The machines didn’t form a perfect row of apples, but all those swirling symbols brought him a strange sense of peace.

When the credits on his slot machine ran out, his next stop was the roulette table, the one with the top players. You could tell who they were by the towers of chips stacked before them, or maybe they were just rich. The game itself was interesting, yet oddly dull. The stakes were high, but the words were few.

His attention was caught by the only woman at the table. It wasn’t her beauty that captivated him, but the way she chose her numbers. The table was safe, and Lara confirmed that much for him.

After they introduced themselves, the two decided to team up for the Slapjack Duo Tournament. Everything seemed to flow perfectly, they complemented each other effortlessly, but Zeke had already lost quite a lot of money. This victory wouldn’t bring him much profit. Lara could see Zeke’s passion, but also his lack of concern for the money he threw away in every game. People like that usually disgusted her, yet she liked Zeke. Because of that, she tried to correct him and offer him a few quiet pieces of advice.

Lara suggested they take a short break at the bar. JACKPOT was the only casino in town that offered its players a dreamlike experience: a bar, tables where they could eat and drink, comfortable couches, and for VIP members, a five-star room where they could spend the night. The VIP room often marked the end of a player’s journey, but it was always a pleasant and relaxing end.