America 1982-Chapter 305 - 18: I’m Just Cutting My Losses

Atlantic City, *** Casino Resort.

The top duplex hall of this hotel was named Roman.

The Roman Hall possessed a huge circular main venue, along with thirty adjoining guest rooms and a terrace with the best view of Atlantic City.

At this moment, two bands of different styles, like gladiators, were placed on two opposite stages, playing their hearts out like fighting cocks. They were jazz and rock bands, one African-American and the other white. Although the party hadn’t officially started, they couldn’t contain themselves and used all their lifetime skills to outdo each other.

The African-American jazz trumpeter puffed his cheeks and played a long, hesitant tune with great effort, while on the opposite stage, the white guitarist shredded his jacket, belting out fancy rock with all his might.

In short, no matter where you were in the circular hall, your ears were guaranteed to be filled with music.

In the venue at the time, there were over thirty women who had flown in specially from Hollywood, plus more than forty stunningly selected girls provided by the hotel, comparable to models, and over forty men, mainly high school and college friends of David Schafer.

It was still early, and the party hadn’t officially started. Men and women maintained their decorum, holding champagne and looking for a chance to make conversation with the evening’s protagonist, David Schafer.

Because this was about the most extravagant bachelor party all the attendees had ever been to, many wanted to figure out one thing: Who exactly was this innocuous-looking guy with round-frame glasses?

In a spacious recreation room on the second floor, Tommy was playing snooker with Dennis and Frank, holding a cue stick.

After skillfully potting a red ball, Dennis, with a straw in his mouth, stood up straight and said to Tommy, "I heard there are over thirty actresses downstairs, ones who’ve been in films or TV shows, and you called us here to join you in celibacy? Tommy, your cue might be broken, but ours certainly aren’t."

"This is David’s bachelor party. We should let him take the opportunity to expand his connections and increase his influence among other little cliques. We can’t go down there and steal the show, Dennis," Tommy said as he surveyed the snooker table for the positions of the balls.

"Plus, isn’t Stephen down there picking out a few girls to come over and keep you guys entertained? He’s really got the knack for that sort of thing now. I think it’s time to give him a new nickname, something like ’Pimp’."

Kevin and Pam were fearlessly playing poker with Chris at a nearby table. Hearing Tommy’s words, Kevin laughed and said,

"Can I write about tonight in my act? It’s so crazy, Tommy. I bet those Manhattan billionaires who come to my comedy club for stand-up have never had this kind of wild time."

"If David doesn’t mind, I have no objections," Tommy responded with a smile, "I’m just footing tonight’s bill. I’m not involved in anything else. But personally, I advise that you preserve some dignity for the Hollywood girls; they still need to use their faces to earn a living, unlike us. We don’t need that plaything."

Kevin burst out laughing, "Hahaha~ You’d be great at stand-up comedy."

But soon, he stopped laughing as if his throat was gripped, unable to utter another giggle, because Chris, with a calm expression, collected all the chips in front of him and Pam, "Playing poker with you guys is like how my father felt teaching me Pythagorean theorem when I was three. My mother said, he would seriously say to me, ’Why do I have a son who seems so mentally challenged? You’re already three years old, and you can’t understand this level of math?’ I’m giving this sentiment to you guys now; why do I have sons who seem so mentally challenged that they can’t even play Texas hold’em in their twenties?"

Clap, clap, clap, clap~ Tommy, Dennis, and Frank immediately applauded, "Well said, Chris, a fatal blow."

Kevin, looking at the three who were taking pleasure in his misfortune, glared fiercely at Chris but then his expression relaxed, "Dad, considering we’re on decent father-son terms, can I get some of my chips back? That’s a whole two hundred bucks."

"Of course," Chris, touched by this affectionate address, casually returned Kevin’s chips to him.

Seeing Kevin’s returned chips, Pam hesitated before speaking up to Chris, "Dad, my chips..."

"I have to win against somebody, Pam. You changed your tune too late. Go exchange for some more chips and remember to be quicker next time," Chris refused Pam’s request.

Frank took the cue from Tommy’s hand and, after Dennis missed a shot, leaned over to take his shot, beautifully potting the ball, then stood upright and asked everyone, "Give me some advice, folks."

"What advice?" The group looked curiously at him, with Dennis asking in confusion, "Isn’t your mom always healthy? And she speaks fine, why would you need advice from anyone else?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"My mom wants me to go to Wall Street after graduation, but I really don’t want to go there and be a broker. I mean, I’ve never even managed my own allowance, how can I possibly manage clients’ money?" As he spoke, Frank readjusted his angle and played the second shot.