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Teller's Casino An Old Acquaintance

Posted July 23, 2019, 8:06 p.m. by Civilian Aedan Teller (Owner/CEO of OMAP Industries) (Steven Sigle)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jessica Teller (XO) in Teller’s Casino An Old Acquaintance

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jessica Teller (XO) in Teller’s Casino An Old Acquaintance

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jessica Teller (XO) in Teller’s Casino An Old Acquaintance
Jessica sipped her drink sitting at the bar. Two years ago her stomach was all butterflies every time Aedan showed up at her quarters with a sequined dress and the promise of an amazing night. Now she was sporting his name and had more sequined dresses than a department store. The excitement had worn off months ago with Aedan’s lavish parties but Jessica still marveled at the way Aedan could work a room. Ever since Cera was born Aedan had been giving money away to children’s programs at twice the rate he had before her birth. Tonight it was a charity gambling event for F.A.I.R which was the Federation Alliance for something or other. The acronyms blended more and more with each event.

“Another one Mrs. Teller,” the bartender said placing a refill on the bar behind her. She smiled at the man and gave him a small nod as she watched Aedan playing roulette. The game was all chance and no skill and never anything Aedan would play unless it was for a purpose. People commented that Aedan seemed at times to be the luckiest man in the universe. Jessica knew a much simpler truth about him. Aedan never got involved n anything unless it was a sure thing. Tonight’s purpose was losing large sums to the charity as gracefully and charmingly as possible to encourage others to do that same.

Holding the glass Jessica watched him. He had one woman on either side of him that were hanging on his every word and laughing at his every quip. Every once in a while they would cast a sly glance at Jessica as if daring her to try and take their spot at Aedan’s side before turning back to whisper something in his ear to make him display a devilishly grin. Jessica could not help but return a thin, tight smile as a reply. It was not caused by jealousy, however. The smile was her way of mocking them back. Jessica had nothing to fear by anyone in this room: man or woman. The woman on his right was Rei Harman. An uptight, blonde trust fund baby scheming to make the most of her name. Her mother was an athleisure designer that specialized in clothing where you looked stylish but couldn’t do pilates or spin without ripping the apparel. This is why she chose the last name Harman instead of her father’s name Denton. She wanted to make sure people knew who she was yet feign the reason why. The brunette was Airn Windborne. She was the wife of Charles Windborn and a perpetual mistress to anyone with enough power and money. The joke was she stayed with each lover as long as the wind.

The truth was Aedan hand picked everyone that had shown up this evening based on their large wallets, need to been seen as hobnobbing with the elite, and the few sprinkles of honest people that reminded him good people did still exist. Rei and Airn’s time would end next to Aedan when Jessica snapped her fingers or Aedan got tried of their magniloquent rhetoric. Soon Jessica would walk up to him and the artificial smiles Aedan was giving to the crowd would be turned to her.

Aedan locked eyes with Jessica who simply raised her glass in a mock toast. It was their way of saying everything was good. At some point, she would make her way across the room but not yet. Aedan still had a wad of credits to blow betting on red or black and she was comfortable sitting at the bar. A loud roar of cheers and moans erupted as Aedan won a double down bet on black eighteen.

“He seems thrilled to be losing,” a deep male voice said from behind Jessica. The man was so close Jessica could feel his breath on the nape of her neck as he spoke. It caused a ripple to run down her spine making her work hard to suppress a shiver. Men always knew how to elicit this reaction in a woman. How it made the woman feel was what differed in each individual encounter. “Doesn’t seem to fit his reputation. How will he take losing you,” the voice replied moving a strand of hair off her neck slowly with his index finger?

Casual flirting was fine in events like this but the physical contact was taking it farther than Jessica wanted. What made her on edge though was that Jessica knew the voice instantly. “Aedan doesn’t lose at any.....thing,” Jessica said pausing only a half a heartbeat as she spoke. Turning slowly her suspicions were confirmed. “Zachary Shaw,” she kept her voice level and her eyes locked on the man in front of her. The sounds of the casino were swallowed up as Jessica focused all her attention on the dark haired man inches from her.

“Did your husband also give you a new first name Mrs. Teller or shall I call you Lexi for old times sake,” he held out his hand. Jessica knew what he wanted and took his hand in hers as he led her to the dance floor.

“Mrs. Teller will be acceptable,” Jessica said placing her hand in his. Years of field work prevented Jessica from recoiling as his hand moved to her waist. “Your attendance at this event is not.” Her tone was icy without a hint of warmth to it. Part of her begged for Aedan to stroll up and pull her to his side at the craps table. The other part of Jessica wanted to slip from the party with Shaw and deal with it herself.

“Zachary, love,” Jessica said with the sweetest expression. “If I were you I would walk out that door, take a right then a left at the end of the hall. You will find an emergency hatch. There you can space yourself and cause me far fewer issues explaining why there is a dead body on my Outpost tomorrow morning.” Jessica’s form was as stiff as any competitive dancer. It was not that she was trying to get away from him but ready to go on the offensive at any time.

Shaw was still good at his game moving Jessica easily to one spot on the dance floor. The spot obscured Aedan’s view of Jessica and Zachary behind a decorative pillar. They were still on the dance floor, in full public view, but Aedan would only see glimpses of Jessica’s deep red dress or the back of her partner’s coat as they danced. She didn’t fight Shaw moving her to this position. Aedan might not have true eyes on her but eight of the ten security officers managing the even could see her clearly. Besides Shaw was not here to kill her. He was here to talk. That was the only thing Jessica knew for a fact.

“Such unpolite manners,” Zachary said suddenly pulling her tightly to his body so that his lips brushed her ear. “Where is that sweet southern hospitality you were known for back in the day. Your tongue was always the far more dangerous and thrilling part of your weapons arsenal. I see that hasn’t been tempered by you domesticity to golden boy over there.”

Jessica let out a full-bodied laugh. The kind only people produce when they are astounded by the stupidity of others and have no other recourse but to laugh. This also allowed her to pull her body back some. Anyone watching would think the man holding Jessica was simply charming her with social pleasantries. Jessica and Shaw’s expression and tone would enhance this perspective.

“God, you could always turn every head in the room. That is why Outpost 45 took such a hit when you left,” Zachary said looking deeper into her eyes. “Now let’s get down to business. I want the data chip,” Shaw said spinning Jessica out perfectly to the beat and in rhythm with the new song. It was a rhumba and allowed for what people would notice as a more aggressive type dance than the couple was previously performing. It was full of tight spins and holds that placed Shaw’s mouth close to Jessica’s ear. Each spin out had the feeling of Jessica trying to get away and Shaw pulling her back. Jessica’s face held a stern expression that matched the pounding deep base of the song.

“People in hell want ice water and if your tongue was swelling from thirst I would let it choke the life out of you,” she shot back in a low tone as he posed the question barely above a whisper as she faced him. Her response earned and firmer spin out of his arms which she managed expertly. Several turns later she was again facing him. The room had a tension in it. The rhythm of the song combined by the crowd who had moved out the way to give Shaw and Jessica room to dance muttered softly to themselves. The murmurs ranged from whether he was a professional dancer to the sensuality of the steps indicating something more between the pair. The view of the dance floor became more and more obscured by the curious onlookers. One row, two rows deep. Anyone on the outside of the circle would have a hard seeing anything.

Lt. Commander Jessica Teller XO

As sharply as the dance had begun Jessica would hear the softest of steps come up from behind Zachary as a hand took his from Jessica, a soft bone snap heard as the wrist had pressure applied before the yell could be heard. Never give anyone a chance to react Aedan thought as he pulled the arm to the side as he followed up with a right hook across Zachary’s jaw before a swift kick went crashing down on the knee as bone and cartilage could be heard cracking and breaking as screams erupted. On his knees Aedan followed once more with a jackhammer blow to the temple as the man came crashing down hard on the ground.

“Escort him out now....” Aedan said as he looked over at Jessica as two men came up from behind him as they pulled him away, breath barley exiting his body as he was clearly out cold. “Explain, now.” Aedan said with a cold chill to is voice. She knew he never tolerated this, nor did he tolerate anyone who tried to do this with him. She knew at parties they may flock, look or try to place arms around his elbows but every man or woman who thought they could ever take him aside and try to have anything more always got dressed down and thrown out.

~Aedan Teller


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