Naturally, after such a good night, and with goodwill between friends, Tony was assured he would be granted a gambling licence. This was what he’d wanted. A licence like that was hard to get, and Tony knew it. Even after all these years, his prison record would go against him.

He was already making plans for the casino, and mentally decorating it in the famous Lambrianu pink. He would also make it exclusive, and not just let anyone walk in off the streets. That was one reason the place had gone bankrupt in the first place. Gamblers with real money were what he wanted.

Rich men liked ‘exclusive’. They liked their own men’s club. Tony had realised that early on, with the strippers, and to get that, they were prepared to pay.

9

A GAMBLERS’ PARADISE

The auction room was packed to the hilt when Tony and Jake walked in. They recognised some of the other businessmen that wanted to buy the casino. There were other properties up for sale, as well, including a small men-only drinking club, not far from Tony’s own club. It had always been a gentlemen’s club and when the owner had died, there had been no one to take over, and so his widow was putting it up for auction. Tony liked the look of it. It was a quirky place on the high street corner, almost triangle-shaped, and better still, it was to be a quick, cheap sale.

People had taken notice when they saw Tony and Jake arrive; they hadn’t known he was interested in the casino. They didn’t want to offend him, and so approached him in a business-like manner that they hoped would be acceptable.

‘I didn’t realise you were interested in the old casino, Mr Lambrianu. If you wish, I’ll gladly step down and leave,’ a couple of them had said to him. He had assured them all was fair in love and war, and may the best man win. After all, even if he didn’t get to buy it, they would still have to pay him to protect it. As far as Tony was concerned it was a win-win situation, but he wanted to do things fair and square. There were some real estate businessmen there that wanted to transform the building into separate apartments, not keep it as a casino at all. Everyone had their own dream about the place. The trick was not to look too eager.

Before the big sale of the casino, while the auctioneer had everyone’s attention, he offered up the men’s drinking club. There were a few bids on the property, including telephone bids, but most people were too interested in the main prize – the casino – to pay much attention. They were itching for the sale to be over, so they could get on with the main matter in hand.

Tony was still thinking and deliberating as he saw and heard the bids for the club come in. Then, as the auctioneer was about to bring down his gavel, Tony shouted out a much larger bid than was currently being offered.