A shadow crossed Cole's face, and the friend beside him immediately went quiet, not daring to continue.
From within the crowd, a sharp gasp suddenly broke out.
"Hey, look! The third-floor glass panels are lowering!"
Everyone turned their attention upward, and Cole followed their line of sight. The moment he recognized the figure at the poker table, his eyes tightened in shock.
Slowly, the towering glass walls around the third floor descended, while the entire platform shifted forward and hovered at the center of the hall.
At that table sat a woman in a striking red dress, and it was Evelyn.
For a brief second, Cole could only stare at her, his thoughts completely blank.
Noticing his reaction, Kendra pressed her lips together. "Cole, don't tell me Ms. Fowler is doing something this extreme just to provoke you?" she said.
Anger surged through him. Raising his voice, he called out, "Evelyn! You don't even understand dice, so get down here right now!"
Standing nearby, someone tried to calm him. "Forget about her, Cole. She's clearly just trying to get your attention."
"Let her embarrass herself. After she loses Shane's development rights for that project, let's see how she fixes it."
Tension showed in Cole's clenched hands as they trembled slightly. His gaze remained fixed on the two figures above, his thoughts clashing wildly.
Part of him wanted Evelyn to fail. Yet another part of him wanted to rush up there and question her about Shane. The mix of emotions left him struggling to steady himself.
From above, Leland glanced down at the crowd with a faint smile and brushed his chin. "One round to settle everything. What do you say?" he said.
A calm smile appeared on Evelyn's lips. "That works for me."
Before anyone could react, Leland had already grabbed the dice cup. Both hands moved swiftly as he shook it, his motions so quick they blurred together.
Excited murmurs and gasps spread through the hall.
"It's been ages since we've seen Mr. Barnett use that move! She's definitely going to lose!"
"Five years ago was the last time he lost at dice. Since then, no one has beaten him. She doesn't stand a chance!"
With a sharp sound, the dice cup struck the table. Leland then gestured toward Evelyn, signaling her turn.
Lowering her eyes, Evelyn focused on the cup before her. Then she tapped the table with a quick motion, sending the cup flying upward as it flipped over.
Before anyone could even react, her hand moved up and caught it midair. The cup spun across her palm several times, steady like a top.
With a smooth flick, she tossed it again. The cup turned upright before landing neatly back in place.
Silence spread across the hall in an instant, as everyone stood frozen by what they had just witnessed.
Shock spread among Cole's friends, and one of them blurted out, "When did Evelyn get this good?!"
"I've never even seen her touch dice before..."
Cole kept his eyes locked on Evelyn, unable to pull himself away.
Watching him stare so intently, Kendra felt a mix of jealousy and irritation. "I used to think Ms. Fowler was quiet and well-behaved. I never imagined she'd be this capable."
One of Cole's friends gave a mocking laugh. "That innocent act is just for show. Who knows what she's really like when no one's watching?"
While they spoke, Leland's dice were revealed on the platform above. At the same time, the result appeared on the large screen below.
The outcome showed four sixes and a five.
That result meant Evelyn would need five sixes in a single roll to win.
A wave of murmurs filled the hall as people shook their heads. "It's over for her. Getting five sixes isn't easy."
Leaning forward, Leland rested his chin on his clasped hands, confidence written all over his face. "What a waste. The Eastbay District project is huge, and you're about to lose it just like that."
Turning slightly, Evelyn glanced at Shane beside her. "Shane, would you say luck favors you?" she asked.
Shane lifted a brow with calm assurance. "Luck's always been on my side."
"Then I'll leave the reveal to you." She rested her cheek against her hand and gave him a playful wink. "Looks like everything depends on chance now."
Shane caught on right away. Without hesitation, he placed his hand over the dice cup.
Gasps rose from the crowd below.
"Has Mr. Bennett lost his mind? How can he trust her with something like this?!"
Leland turned toward Shane, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "So even the undefeated Mr. Bennett is ready to accept defeat today," he remarked.
Shane answered with a slight smile, "In my world, I don't lose. I only win."
The moment he stopped talking, Shane turned his wrist and raised the dice cup.
