasuke said as he threw down his cards. A royal flush. The highest value cards.
And Tsunade realized that Sasuke never loses a game ever– so long as Sakura is the dealer.
"I look forward to being the new owner of Oto Labs. A major stockholder for your weapons empire, Zabuza. Also, being a stockholder of your hospital, Tsunade. Of course, Gaara, your bet is the most awarding for me as I plan to branch down the hotel in Suna." Sasuke stood up and shook their hands one by one, "Thank you for an interesting game. Enjoy the rest of your evening please. Everything on the bar tonight is on the house."
"How do you even do that, Uchiha?! For all of my years of playing against you– you never lost a single fucking game!" Zabuza asked him bitterly.
"Simple. I have the victory on my side, always." Sasuke nodded his head as stepped out of the room. Sakura right behind him.
A lot of people will not understand it, but as long as Sakura is the dealer, he will never lose a game. Sasuke can read Sakura's each and every movements as there is no other person who knows her body better than he does. Her actions, gestures and expressive physical messages are enough to give him an inkling of what she will deal as the dealer. Sasuke is simply using his intensive physical connection with his girlfriend as his luck. What better way to win, if he knows he keeps on winning because of how well he knows Sakura. If there's such a thing as a, "Beginner's luck," then Sasuke would simple call this as an, "Intimacy luck." Afterall, he only plays to win.