All newly-trained croupiers were automatically assigned to the mass gaming area to deal for punters betting with chips as low as $20. Only the best among them would be selected to deal at the VIP lounge for high rollers who bet by the thousands. That was the official policy. But Hashwini had witnessed croupiers who did not match her proficiency being selected for VIP lounge duty. They were either very pretty or had hooked up with one of the casino pit managers—or possibly both. Take Euu Ki for instance. One week after he landed Mr Big, he disappeared from the Mass Gaming Area.

Every croupier dreamt of dealing table games at the VIP lounge. It was the only way they could escape the madness of the Mass Gaming Area. For some pretty girls, it was also the opportunity to deal for high rollers. A lucky few could well meet someone who could rescue them from the torture of eight-hour shifts dealing roulette while on their feet, and grant them the lifestyle of eight-hour shopping sprees on Orchard Road instead.

Hashwini took the staff elevator to the twentieth storey where the VIP lounge was located. She was assigned to the Emerald Room, one of 18 private rooms. The pit supervisor indicated with a tilt of the head that she should occupy the second blackjack table. The first was manned by a very pretty croupier from China, Gao Jingxuan. Hashwini had worked with her in the same pit before but had never had the chance to chat. The China croupiers had a tendency to stick to their own clique.

The pit supervisor was new to her and she was seated too far to read her nametag. Hashwini decided to be humble and kick off a conversation. “This is my first time here. Can you give me some pointers?”

The pit supervisor raised her brows in surprise. “First time? Who bumped you up here?”

Hashwini wore a look of innocence and shrugged. She was not inclined to reveal that she had begged Euu Ki to get Mr Big to bump her up. It had cost her one wave of the magic eyeliner brush.

“Alright, it’s good that you alerted me,” the pit supervisor said. “Down at the MGA, the pit supervisors are there to enforce rules and regulations. No smoking in the smoke-free zones. No use of mobile phones. No photo taking. Blah, blah, blah... But here in the VIP lounge, you can throw all these rules out the window. Anything goes for these high rollers. If they use foul language to insult your mother, pretend you hear nothing and keep smiling. If they crumple the card, spit into it, then throw it at you, you will quietly pick it up, smooth it out and deposit it into the card collector. Never ever show displeasure on your face. You will only get yourself in trouble.”

“But she is lucky,” Jingxuan chipped in. “Her first time here and she gets Teddy Toy Boy.”