Setting up a change for the future

With a spring in my step, I returned to the pool tables. Looking around, I didn’t see Teresas’ husband. I shrugged, laughing to myself. Man, he won’t be happy when he finds out what happened to his slutty wife. With a pleased sigh, I began to turn towards the bar, my eyes slipping to the backroom and catching a poker game in progress. I frowned thoughtfully, recalling Charlie and the humiliation of being denied the game at his place. Dare I? I’m on one hell of a hot streak. Won a bunch of money, received one hell of a blowjob – probably the best in my life – not that I expected the redhead to actually follow through. Or – would she? I shrugged. Maybe. Maybe not. Pete had accepted the bet initially. Teresa agreed to it, meeting the and more. Did I really turn her into my sex ****? I shook my head. I couldn’t have. Pushing the thought away, I walked back to the bar and, seeing Mack the owner rather than Andy, said, “A whiskey sour, please.”

Setting the glass down in front of me after preparing the drink, he said, “You’re in a much better mood than normal, Kevin. And doing better. Saw you win those games at the pool tables.” The older man frowned. “And you with the woman. Can’t have that, Kev. Not in my bar.”

I blinked at him. He had a point, yet… “I’ll make you a bet, Mack. Flip a coin. Heads, you win and I never take a woman into the washroom here again. Tails, I can do whatever I want with whomever I want wherever I want in this bar.”

His frown deepened, but he reached into his pocket and fished out a quarter. Mack flipped it into the air and caught it as it fell back, slapping it to the back of his left palm. Slowly, he eased his right hand away and we both started at the quarter depicted a Continentental Army soldier overlooking Valley Forge. Further down the bar, Andy appeared, a quizzical look to his face seeing Mack and I conversing, but he focused on the patrons.

His dark eyes blinked. “Well – Do what you will, but I don’t have to like it. And I won’t be afraid to call the police if I see something that goes too far.”

I shrugged. “Sure. Just give me a heads up first if you do and,” I grinned, feeling a little evil and sipping at my whiskey sour. Well, maybe more than a little. “Another bet if you will. Flip that quarter eleven times. If it comes up heads on the sixth toss and the rest tails, I win –” I paused letting the moment sink in. “A silent forty-nine percent share in your business with my portion of the weekly net profit paid to me weekly. You win on any other combination; I will never darken the door of this bar again.”

His face darkened, a shiver running down my spine at the constrained anger. Shit, I cursed. I may have pushed this too much.

Without a word, he flipped the quarter, the two of us silently watching the results. With the final coin toss displaying the revolutionary soldier for the tenth time, the older man exhaled slowly with a bitter hiss. His eyes snapped to mine. “One more time. Eleven coin flips.”

I kept my gaze on his. “For me to win, I need a tails on the third, sixth and ninth tosses and the rest heads. And if I win, not only will you honor and treat my wins fairly, you will do nothing that would directly or indirectly lead to harm me and mine.”

Mack nodded. “Agreed.”

He flipped the quarter. Heads.

A second time. Heads.

A third. Tails.

His frown turned to a scowl.

The bar owner kept flipping.

Seeing the bust of Washington on the final toss, Mack looked at me, his mien twisting between rage and frustration. After a moment, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply, his face turning calm.

“Congratulations,” the older man said, his voice cold and cut with resentment, “You are now my silent partner. Emphasis on silent. You cannot – will not – tell me how to run things. Understand?”

I nodded.

“And your weekly payment,” he continued. “Will be on Sundays. Starting the following Sunday as today is Friday. And this weekend’s does – does not count.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

“You do not have the right of first refusal if I ever sell nor are you my beneficiary. Any and all drinks you order not covered by your own funds directly will come out of your share.” Mack paused thinking for a moment. I waited not wanting to push him over the line. I simply wanted the money, not the headaches.

“You cannot gamble away any part of your share in my business,” the older man said severely. “If you want to sell, I do have the right of first refusal.” He grunted. “That should cover it. If I think of anything else or something happens – I’ll tell you what your part of it, if any, is yours.” The bar owner blinked, a thought occurring to him. “The insurance covers my losses, not yours. If you want insurance, you pay for it.”

“That’s reasonable,” I nodded. “Perfectly fair.”

“Good,” he grunted. “I’ll my attorney to draw up the paperwork.”

Mack turned away, heading back to his office and grumbling under his breath.

“What was that about?”

I turned my head, my eyes falling on Teresa stepping up to the bar.

“Business,” I said. “What’s up? Didn’t think you’d want more to do with me tonight.”

“Date night’s a bust,” the redhead shook her head. “Pete’s in the back losing his shirt. Tried to bet my – ah – attentions like he did with you. Bastard,” she snorted. “I’m just glad I caught him before he went through with it. Told him the only thing he could bet or sell were his own services. Pete nearly lost it when I whispered into his ear that I, ah, that I’m contracted to you.” Teresa sighed. “Look, can we get out of here? Please?”

“Anywhere in particular? I know I’d like to visit a friend of mine.”