Chapter 37: Not how it works
"So, Rob," Willow leaned close to Robert, too close that Robert could smell the shampoo in her hair like strawberries plucked ripe from the fields. He could feel his heart take the speed of an athlete, and he cleared his throat, keeping wary eyes on Max seated a few seats away. But Max and everyone else had their eyes on the horses being prepped for the race by the jockeys. They had all made their bets at the booths earlier, with Selena betting on the smallest horse in the race, despite warning from others.
"I think Amber might just need me betting on her as my good luck charm," Selena had said proudly as if her money had possessed the power of magic.
"That's not how this works," Alexander told her.
She shot him a glare. "What do you care how it works? I think you'd be the last person I'd trust, or maybe not even trust at all."
"If this is part of your apology, you're doing a very bad job at it," Alexander had said.
All of them had exchanged glances then, wondering what had transpired between the two. Alexander was one of the calm men, but Selena, as it turned out, could crawl under his skin.
Alexander snatched the money from her hand and stepped up to the booth. "She'll bet on Mega, just like most of us sensible ones are doing."
Selena had been furious. "Don't tell me what to bet on, you chauvinist."
Robert had seen the way Alexander's brows drew so close together that his face looked like it had just suffered a punch.
"I'm trying to help you, how's that chauvinistic?" He asked her.
"Oh? You're asking me that question? Really?" Selena looked at the rest of the group. "Tell me he wasn't just insinuating that I don't know anything about horses just now just because I'm a woman. Go on, tell me."
Willow had let out a chuckle, and Max had raised one brow in her direction.
"Come on, she does have a point," Willow told her brother.
"Thank you!" Selena snatched her money back from Alexander and paid. "On Amber, please. May the best bet placer win."
Alexander couldn't hold back a scoff. "No one says things like that, Selena."
"Well," she fell in step with him as he moved to the seats, navigating past the thickening crowd. "There's a first time for everything, isn't there?"
William had suggested they sit in the "normal" seats instead of the VIP part, just for the fun of it, he had stated. No one minded. All around them, cheers rang out, and Racing enthusiasts mingled with casual spectators. The grounds were bustling with activities as vendors set up stalls, more bets were being placed, and more horses were to the paddock for final preparations. In the hospitality suites, the VIP guests sipped champagne.
Robert shifted a little away from Willow who was lost in the middle of her speech as she stared at the horses. He glanced at her then, and a smile drew upon his lips. She was so pretty, even when she made no effort to be.
"Willow," He called her, and she turned to look at him, lips slightly parted. He forced himself not to look at them. "You were saying…?"
"Oh yes!" Willow looked over at Selena's side. "I heard you brought her over."
"Yeah, I invited her," Robert said. "Although I'm not sure it's a good idea since she and Alexander have been bickering since we got here."
"I don't know," Willow shrugged, a smile dancing on her lips. Selena was saying something to Alexander, and the poor man shook his head and buried his face into his palms. "I find it kind of cute."
"Cute?" Robert looked over at the duo, and that was when he caught Max's eyes on him. They had an unreadable look, and Robert was sure to keep enough space between Willow and him. If it ever came to a fight, he was sure Max would beat him ten times over, since he was built like a Hulk and he wasn't exactly in the tall category.
"Yeah," Willow leaned closer to Robert as if it wasn't enough trouble. "Unless, maybe, you find her cute. Could that be the reason you invited her over?"
Robert almost laughed at that, but Willow's expression didn't look like she was joking. He gave a sly smile.
"I mean," he looked over at Selena. "She was called one of the prettiest women in the world, but…"
He didn't finish his sentence before the announcement of the beginning of the race happened. Willow withdrew from him, and it felt as if someone snatched a safety blanket from his body.
"Go, Amber!" Selena cupped her mouth as she yelled. "I'm putting my all on you!" She nudged Alexander by his side, her face flushed with excitement. "If she wins, you'd have to give me something."
"Why do I have to?" Alexander asked, eyes on the horses.
"For being chauvinistic back there, and a sore loser on top of it."
"For the last time…" Alexander looked at Max for help, and his friend raised his hands in surrender from whatever trouble Alexander was facing at the hands of the Tequila heiress. "How about this? You win, I owe you something, I win, you owe me something."
"Deal!" Selena produced a hand for a shake. He looked at it and her before he took it and sealed the deal.
"You seem really excited for this tournament," William said next to her. He had left the Samoyed in the care of the housekeepers back at Max's place, and the dog was too hyper to play fetch than whine over his owner's absence.
"I haven't been to one before," Selena confessed, slapping her palms on her jean-clad legs as the announcer said the race was about to begin. "Yes!"
As the horses paraded onto the track for the main event, tension mounted among the crowd. The noise went down a notch, and excited whispers and nervous murmurs filled the air as spectators anxiously awaited the start of the race. For some, it was a chance to witness history in the making, and for others, it was an opportunity to cheer on their favorite horses and jockeys.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone