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.

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.

Lt. Commander Jessica Teller XO