I knew that I had about 18 hrs before catching the next flight to Japan. Pointless going home and thought I might as well head to Marina Sands after my flight from London came into Changi on schedule. Hopped into a taxi and reached Sands in double quick time. Checked in as walk-in for one night. Had a quick shower, hit the restaurant but have no clue what the name is.
Went to the first jackpot machine and let it rip. Bingo,,,, lights, siren and lots of bells and whistle. All eyes was on me. Felt like a deer caught in the headlights along a lonely road. People began to cheer and I was grabbed by the arm by a men and lady who turned out to be the staff. Still had no clue what the amount was but they had to drag me away as the place became crowded and people were shouting and cheering.
Went into a posh looking lounge with a huge bar, a bartender, a hostess and no one else except for the 2 staff escorting me. Ordered a a double Laphroaig and started to finally come to my senses and immediately began to look cool and suave. They asked if I was a hotel guest and when I said I was, they told me that they are upgrading me to the penthouse. No objections on my part. 10 minutes later, a Japanese lady came in asked for my passport and details on how the winnings are to be paid out. I told her my bank details are in my room and she suggested that we head to the room. Accompanied by the 3, headed upstairs and provided the details. By then the Butler came over and was busy packing for my move to the penthouse.
Close to 40 minutes have passed and I still have no clue what the winnings amounted to. Too cool to ask and the 3 assumed that I saw the figure on the machine.
Escorted to the Penthouse which took close to 20 minutes to reach as we had to traverse 2 lift wells and then a private lift near the top.
I hour later, all by myself in a majestic room with drastic theme variation in each room. Still no clue how much I won. Decided to take long soak-in and think thru the game plan going forward. Do I invest in equity, chuck the whole thing in ACU and live outside the country or buy a business? Took me all of 10 minutes to realise that I had to find out the figure if I was going to plan anything. Decided to head to the jackpot machine and find out. Not to be noticed I changed my duds and headed down. What a journey as I had lost my way. Took a while and found it. They had placed rope barriers around the jackpot machine and a commercial photographer was taking shots from all angles. Thought I will wait before checking and stood next to a pillar and watched.
As I was watching, felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and turned around. It was a lady that was on the same flight as me and seated across the aisle. I had helped her with her bag. "Hi" she said in her distinctive London accent. She introduced herself as Vanessa and said that she was heading home to Sydney but decided to do a stop-over to check out the Casino. I told her that she speaks like a Londoner and I had assumed that she was British. She said that she was actually born in Singapore and moved to Sydney when she was young. She then went to school in the UK.
As it was close to 6.30pm, I asked if she would be my guest for dinner. She readily agreed and I suggested my penthouse which has a magnificent view of the sea and a full dining room. She stepped back and asked if I was a tycoon and I told her that it was long story but I would meet her in the bar at 7.30pm and then to the penthouse. She said it will give her time to change. She then waved and headed to the lift lobby.
I then looked towards the Jackpot machine and they had it draped, fully covered and with rope barriers still there. I was now beginning to lose my cool and suave outlook. I thought it best to head back to the penthouse to prepare for the dinner. The butler answered the room service call and told me that they dinner was on the house and it will make the arrangements.
Its now 3 hours and still have no idea what the amount was. Who do I call? Where can I check? What do I do next?
It then dawned on me that the Lady was yet another jackpot to put it crudely. She was in her late 30s, sophisticated, elegant yet sexy. I did not make the first move and she did. I was going to get the most of it and not ruin it.
We met at the bar, and boy was she dressed. All eyes was on her and me. Me for being next to her. She wanted gin and tonic and was taking to it like duck to water. Laphroaig was meant for quiet moments and a good book. I decided that a light beer would do.
We talked a while before leaving for the penthouse. The Butler was at hand and he seated us and we began our dinner. The harbour was spectacular, the riesling sensational and the company fabulous. We talked about Chaucer, about Constable and Naipaul. She was curator at the British Museum having majored in ancient arts at Oxford and her curatorial duties covered early Mesopotamia era.
It was 11.50pm and we had talked through the night and I had forgotten about the Jackpot but it was now top of mind again. Being a gentleman, I suggested that I will send her back to her room. She however replied that the night was too young and reached out for fill of Lehman's best. I obliged but I knew that I was more keen on knowing the winnings. Damn with acting cool I said to myself. I going down and asking the staff. I would do it after dropping her off at her room. Alas it was not to be.
She reached out and kissed my lips. I was stunned and was not prepared at all. I froze. I then melted literally. Before long, we were doing what we have always being intuitively good at. I dropped all pretensions and gave it all. She was equal to the task. All I can remember was a glimpse of the clock showing 4.32am before falling asleep.
It was about 7.50am and I was woken up by the strong rays of the rising sun coming thru the window. I felt sweaty and the bed sheets felt damp. I looked around and I was in a room with single bed, no women and a small chest of drawers. I looked across the room and there was dining table and a small kitchenette. I then realised that I was in Sam's one room flat in Toa Payoh. Sam had been gracious enough to lend me his flat for the quick stop-over but I had a bit of fever running on the flight in and slipped a couple of pills. I must have been delirious.
Put on my shorts and decided to go to the kopi tiam and wallop a bowl of fishball noodles that I was looking forward to.
The aunty serving the kopi was aged about 70 but spoke good english and felt sad what this govt had done. I reached into my wallet and gave her $2. Just then I noticed a calling card that was not there when I left London. I fished it out and it had Marina Sands on it and a Japanese female name. It was card of the lady that asked for my bank details. I nearly fainted. It was not dream, I was not delirious. What about Vanessa. I immediately left the kopi tiam to change and head to Marina Sands.
Wish me luck, I am leaving now..................................
Went to the first jackpot machine and let it rip. Bingo,,,, lights, siren and lots of bells and whistle. All eyes was on me. Felt like a deer caught in the headlights along a lonely road. People began to cheer and I was grabbed by the arm by a men and lady who turned out to be the staff. Still had no clue what the amount was but they had to drag me away as the place became crowded and people were shouting and cheering.
Went into a posh looking lounge with a huge bar, a bartender, a hostess and no one else except for the 2 staff escorting me. Ordered a a double Laphroaig and started to finally come to my senses and immediately began to look cool and suave. They asked if I was a hotel guest and when I said I was, they told me that they are upgrading me to the penthouse. No objections on my part. 10 minutes later, a Japanese lady came in asked for my passport and details on how the winnings are to be paid out. I told her my bank details are in my room and she suggested that we head to the room. Accompanied by the 3, headed upstairs and provided the details. By then the Butler came over and was busy packing for my move to the penthouse.
Close to 40 minutes have passed and I still have no clue what the winnings amounted to. Too cool to ask and the 3 assumed that I saw the figure on the machine.
Escorted to the Penthouse which took close to 20 minutes to reach as we had to traverse 2 lift wells and then a private lift near the top.
I hour later, all by myself in a majestic room with drastic theme variation in each room. Still no clue how much I won. Decided to take long soak-in and think thru the game plan going forward. Do I invest in equity, chuck the whole thing in ACU and live outside the country or buy a business? Took me all of 10 minutes to realise that I had to find out the figure if I was going to plan anything. Decided to head to the jackpot machine and find out. Not to be noticed I changed my duds and headed down. What a journey as I had lost my way. Took a while and found it. They had placed rope barriers around the jackpot machine and a commercial photographer was taking shots from all angles. Thought I will wait before checking and stood next to a pillar and watched.
As I was watching, felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and turned around. It was a lady that was on the same flight as me and seated across the aisle. I had helped her with her bag. "Hi" she said in her distinctive London accent. She introduced herself as Vanessa and said that she was heading home to Sydney but decided to do a stop-over to check out the Casino. I told her that she speaks like a Londoner and I had assumed that she was British. She said that she was actually born in Singapore and moved to Sydney when she was young. She then went to school in the UK.
As it was close to 6.30pm, I asked if she would be my guest for dinner. She readily agreed and I suggested my penthouse which has a magnificent view of the sea and a full dining room. She stepped back and asked if I was a tycoon and I told her that it was long story but I would meet her in the bar at 7.30pm and then to the penthouse. She said it will give her time to change. She then waved and headed to the lift lobby.
I then looked towards the Jackpot machine and they had it draped, fully covered and with rope barriers still there. I was now beginning to lose my cool and suave outlook. I thought it best to head back to the penthouse to prepare for the dinner. The butler answered the room service call and told me that they dinner was on the house and it will make the arrangements.
Its now 3 hours and still have no idea what the amount was. Who do I call? Where can I check? What do I do next?
It then dawned on me that the Lady was yet another jackpot to put it crudely. She was in her late 30s, sophisticated, elegant yet sexy. I did not make the first move and she did. I was going to get the most of it and not ruin it.
We met at the bar, and boy was she dressed. All eyes was on her and me. Me for being next to her. She wanted gin and tonic and was taking to it like duck to water. Laphroaig was meant for quiet moments and a good book. I decided that a light beer would do.
We talked a while before leaving for the penthouse. The Butler was at hand and he seated us and we began our dinner. The harbour was spectacular, the riesling sensational and the company fabulous. We talked about Chaucer, about Constable and Naipaul. She was curator at the British Museum having majored in ancient arts at Oxford and her curatorial duties covered early Mesopotamia era.
It was 11.50pm and we had talked through the night and I had forgotten about the Jackpot but it was now top of mind again. Being a gentleman, I suggested that I will send her back to her room. She however replied that the night was too young and reached out for fill of Lehman's best. I obliged but I knew that I was more keen on knowing the winnings. Damn with acting cool I said to myself. I going down and asking the staff. I would do it after dropping her off at her room. Alas it was not to be.
She reached out and kissed my lips. I was stunned and was not prepared at all. I froze. I then melted literally. Before long, we were doing what we have always being intuitively good at. I dropped all pretensions and gave it all. She was equal to the task. All I can remember was a glimpse of the clock showing 4.32am before falling asleep.
It was about 7.50am and I was woken up by the strong rays of the rising sun coming thru the window. I felt sweaty and the bed sheets felt damp. I looked around and I was in a room with single bed, no women and a small chest of drawers. I looked across the room and there was dining table and a small kitchenette. I then realised that I was in Sam's one room flat in Toa Payoh. Sam had been gracious enough to lend me his flat for the quick stop-over but I had a bit of fever running on the flight in and slipped a couple of pills. I must have been delirious.
Put on my shorts and decided to go to the kopi tiam and wallop a bowl of fishball noodles that I was looking forward to.
The aunty serving the kopi was aged about 70 but spoke good english and felt sad what this govt had done. I reached into my wallet and gave her $2. Just then I noticed a calling card that was not there when I left London. I fished it out and it had Marina Sands on it and a Japanese female name. It was card of the lady that asked for my bank details. I nearly fainted. It was not dream, I was not delirious. What about Vanessa. I immediately left the kopi tiam to change and head to Marina Sands.
Wish me luck, I am leaving now..................................
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