Is this destiny?

Lady took a seat opposite of them. Few moments later two men approached the table with briefcases in their hands.

When briefcases were placed on the table, Lady gestured toward them, "Here is paperwork we need to complete so that transfer of your prizes is final."

Lady opened briefcases and initiated process of explaining details of each prize and what is necessary for Sarah to claim her rightful ownership. Few documents required Sarah's signature.

Just as the lady in tan dress finished with documentation, waitress approached the table and brought a check. Lady inspected the check and gave a small nod to the waitress. "Mrs. Black, this is a check to the amount of your cash winnings."

Sarah glanced at the check that waitress now brought to her side. "You are not going to deposit it directly to my account?"

"For this game, policy is that we give you a check, and you are free to deposit it wherever you wish… or keep it as memorabilia.", Lady smiled. Her attitude unmistakably told Sarah that other options of payment are not going to be considered.

Sarah nodded in understanding. However, she didn't nod because she agreed with what the lady said. She nodded because she understands what they want to accomplish by using a check. If money is deposited electronically, it's faster and there is a trace. Now it's just in a form of a check… which can be stolen, lost or void and rendered useless. This was not outside of Sarah's calculations. She will head to the bank right away to deposit the check before they void it… if they didn't do it already. If they voided the check Sarah will hack into account of this establishment and get her own money, not a cent less or more.

For cash Sarah has a plan. However, she still does not know how these people will try to prevent them from leaving with the winnings. They will not do anything here, where Sarah and Aiden can cause a scene and alert other players in nearby room.

Sarah didn't need to wait long to find out about the plan of other party. As soon as she took the check, lady explained that cars and other items are waiting for their final inspection before they take them away; in the warehouse which is right across the street.

"If you follow my men, they will take you there.", Lady gestured toward the door with a smile.

Sarah returned the smile and stood up. "Do you mind if I use restroom before heading there?"

"Not at all. My men will escort you… for your own safety.", Lady glanced to the side and two bodyguards appeared behind Sarah.

Aiden tensed up at the sight of the bodyguards, and Sarah gave him a look that it's OK. "I will be right back, honey. Be good. See you in a minute." She gave him a light kiss and headed outside, followed by two bodyguards.

Aiden was not happy that Sarah left out of his sight. But he reminded himself that she told him to be good and wait for her to come back. And she called him 'honey'… Yes, they are pretending to be married. But she still called him 'honey'… He smiled.

If Sarah knew how these random uses of sweet nicknames affect Aiden, she would use them more often.

The bodyguards didn't follow her inside the restroom. They waited outside, standing ramrod straight, one on each side of the door.

Inside restroom, Sarah got her phone and hesitated for a second before making a call. "Old man, you said that you are nearby, and to give you a call if needed… Is that offer still valid? …"

Few minutes later, Sarah exited the restroom and joined Aiden who was waiting in the hallway. The lady in tan dress was nowhere to be seen, but there was a large number of bodyguards in her place.

Sarah remembered previous night and that mystery man walking out with a small army of bodyguards. There was one more person with him… she didn't pay attention to that second man. And she could not figure out why the mystery man looks familiar. But this sight of bodyguards following them outside definitely reminded her of the scene from previous night. 'Did that man win yesterday, and these bodyguards were escorting him?' Sarah tried to remember if she observed that scene after 2AM or not… but then decided not to think about the time. Games can be held at different time on different days. And anyway, she didn't have luxury of extra time to think about anything other than their current situation. She wants to leave this place safely, with Aiden, with her winnings… and she hopes that her plan will be good enough.

Sarah and Aiden walked out of the building, one man led the way and numerous bodyguards followed. They took exit in the back and crossed deserted street before entering a large building which looked like a warehouse.

Inside was a large empty space, and Sarah's gaze was drawn toward two lamps from the ceiling which illuminated two majestic vehicles that Sarah won in the game.

Part of Sarah was surprised that cars are actually there. Her initial assumption was that they will bring them in the back and ambush them. There was also question if the house actually owned those vehicles or were just faking it for the sake of getting players excited. But the cars were right there… Sarah smiled. 'This is better than what I planned.'

On the left was a table with three boxes. Sarah assumed it's her other three winnings.

Older man in a dark red suit was leaning on the table, obviously expecting their arrival.

Sarah and Aiden walked to the man and they had a small staring contest before man spoke. "Mrs. Black… Your luck tonight was exceptional. So exceptional that I can't prevent myself to stop and wonder if it was only luck or is there more to it."

Sarah smiled. "Are you accusing me of cheating? Do you have any evidence? … Or are you only trying to make this into a scenario where I don't get to collect what I earned tonight?"

While Sarah was finishing her last sentence, man in red suit did a movement with his hand, and the numerous bodyguards surrounded three of them.

Aiden was not sure what surprised him more, number of bodyguards or how calm Sarah was. His mind was exploding. 'Hey, baby! Do you need to taunt the man? And how can you be this calm?! We can handle ten, twenty, maybe few more… but I count here more than fifty! If they have any skills whatsoever it will be difficult to get out of this situation without a scratch!' Then he thought of a possibility that some of the bodyguards are armed, and his anxiousness swelled. Aiden stretched his neck and flexed fingers to relieve some tension. He moved so close to Sarah that their bodies touched, while his eyes darted between three bodyguards which were closest to them.

"I see you have no intention to investigate if any cheating occurred. You don't care about it, since you have your mission…" Sarah glared at the man in red suit.

"Correct." Man had no intention to deny. "You were too greedy and didn't know when to stop… so we can't let you leave with all this." He extended his arms gesturing with one toward the cars and with other one toward the boxes.

"Is this how your house runs business?" Sarah sneered at the man.

Man checked out Sarah top to bottom and observed her for some time before chuckling. "If we let you leave with all this, we will have no business."

"I see that you still run this as a business only if your players lose…" Man's deep voice came from the side.