The Winning Hand

Chapter 3 - Morning After

Buffy woke with a start. Her heart was racing and her mind was
scattered. Where was she? Stepping out of bed, the night came
rushing back to her. She could feel herself begin to hyperventilate so
she sat back down and leant forward to place her head between her
knees.

'Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.' She told herself. When she'd gotten
herself under some control, she stood once again and began to
explore the suite. William had shown her around last night, but she'd
been too dazed to really take note.

With each new discovery her eyes widened with delight. She stepped
out of the bedroom into the main suite to find a wall of windows, floor
to ceiling. It looked like she must be on the 30th floor, at least! And
there was even a remote control for the curtains!

She wandered the room, finding a beautiful oak entertainment center.
Another button on the remote had the doors sliding open to reveal a
big flat screen TV with DVD player attached. A 5 disc cd player sat to
the right, and inside the cabinet directly underneath she found a vast
selection of music and movies.

When she'd explored all there was to see in her rooms, she sat on the
couch contemplating the events that had brought her here. How could
this all have happened so fast? as ias insane! These types of things
just don't happen.

Maybe it was a mistake? Her mind whirled around the possibilities.
Oh god! What would she do if it were? It wasn't as if she could pay
the bill for the hotel room. Deciding that waiting was not an option,
Buffy stood to get dressed. After readying herself for the day she
made her way back down to the lobby floor, asking a passing bellhop
where William's office was; she headed that way.

***

Spike stared at the various monitors in front of him; black and white
silent images greeted him. Images of men, women, and families all
spending the day, and thmonemoney, at his casino. Normally watching
the play of events before him would relax and center him, but today
he hadn't been able to focus on much of anything.

His thoughts kept returning to the tiny slip of a woman ensconced in
their penthouse suite. She looked more like a kindergarten teacher
than a gambler. Ahat hat exactly was she running away from? There
had to be more to her story than just an overbearing ex-fiance.

When his phone rang his hand reached out automatically, "Spike."

"Good morning son." Rupert Giles greeted his eldest.

"Hi Da. Guess you heard the news huh?"

"Word does get around. So how much did the Crypt give up this
time?"

"1.8 and change. No worries, we'll make it back within the week."

"Oh, I have no doubt of that." Giles could hear a hint of something in
his son's voice. "Why don't you tell me about the lucky winner."

Spike sighed inwardly. How to describe her. She wasn't like anyone
he'd ever met. Definitely not his type either. And where had that
thought come from? "She's young," he started. "Naïve. She looks like
some hapless school teacher, though she never actually got around
to telling me what she does for a living."

"Don't suppose she'll need to continue doing it either." Giles inserted.

"No, definitely not. But.she's so innocent. She'll definitely need some
protection once we hand over the money. The wolves will be banging
down her door, and she won't know how to defend herself." Spike
mused.

"And you plan to do it for her?"

"No. Just sort of steer her in the right direction." He couldn't leave her
to fend for herself, now could he?

Giles smiled, he knew that tone. "So, your mother and I might be
coming out to see you soon."

"Oh?"

"She misses the baby. You know she can't stay away from Dru for
that long." Spike grinned. Dru and her new husband Scott had just
had their first child, and his parents couldn't get enough. Spike tuned
back into the conversation just as his Da was finishing up. "So we'll
be going by to visit Dru this weekend, and then heading up your way."

"Great! Can't wait to see you both."
ybe ybe we can meet the new high roller while we're there. What was
her name again?"

"Buffy." Spike had a flash of green eyes and gold hair. "Buffy
Summers."

Just then the door opened. Buffy stopped short in the doorway,
looking apologetic and nervous. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were
busy. Your assistant said - "

"Come in." He waved at her to take a seat, then continued his
conversation. "Speaking of the lucky winner she just walked in. Gotta
go. Give my love to Mum."

"I'm so sorry. I can come back later. I didn't mean to bother you."
Buffy insisted.

"No bother. I asked Allison to let you in whenever you arrived."

"But I didn't mean to interrupt." She waved at the phone he'd just
hung up.

"No problem. Just Da checking on how much money we're giving
away this time." Spike smiled encouragingly at her. She was
extremely attractive when she was nervous chewing on her bottom lip
until it was red and puffy. But he rather preferred her calm, then
nervous. The idea that she was uncomfortable around him didn't sit
well.

"About that." She began. "Well, I just wanted to be sure. You know.
That there was no mistake?" She looked up at him with big round
eyes.

"Mistake?" Spike stood to come around the desk, leaning against it
just in front of her chair.

"Yes. I just...Well it occurred to me that these things just don't
happen, not in real life, not to me." She finished in a quiet whisper.

"They do here." Spsmilsmiled at her. "And they obviously do to you."
He leaned forward and placed his forefinger beneath her chin. Lifting
her face until their eyes met. "It's all real. It's all happening. And it's all
yours."

Spike moved to take the seat next to hers. His hand came up to
capture one of hers and held it there. "Now, we can't hand over the
full amount until you can get your ID and all that rot straightened out."
Her face fell, and he hastened to continue. "But I'll advance you some
cash now that you can use until we can get the rest to you."

"Thank you so much Mr. Giles."

"Spike. Or William if you prefer. But whenever I give a girl 2 million I
insist we be on a first name basis." He smirked at her causing Buffy to
blush profusely.

"Oh! I never thought about what this would mean for you! I mean 2
million is a lot isn't it? You don't have to pay me all at once. You can
give it to me in installments if you like." Buffy assured him.

Spike stared down at the woman before him. How could anyone be
so...selfless? She was definitely one in a million, or two million as the
case may be. Spike smirked inwardly at his own joke.

Spike reached out to cup one of Buffy's cheeks in the palm of his
hand. He stole a moment to study her face, her eyes dropping down
to stare at the floor rather than meet his intense gaze. "You are a
sweet thing aren't you?" He whispered huskily. Withdrawing his hand,
he let loose a light chuckle. "The Crypt never makes a bet it can't
afford to lose."

He stood abruptly and made his way back around his desk. Pulling
out the first drawer he grabbed the petty cash box and began to count
out hundreds. "$5,000 should probably do until we can get you the
rest, don't you think?" Buffy nodded her eyes focused on the money.
She'd never seen so much all at once before! "You should go out,
indulge yourself today. We've got a spa and a salon in the hotel, you
should avail yourself of them." Spike offered as he finished counting.

Handing over the money he sat behind his desk once more. "Now, do
you have a lawyer?"

"Lawyer?" Buffy repeated, trying not to feel too awkward holding the
large bundle of bills.

"Yes. You'll need one to help get your ID situation straightened out,
and someone to help you once you've gotten all the money."

"Help me?" She felt like an idiot. She didn't seem to be able to grasp
any of his meanings.

Spike smiled at her. "Yes. Once your name gets out, you'll find out
you have relatives you never heard of before. You'll also have every
charity on earth banging down your door. And not all of them will be
legitimate." He cautioned her.

"Oh." Buffy fidgeted in her seat. "Well I don't really have a lawyer.
Except for the one that handled my mo's e's estate when she passed.
But he's back in Trader's Corners and really don't want to use him."

"No, I don't suppose you would." Spike felt a tightness in his chest.
What was she running from? "I have a friend. He's a lawyer in Los
Angeles; we went to university together. You can trust him. If you like,
I can give him a call and see if he's free to take you on?"

"Yes that would be wonderful. Thank you Mr. G - William."

"Now, I've given the press a basic idea of your story. Just that you're
from a small midwest town and that you'd prefer to keep your name
out of the papers for now. That you're still adjusting to the idea that
you've hit the jackpot. They're satisfied for now, but it won't hold them
for long." Spike watched her face for any signs of fear or discomfort.

Buffy gulped. She knew she'd have to face Angel eventually. But she
hoped that the longer she waited the better chance he might have
give up on her and moved on already. Her bottom lip trembled
slightly.

"Are you okay luv?" Spike asked.

"Yes. I'm so sorry to put you through all this trouble."

"Stop apologizing. It's annoying. You have nothing to be sorry about."

"I'm sor - " Buffy stopped and chewed on her bottom lip instead.

"Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help you Buffy?"

"No. I-I just need some time to figure out how to handle Angel. I'm not
ready to face him yet." swa swallowed audibly. "I'm afraid of him."

Spike's features darkened visibly. "Did he hurt you?"

"No!" Her answer was quick, making Spike quirk an eyebrow at her.
"He doesn't need to use physical force when intimidation works just
as well." The look on her face was miserable. Spike wanted nothing
more than to wipe that look away.

"Okay, luv." Spike soothed. "Let's not worry about it for now, yeah?
Why don't you go pamper yourself today. Go to the Spa. Have a
massage. Have a makeover." He was back at her side again. His
hand reaching out unconsciously to tuck a strand of hair back behind
her ear. "Have dinner with me tonight." Where had that come from?
Spike shook his head slightly.

Buffy blinked at the invitation, then slowly nodded. "Yes, I'd like that."

He nodded back at her. "Okay then. Off with you." He helped her
o
of her chair and saw her out the door.

"See you tonight then luv."

"Yes. See you then Will." She gave him a dazzling smile before
disappearing down the corridor.