XXVI: Poker Face

AFTER COLE AND I's talk in the parlor, he insisted that we ditch the rest of the photoshoot. "Come on," he said, "Lunch, my treat."

Really I'd only agreed because there was food involved. After changing out of the stunning Zuhair Murad gown and back into my own outfit of olive straight-leg trousers and a metallic bronze blouse, I threw my pea coat on and tied a soft plaid scarf around my neck. My three-inch black Italian leather shoes tapped against the hardwood floors as I stepped out of the room I'd been allowed to use as a dressing room. Just as I was nearing the foyer, a hand reached out to take my elbow, startling me.

"Elle, I've been looking all over for you." I tensed when the figure spun me around to face him. His chocolate eyes registered my discomfort and instinctively let go.

"Was there something you needed?" I asked in a defeated voice. I wasn't even angry at him anymore. I just wanted to fix things for him and leave town. I don't think I can stand there beside Simone as they pledge their love. I'm much to selfish.

Max hesitated, no doubt questioning his motives for approaching me. He'd made it clear just last night that he'd moved on. I didn't need a refresher. "I just...I wanted to talk to you."

"Sure," I said with a clenched jaw. "What's up?"

He looked around the open foyer and frowned when the distant sound of chatter pierced the air. "Maybe somewhere more private?"

"No I think this is just fine." I can't let myself be in close quarters with him. God knows what unpredictable things I'm capable of if I don't have the risk of someone seeing as a warning.

He sighed, "Fine. About last night..."

"Max," I interrupted in a curt tone, " It's...fine. I'm fine. Everything's fine. I'm sorry for my actions, I wasn't quite myself. But thank you for setting me back in my place. Now if you'll excuse me--"

"What the hell, Elle?" he demanded as he backed me up in the wall with a dark look. "You can't just pretend it didn't happen. Don't you think I know what you're doing? Whenever you'd get hurt you shut down and push people away. Looks like as much as everythings changed at least you haven't outgrown that."

"I'm not doing anything! You were very clear last night, I'm simply honoring your wishes. I'll stay out of the way and after the wedding I'll be gone for good. You'll never see me again, don't worry."

I watched him wince at my words and an unreadable expression cross his face. "What if I don't want that? Fuck Elle, I don't want to loose you again."

He stepped closer but I shoved him away. "No! You don't get to say that to me."

"Hear me out," he said taking hold of my forearms. I gave up and stopped fighting his touch away.

"At one point, we were the best of friends. Weren't we?" I gave a weak nod. "I don't know what it is about you that makes the thought of never seeing you again so painful. Please Elle, can't we just stop this and go back to how we were when we first met? When we were just friends and everything made sense?"

I opened my mouth, not sure if to shout at him or agree, but the sounds of footsteps caused Max to let go of me and step back.

"There you are," Cole said as he came to a stop beside me and then, much to my surprise, wrap an arm around my waist. His free hand clutched my own and gave it a comforting squeeze, his silent way of saying he had my back. "Ready to go?"

My gaze never left Max's, and as I nodded at Cole I watched as his eyes, as rich as thick caramel, hardened. "Yeah, sure."

"I'll see you around," I said over my shoulder as Cole and I walked away. Then with a forced smile I added, "best friend."

THE SOUND OF our laughter ricocheted off the walls as the elevator doors slip open. A chortle escaped my lips, but I didn't care how unlady-like it sounded. Cole had made it his life mission to make me laugh throughout our time hanging out after leaving Mercer Manor. He had sensed that I needed to be distracted and so we'd gone into the more local side of South Hampton and gotten lunch in a loud pub instead of dining in a fancy restaurant. I could tell the place wasn't to Cole's pleasing, but it warmed my heart to know that he'd taken me there because he knew I'd love it's rustic charm and greasy, cheap food.

As we were ingesting the last of a ridiculous amount of French fries that rivaled in size to Mount Everest, Cole asked if I'd already chosen my dress for Simone's birthday party the following night. I'd forgotten about it until now, and with a mischievous smile he suggested we go shopping and attend the gathering together.

"It's a themed party," Cole said as he'd parked the car in front of a luxury boutique in the richer side of South Hampton. "Believe it or not, boring old Simone is actually throwing what is expected to be the hottest party of the year."

"What's the theme?" I'd asked as we walked into the shop.

He'd winked and said, "The Roaring 20s."

IN THE END we'd decided to coordinate our outfits to the colors of black and gold. We spent an afternoon of fun together but as we made our way through Max's penthouse our laughter died in out throats.

The athenaeum double doors were wide open, giving us a view of the scene inside. A poker table had been set up, and a few men were laughing and joking as they played.

"What the hell?" Cole said beside me. I turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

He sighed and shrugged. "I guess I wasn't invited to this week's poker night."

"Your are not going to be shunned because of me. What fucking game is Max playing now?" I felt the anger bubble up inside me, and before Cole could stop me I strutted forward and into the library.

"Anyone home?" I said letting the fake smile my parents groomed fall upon my lips as four pairs of eyes fell on me. "Sorry to interrupt Maxton, I just wanted to tell you that I'm back. Cole dropped me off."

"So you're that 'thing' Cole was too busy to join us for," one man said with a raised eyebrow and an insinuating smirk.

I glanced at Max's expressionless face before letting out a forced chuckle. "Yeah I suppose I am."

"Elle here requires a lot of attention," Cole teased as he appeared behind me.

"Well then," the man said as he stood. "Allow me to take that burden off your shoulders, Cole old pal."

The man stood before me and with a dashing smile took my hand and kissed the back of my palm. "I'm Peter, and you my dear, are ravishing."

I could tell he was teasing so I played along. With a sigh, I sent Peter a coy smile, "I usually just go by Elle."

The two men still sitting at the table with Max bursted out laughing, as did Cole and Peter. "I like you."

"Yeah? I get that a lot." Peter stepped back and led me towards the poker table, smiling at my response.

"Allow me to introduce the rest of these old guys. The Ravishing Elle, meet Scott and Bra."

"Bra?" I asked with a smile smile tugging at the ends of my lips. The second man stood and offered his hand to shake.

"My name is Abraham but Peter here thinks it hilarious that the word 'bra' is in my name. But when he's not being such a smartass he introduces me as Abe."

After shaking Abe's hand, I offered Scott a friendly smile before setting my gaze on Max. He looked slightly amused, but the tension in his jaw said otherwise. Which reminded me of why I came in here in the first place. "So what are you guys up to?"

"It's our poker night," Scott said in a quiet voice. He didn't seem shy, just one of those man-of-few-words type.

"Ahh," I said as if it wasn't already obvious before giving a pout. "I guess I'll let you all get back to it. Save a seat for Cole, okay Bra?"

Just as I was about to turn and walk away, they all laughed and Peter stuck out a chair for me. "No, please. Join us. Where has Cole been hiding a jewel like you?"

I thanked him for the seat and smiled at the men around me. "I'm just in town visiting, actually."

"She's Simone's little sister," Max offered and the group did a double take.

"You're the little sister?" Abe asked with raised eyebrows.

"Oddly, when Maxton said Simone's little sister was flying in for the wedding, we were expecting an awkward preteen."

I smiled and said, "Sorry to disappoint."

"So where are you from, then?" Scott asked.

Max's head snapped in my direction as I thought of how I should answer. Finally I went with the Max-approved version. "Florence."

"Italy. So let me guess, you model?" Peter said with a thumbs-up in Cole's direction.

I laugh and shared an amused look with Cole from across the table. "No actually I'm an artist. I paint."

"She's being modest," Cole said with a smile. "She's a top dog in Europe and galleries are fighting each other to feature her work." I rolled my eyes at that. They weren't fighting, per say. Perhaps excessively calling my assistant, Caterina De Luca, but definitely not fighting.

"Wow. So you're saying we have amongst our midst an actual millionaire that earned every penny? Well that's new," Peter teased.

"Except Maxton," Scott added.

Peter waved a dismissive hand "He's a broker, of course he knows the game."

"He invested big in the stocks and was compensated generously." Abe defended.

Max looked up then, "No you're right. Without my father's inheritance, I wouldn't have had anything to invest." My ears buzzed at that new information. Last I knew Max had never met his father. Was he lying or was he really reunited with his (apparently rich) father?

"To self made millionaires," Cole said as he raised his glass in my direction. The other men (except Max, I noted) toasted the jovial chant while I sat proudly smiling.

When I left town five years ago I was broken. I came back strong and I won't let myself leave here shattered like before. "To money," I said taking the glass Max's maid offered with a thankful smile in her direction.

"To money!" they repeated laughing.

"So Elle, do you know how to play Texas Hold'Em?" Abe asked as he expertly shuffled the cards. A small smile lit my face as I gave a shrug.

"Speaking of money, I'd love to take yours. How about a game?" Peter playfully asked with a smirk.

"You sure you wanna do that?" Max asked him warily.

"Positive. Never met a girl who's charming, beautiful, and great with a deck."

"So what's it going to be?" Abe asked with a challenge in his eyes.

I glanced at Max and shared a knowing smile. So he remembers then. Brilliant.

Turning back to the cocky pair I nodded. "Count me in."

GROANS FILLED THE room as I silently slapped my cards face-up on the green felt table. I gave a cocky smirk and mockingly shook my head as I leaned forward to drag all the chips in the center towards me. "Really guys, I feel bad taking all your money."

Max's gaze met mine and he gave me an amused smile, an actual smile that I haven't seen in so long. I smiled back and mouthed, 'chicken.' He'd folded each time since I sat down at the table, and with good reason. He remembers how good I am at poker.

All thanks to a summer spent with my Papi Miles. What else was an oldster going to do with an eight year old but teach her how to handle herself around a group of men drinking aged whiskey, smoking cuban cigars, and shuffling cards? So far his lessons have paid off: men stopped underestimating me, at least where their wallets were concerned.

"How--just how--are you so good at that?" Peter said with a shake of the head. Abe, Scott, and even Cole nodded in agreement.

"A lady never reveals her secrets," I said as I took a chug of my own whiskey. My gaze collided with Max again and I caught him shaking his head with silent laughter.

"Well consider me thoroughly impressed," Abe responded as he threw his own hand down on the table in defeat. I stifled a giggle at how bad his cards were.

"Agreed. I stand corrected. I've now met a woman with the whole package. You wouldn't mind marrying me, would you?" I laughed at Peter's comment before checking the time on my phone.

"Sorry gentlemen, I'm afraid I must leave you. Maybe now you'll have a chance to mend your shattered egos," I said as I stood and turned to walk away from a chorus of begrudging goodbyes.

Once I was up in the guest room, I pinned my hair up on the crown of my head and went straight to the en suite to wash off the smell of smoke from my body. After deeming myself free of the stench, I stepped out of the shower with a robe wrapped around me. Carefully applying my makeup, a light coral smokey eye with a thin rim of eyeliner, I allowed myself to take in my face. I looked tired, even to my own eyes. Tired of what, I wasn't sure. Was it was physiological or emotional? Either way, I added a bit more blush to make me seem less dead--at least on the outside. I did nothing to my hair, just letting it run down my back in waves that the stylists had already created on my unruly locks.

Finally emerging from the en suite, I moisturized my skin before slipping on a stunning cocktail dress designed by a new rising star in the streets of Florence. The material was a shimmery black, and the long sleeves, plunging neckline and modest hem length made it truly unique. Leaving my neck bare, I grabbed my metal studded clutch and coat before strutting down the stairs in my killer plaque ankle-strap stilettos.

Just as I was about to depart down the elevator, I remembered that I never really said a proper goodbye to the guys and returned to the atheneum. "Hey guys, I'm heading out."

They all looked up and stared gobsmacked, not at me exactly, but at the amount of flesh on display halfway down to my bellybutton. Instead of shrinking from their looks, I simply smiled and did a little turn. "How do I look?"

"Like sin, doll," Peter said with an encouraging smile. "Like sin."

"Got a hot date tonight?" Cole teased, igniting the chorus of hollers from the guys.

I opened my mouth to tell them that I was actually going to dinner relating business not pleasure, but I found that the words caught in my throat at the look on Max's face. If I wasn't so sure he felt nothing for me, I'd almost think he was absolutely, positively, livid with jealousy.

But I know better. Still, a nagging thought in the back of my head told me to clamp my mouth shut and neither confirm nor refute their assumption.

"Who's the lucky bastard?" Abe asked with interest.

I bit down on my lip, deciding how much to divulge. In the end I went with the truth--mostly. "Are you familiar with 89 Designs Gallery?"

"Course, who isn't?" Cole said easily.

"Well, I'm dining with the owner, Neal Chamberlain."

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Scott said with a wink, shocking me and everyone in the room. I laughed at his unexpected joke and nodded.

"Will do. Anyway, thanks for letting me crash your poker night. I guess I'll see you guys around?" They all nodded and stood to hug me goodbye.

The last thing I saw before walking out of the atheneum was Max's sour expression.

A/N: Okay, ready, set, go! Let the speculation on Max's behavior begin :) I hope you guys enjoy this update. Max's friends will probably come up again, just because they're all a fun bunch.

Until next time, guys. But I'll leave you with this one question: what's your favorite part/scene of STG so far? Best comment gets a dedication!

P.S. This is dedicated to caution_hot_surface for coming up with the cutest ship name for Max (whom is a total jerk, I totally agree ciara1234) and Elle!