Free CASINO SHUFFLE by J. Fields Jr.

you were a guest.   Perhaps you and I were in cahoots, so to speak, to obtain her autograph and other compromising information about the young actress.   The last time I had seen her she was nude and about to enter the Jacuzzi.   Couldn’t I assume that she would be nude when you and I arrived?   Allowing just the right amount of time for her immodesty to be well lubricated by the champagne I was so courteous to arrange.”   He walked over to Max and held his eye.   “You see how a simple set of circumstances become devious once the right motive is introduced?”
    Max frowned.   “But I think she likes us.”
    “Anyone who suffers the celebrity lifestyle knows that ones friends can quickly become enemies when motivated by star lust and money.   Shannon Moon is no friend of the press.   First impressions aside, the reality is that she barely knows you or me.   It would only take moments for her agent or lawyer to convince Miss Moon to prosecute in order to keep us from the media.   The story would turn from a celebrity tidbit into a harassment claim.   The scenario is rife with headline possibilities.   The Butler Did It.   Strip Poker.    Peeping Tom in a Tuxedo… ”   Antonio realized that the men were staring at him.   “So on and so forth.”
    “Strip poker,” mused Sonny.
    Max cut him off.   “So what do we do?”
    “There are several possibilities.”
    “Good, let’s pick one.”
    “Oh,” said Sonny.   “I get it.   She stripped…you play poker.”
    “The first course of action is the most obvious,” said Antonio.
    “We tell her the truth.”
    Antonio began to pace.   “I said the most obvious, not the most honest.”
    “Oh.”
    Sonny interjected.   “We hire Max as a butler.”
    Antonio raised a finger.   “Correct.”
    Sonny snapped his head around.   “I was joking.”
    “Hiring Max on staff would resolve the entire conflict by eliminating the conflict.   He would be a butler.   There is no deception on behalf of the casino.   Problem solved.”
    “Wow, really?”   Max looked at Sonny.   “I’ve never had a real job before.”
    Sonny ratcheted to his feet.   “Antonio!”
    Antonio patted the air with his hands.   “Calm yourself.   We have no openings at the moment.”
    Sonny collected himself.   “Sorry about the outburst.”
    “No apology necessary,” said Antonio.
    “ I’m a little offended.”
    “Sorry, Max.”
    “The other possibility was to terminate your employment,” said Antonio.   “And pass on the information to Miss Moon.”
    Sonny bolted upright.   “What!”
    “Not you,” said Antonio, gesturing towards Max.   “Max would be terminated.”
    Max deflated into his couch.   “Really?”
    Sonny glanced over at Max.   “Hey.   Sorry.”
    Max asked, “What’d I do?”
    “I considered several scenarios, deciding on something innocuous such as a personal problem.”
    “What kind of personal problem?”
    “That would have been confidential, of course.”
    “You can’t even tell me? ”
    “Max, it was a fictional problem.”
    “Don’t jinx me.”
    Sonny stared at him openly.   “You’ve never had a real job?   Like, ever?”
    “Well.   One time I did a weekly poker blog.”
    Sonny continued staring.   “How old are you again?”
    The knock on the office door startled all three gentlemen.   Antonio turned the lock and opened it.
    Chase Randolph, the afternoon butler, leaned into the office holding a cordless phone.   “Sorry to interrupt, Antonio.   I have a call.”
    “Take a message.   I’ll return the call momentarily.”
    “Sorry, but the call’s not for you.”
    Sonny stood up.   “I’ll step into the pantry and take it.”
    Chase Randolph shook his head.   “Not for you, either, I’m afraid.”   He extended the phone towards Max.   “For you, Mr. Allen.”
    Max stood up.   “Must be Trixie.”
    “No,” said Antonio.   “She wouldn’t call the butler pantry.”   He turned to the