Dice and Slice

The day before our wedding, my fiance, Brandon Foster, and his girl bestie pulled out their wedding certificate at the casino. Brandon shrugged as he said, "It's just a joke—we'll be divorced tomorrow, and everyone knows that Wanda and I are strictly platonic." Wanda Stiles, however, was smiling provokingly. "Come on—they say marriage is sacred, so you guys can quit gawking already and hand us our wedding presents!" Everyone around the table laughed, with someone saying, "Alright! I own a business in the West End, and you can have it for your wedding… if you beat me at the dice game. Table rules." I didn't argue and merely sat at the table, smiling faintly as I met Brandon's frown. "The dice roll decides the wedding gift, no? I'll play too." Chapter 1 The table was briefly silent as I took my seat, and Brandon Foster reached for my waist, sighing, "That's enough, Angie. Give it a rest. It's just a drunken joke—go to bed." I quietly withdrew from this touch, staring pointedly at Wanda Stiles. "Don't get touchy-feely. Your wife is right over there." Brandon scowled, his tone impatient as he growled, "I've told you so many times—Wanda is just a friend. Why would I bother dating you if we were hooking up?" I didn't reply because I had heard that response before too many times. Because of Wanda, he forgot about our date. Because of Wanda, he left me by the curb. Because Wanda got drunk that one time, he rushed out of home in the night to pick her up. And now, he even registered his marriage with Wanda, and in the end, he still claimed they were just friends. Even as an awkward silence ensued, Wanda came over and sat on Brandon's lap. "Alright, just cut it out," she said and turned to me with a smile. "There's really nothing going on between us, Angela. It's just a drunken thing, and we'll be divorcing tomorrow. If you really mind that much, I'll apologize." Then, picking up a bottle of wine off the table, she started chugging. Brandon's face dropped and she snatched it away, snapping loudly, "What are you doing?! Stop drinking already!" Then, turning toward me, he glowered. "You're really pushing it, Angela Stark." I couldn't help smiling self-deprecatingly. "It's fine—I have a sense of humor. I have plenty of free time on my hands too, and you were always saying that I'm unsociable, weren't you?" Everyone around the table was stunned but quickly jumped in to pacify the situation. "Sounds great, Angela!" Brandon's longtime buddy, Martin Carson, exclaimed. "We were just planning to call you up. It's Brandon who keeps stopping us." Then, shooting Brandon a look, he added, "Come on, buddy. You gotta deal with Angela." Brandon, however, chuckled coolly as he reclined against his seat, pulling Wanda back to him and making her sit on his lap. His hands on Wanda's waist, he chuckled, "Don't look at me. My wife's right here." Seeing that I was simply smiling and not freaking out, everyone around the table booed him. "Yeah, yeah. Congratulations on your wedding. So what are we playing?" Wanda was charmingly charismatic as she reveled in the excitement, grinning as she said, "The same game of dice. But since we have an obedient girl with us who probably doesn't even know what she's doing, let's be accommodating and play highs or lows. "Aside from drinking shots, you must provide gifts to celebrate Brandon and I being newlyweds." The others were complaining right then. "No way! Everyone knows you and Brandon are the best at dice. We won't survive this when you're both playing as partners." Through it all, Brandon's hand was on Wanda's waist, and he never looked at me. Hearing the protest, he chuckled, "Then it's a forfeit." Martin was flustered as soon as he heard and took off the watch on his wrist. "I just got this last week…" As the music grew louder, excitement cackled in the room as everyone took off their watches or jewelry. Brandon himself quietly took off his cufflinks, which I had bought him as an anniversary present. When another woman, Yvie, put down a bracelet, Wanda excitedly tugged on Brandon's arm, pouting. "I want that bracelet, darling! Win it for me, pretty please!" I said nothing as I took off my pure diamond earrings and put them on the table. "Congratulations on your wedding. I'm game." Chapter 2 The air around the table seemed to turn colder, while Brandon seemed to tighten his arm around Wanda's waist. His brows were creased as he glared at me hostilely and threateningly. Wanda was herself surprised, but she soon giggled and nudged Brandon. "Alright! Since Angie wants to play, we should be gracious hosts." Martin too promptly tried to pacify the situation. "Yes, that's right! Let's play together—it's more lively that way! Anyway, the rule is simple: highs or lows, and the player with the smallest roll starts drinking, as well as picks one gift from the pool for the player with the highest roll. "Obviously, one can stick to drinking without giving away anything…" He trailed off, pointing at the pile of watches and jewelry on the table as he finished, "But that would be boring." I nodded in understanding, and everyone was handed dice. Wanda was deftly shaking her cup, while Brandon barely shook his twice before slamming the cup on the table, his eyes still fixed on me. I had my face turned away, avoiding his scorching gaze, clumsily picking up my cup and clearly not used to it. Even through the music, I could hear the voices around me. "What's an obedient girl like her doing here? Doesn't she get sick of being a buzzkill?" "Trying to mark her territory, I bet. But Brandon just isn't having it." As I paled a little, Wanda giggled, "Oh, Angela—should I teach you how to roll properly first?" I ignored her and shook my dice cup carelessly, then gently dropped it. "Showdown!" Everyone lifted their cups. Wanda rolled an eleven, while Brandon rolled a ten. The others were in between, but when I lifted my cup, it revealed a one and a two: only three points. Everyone burst out laughing right then. "Haha! Three points?! That sure is the lowest!" "Oh, Angela. What luck…" Martin was holding back a smile as he slid me a glass of wine. "A bet's a bet. Drink up, and…" He trailed off, staring pointedly at my earrings. Brandon finally spoke then, his voice cold and harsh, "If you don't know how to play, don't. Just drink." Wanda leaned against his chest, beaming, "Oh, that's terrible luck! Guess Angela will be getting us our wedding presents. Do you mind? Those earrings sure look nice." I looked between the glass of wine and the earrings. They were pink diamond earrings that Brandon had spent a fortune to buy from an auction. At that time, he vowed to give me all that was good in the world… Smiling self-deprecatingly, I slid the earrings to the center of the table toward Wanda. "A bet's a bet," I said evenly, looking up. "Here's your present." While Brandon scowled, Wanda happily picked up the earrings, admiring them against the light. "Thanks, Angie! Oh, they are beautiful…" Martin then quickly whooped, "Alright! Round two!" With that, the game continued. Wanda rolled a nine—not the best, but Brandon rolled a hard six right after her. "Woah! You're the best, darling!" Wanda whooped. Everyone was cheering too, while Martin smiled and explained to me, "Table rules: hard six is the highest score, and he can pick anything." Brandon wasn't looking at me as he held Wanda, grinning sweetly, "Then my one-night wife can choose. What do you want?" Wanda was scanning my side of the table, ultimately stopping at my dull bracelet. "That bracelet Angela has… It looks quite unique. Can I?" I paused ever so slightly. It was my grandmother's keepsake and not all that valuable—even the clasp was loose as it was just that old. However, she had put it on my wrist before she died, and I never took it off wherever I went, no matter how far from home I was. When Brandon first saw it, he had solemnly told me that he would never joke around with it. He knew better than anyone that it wasn't an average bet. There was a moment of silence, until Wanda hollered, "What? We agreed that we will bet everything. Or maybe Angie is a sore loser? Or maybe…" I was going to speak, but Brandon coolly cut me short. "Table rules. A bet's a bet—hand it over, Angela." I turned sharply toward him. Chapter 3 My eyes burned as my tears threatened to fall. I had tolerated the many times he sided with Wanda but still didn't expect such humiliation. Brandon's eyes flashed in annoyance, but he decided he had gone too far to back off. Even Martin sensed the conflict brewing. "Come on, Wanda. It's just a bracelet—I'll buy you two later, okay?" Wanda, however, scowled. "We agreed before we started. A bet's a bet." Brandon chuckled coolly too. "I told you to go home, but you insisted on playing. Now, hand it over." My fingers were trembling, but I fought back my tears and took off my bracelet. Brandon didn't look at it twice as he took it and threw it at Wanda. She then held it against the light and pouted after a brief glance. "Ugh. Junk." She dropped it nonchalantly on the table, and that was when she accidentally knocked over the glass beside her, spilling red wine all over the bracelet. I rushed over to pick it up, but I moved too quickly and struck the table with my fingers. Wanda smiled at me, scoffing, "Sorry, Angie. Butterfingers." At the same time, she pulled out some tissues and wiped it haphazardly, while wine kept trickling off the chain. Brandon frowned. "Just leave it aside if it's filthy. Don't be a buzzkill." I was clenching my knuckles before I knew it, feeling a weight in my chest. Soon, Wanda was pressing again, "Let's keep going! Why is everyone spacing out?" I rolled a seven on the third round—neither here nor there. Wanda got nine, while Brandon got two ones—the lowest possible combination. "Such terrible luck, darling," Wanda snickered. Brandon ignored her, picking up his glass to drink. However, Wanda grabbed his hand and drank it whole before he could. Brandon pursed his lips. "Come on, don't chug it like that. It'll damage your liver." Wanda winked at him flirtatiously. "Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry, we are still going to consummate tonight." I watched as they held hands so comfortably, remembering how Brandon was always scowling and turning down clients who were encouraging me to drink at parties. He would insist that I had a bad stomach, and that anyone who made me drink was an enemy. And now, it was the same thing for Wanda, and he protected her like he used to protect me, while not sparing me a glance. I listened as everyone cheered, my emotions numb. Over the next few rounds, I skirted the edge of danger, drinking repeatedly while losing the rest of the jewelry I had to Wanda—and even the bag I had just bought. I paused as I put the bag on the table, remembering that I had bought it while shopping with Brandon, as he said it suited me best. Nonetheless, Wanda took it with a smile and waved it in Brandon's face. "You won't get upset if I take this, right?" Brandon spared it a brief glance and shook his head. "Nope." Meanwhile, my cheeks were flushed and my gaze distant, while my hands seemed unsteady as I held my dice. To everyone else, it was a sign of gambler's high. After another round, Martin announced a new rule. "Come on, guys—highs and lows is getting boring! How about betting on points? Bet big if you think you can roll higher than eight, and we are raising the stakes. These little bets are really a bore!" "Alright!" Wanda promptly agreed. "I'll bet on my West End boutique!" She owned plenty of businesses, but that boutique in the West End was one of the more lucrative ones. Naturally, the others were thrilled to see the stakes were being raised. Brandon eyed me, and then said quietly, "Call. I'll bet my yacht, the Brangela." The yacht was worth millions, but most importantly, it was a portmanteau of my name with Brandon's. As the pressure on me mounted, everyone watched me, while Brandon finally spoke, "This has gone far enough, Angie. You can go home now." Wanda promptly giggled, "Come on, Brandon—don't be such a coward. Angie's lucky streak might just be starting!" I jerked my eyes toward her as if provoked. "Call! I'll bet… My Shallow Bay apartment!" Chapter 4 Even Brandon was stunned that I would bet on real estate, not to mention that the apartment was one of the most important properties my parents had given me early on. Its location was strategic and definitely far more valuable than Wanda's boutique. With that, the game was on. Wanda opened her cup first, raising her brow at me smugly as she got nine points. Brandon himself got seven. I took a deep breath, my hands trembling as I shook my dice… and got eight points. Just one point short! Deflated, I collapsed on the couch, while Wanda whooped right beside me. Since she was close, she could whisper to me so only both of us could hear, "How does losing feel? I want everything you have." I looked up at her, my cheeks flushed from alcohol but my eyes bright. "One more." - Like floodgates, there was really no stopping the gambling once one got started. Over the next few rounds, the bets turned to things that weren't all that valuable, but stuff that concerned business connections, events, and dignity. I was losing a lot and only winning occasionally. When I lost, I turned pale. When I won, I couldn't hide my thrill. That was why everyone could see that I was losing my cool like the typical gambler getting a little trigger happy. Brandon wanted to stop me, but Wanda stopped him, so he simply sat there, frowning. I couldn't help but smile wryly as I watched. Perhaps he considered that I was messing around and was waiting for me to return to his side, begging for help as I always did. But the more he wanted to stop me, the more I made sure to appear as if he and Wanda were driving me to desperation and losing proper judgement. That was why before the next round began, I twirled my glass strangely, my voice raspy as if drunk as I spoke, "Priority to Starhill Hotel's banquet hall booking list for the next 12 months." The people around the table sharply turned toward me. After all, Starhill Hotel was a luxury venue, and reservations were really difficult to secure. It was also one of my parents' most important businesses, and where Brandon and I's weddings would be held. Martin did a double take and quickly turned to Brandon, whose fingers tightened around his glass. "So you're betting on our wedding too?" I smiled. "Everyone's treating tonight as a joke anyway. A banquet hall is not too much, is it?" I heard someone laugh softly nearby. "Guess she's really losing her cool now, despite her usual calm self." Wanda's smile was even more nonchalant as she tapped her fingers on her dice. "Fine, Angie. You sure are generous… Just don't cry when you lose, what with the way your hands tremble." I lowered my gaze, deliberately letting my breaths turn ragged and my fingers unsteady as I held my glass. As we set our cups, I stared at Wanda's hand, my own fingers tightening before I lifted my cup. Hard four: eight points, once again losing to Wanda by one point. Everyone was laughing around the table again, and I followed suit, as if in denial. Suddenly, the table was a battlefield, and after a string of losses, I seemed to finally luck out and win a company by a narrow margin. The company name was Wandaful Media—it was a media company that Wanda really loved, and she suddenly wasn't calm anymore. It wasn't even one of the Stiles' principal businesses, but Wanda herself loved flaunting it to everyone else. That went on for years, and she used it to organize the many elite socialite parties and banquets that she had put together over the years. Martin gasped too and whispered, "Wanda… Should we stop here?" Wanda didn't seem to hear him as she growled in clear dissatisfaction, "That sure was lucky, Angela! Care to raise the stakes?" I calmly lifted my glass and finished my wine, the alcohol burning my throat and burning off the last bit of hesitation on my face. "Why not?" I asked in return. "What's it gonna be? Pray tell." Before Brandon could speak, Wanda held up a palm to stop him and snapped, "All-in! I'm betting all my Stiles LLC shares along with static assets! What about you?! Do you dare to call me on that?!" The room suddenly became dead silent. Chapter 5 All in. They were ready to bet everything on this one. As everyone turned to watch me, waiting for my response, I kept my eyes downward as I stayed silent for ten seconds. Eventually, I looked up. "Call. I will bet… everything I have." The room was silent, and Brandon was suddenly on his feet. "Are you crazy?! Do you even know what you're talking about?!" I smiled faintly. "Table rules, Brandon. A bet's a bet… Unless you're scared?" Wanda stood up too, tugging on Brandon's arm and making him sit. "Come on, Brandon—she wants to give us everything, so why don't we receive her goodwill? Or what, does your heart ache for her?" Then, turning to smirk at me, she said, "A verbal agreement doesn't count. Call up your lawyer and draft a black-and-white! We will do the same!" "Sure," I replied briskly and called my lawyer while everyone watched, telling him to bring an inventory of all my assets and draft the agreement in question. Brandon watched me coolly. "You'd better not regret this." Then, as everyone watched, he sat beside Wanda, making his stance very clear. And with that, the last shred of hope I had faded. The lawyers soon arrived, and all three parties quickly combed out the finer details of the bet agreement. Even as my lawyer handed me the finalized copy, he warned under his breath, "Ms. Stark… The hard part only comes after you sign this…" I ignored him, my fingers pale as I squeezed the pen. That was when Brandon suddenly said, "You can still give up." He spoke as if he was being charitable, while also confident that I would grab the opportunity to back down. I never looked up, however, as I signed the agreement. And with that, the dice and cups were once again waiting at the center of the table. Even Martin's voice sounded dry at that moment. "This is it—same rules, highest points wins. The winner takes all." Wanda swiftly grabbed her cup and rolled. Five and six—eleven points. A large number. When it was Brandon's turn, he shook his dice briskly without any fancy moves. When he lifted the cup, the room erupted with cries of disbelief. Twelve points! The highest score! "Woah!!!" "Hard six! That's basically a jackpot!" "It's definitely a win!" "I mean, how else would she win? That's unless she manages to get twelve too!" "No way! Hard six?!" Wanda was hugging Brandon excitedly before turning to me. "Shame, Angie. Luck just isn't on your side." She was grinning smugly as she reached for the agreements, as if she already owned me. Brandon was looking at me too, with a look of mixed expressions. "Concede right now, and I can consider looking the other way at what you lost before." I simply watched him quietly because I knew what would happen next. By tomorrow, we would be strangers again. With that I quietly took my dice cup, shaking it steadily and slamming it forcefully on the table. All eyes were on the cup when I lifted it, with everyone holding their breaths. And after a brief silence, I heard Wanda cry out, "No! That's impossible!"