is.”
“No, I mean like…” I trail off, still not knowing exactly what I mean. “Numbers maybe?”
The cabby glances at me in the rearview mirror. “Are you fucking with me kid?”
“No.” I shake my head.
“Do I know what number a whip is?” He repeats back to me, and then shakes his head. “It sounds like you’re speaking a foreign language kid, I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.”
I let out a sigh and fall back into my seat, suddenly realizing that all of this may very well be for nothing if I can’t get inside.
When I open my eyes again I notice a pair of fuzzy dice dangling from the cab driver’s rear view mirror. Suddenly, it hits me.
“Do you gamble?” I ask.
The driver nods. “Yep.”
“Poker?” I continue.
“Yep, why do you ask?”
“Is there something called a whip in poker?” I question.
A smile immediately crosses the driver’s face. “Oh!” He says in confirmation. “The whip! W-H-I-P.”
“What’s that?”
“Worst hand in poker.” The driver explains, a twinkle in his eye now that the riddle has been solved. “Two and seven. The whip is two and seven.”
I bite my bottom lip with excitement, and then mumble under my breath. “Double whip. Two seven, two seven.”
6
I press the code into a cold metallic keypad with a finger that I don’t recognize. Moments later, the door to Derek’s building let’s out a loud buzzing sound and then a click as it unlocks.
I push through into the luxurious lobby.
There’s usually a doorman, but it’s too late for that right now. Instead, a security guard waits for me at a large oak desk. He nods and waves me on. I’ve already entered the gate code, and this man’s job is much more about keeping out transients than play detective. Besides, how’s he supposed to keep track of every resident in this massive downtown skyscraper?
Unlike most of the buildings down here, this place is brand new; beautiful, shiny and modern. As I cross the lobby, I can’t help but admire all of the upscale furnishings.
I reach the elevator and then step inside, pressing the button marked fifteen, which is where Derek’s penthouse is located. When the door slides closed in front of me I nearly jump out of my skin as I lock eyes the woman staring back.
I am no longer Mandi Evans; that entire shell stripped away and replaced by that of the most ravishing woman I could ever hope to dream up, Ms. Hyde. I give myself a little wink in the elevator door’s reflection, still impressed by my incredible new body.
Wondering if Derek prefers the long and wavy look or a short bob, I adjust the length of my hair accordingly and then settle back on my original, voluptuous dark curls that roll down past my shoulders. I also suddenly remember that this building, like the one at the lab, probably has security cameras and I’d be wise not to make any more sudden changes to my appearance.
The door lets out a pleasant ping as it opens up onto the fifteen floor, which has only a small hallway due to the enormous size of the lofts. I step out and walk down the ornate carpet a little ways until I reach unit 1507, then knock loudly.
After a moment I hear the shuffle of footsteps from somewhere deep within, then abruptly the door is unlocked and
“No, I mean like…” I trail off, still not knowing exactly what I mean. “Numbers maybe?”
The cabby glances at me in the rearview mirror. “Are you fucking with me kid?”
“No.” I shake my head.
“Do I know what number a whip is?” He repeats back to me, and then shakes his head. “It sounds like you’re speaking a foreign language kid, I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.”
I let out a sigh and fall back into my seat, suddenly realizing that all of this may very well be for nothing if I can’t get inside.
When I open my eyes again I notice a pair of fuzzy dice dangling from the cab driver’s rear view mirror. Suddenly, it hits me.
“Do you gamble?” I ask.
The driver nods. “Yep.”
“Poker?” I continue.
“Yep, why do you ask?”
“Is there something called a whip in poker?” I question.
A smile immediately crosses the driver’s face. “Oh!” He says in confirmation. “The whip! W-H-I-P.”
“What’s that?”
“Worst hand in poker.” The driver explains, a twinkle in his eye now that the riddle has been solved. “Two and seven. The whip is two and seven.”
I bite my bottom lip with excitement, and then mumble under my breath. “Double whip. Two seven, two seven.”
6
I press the code into a cold metallic keypad with a finger that I don’t recognize. Moments later, the door to Derek’s building let’s out a loud buzzing sound and then a click as it unlocks.
I push through into the luxurious lobby.
There’s usually a doorman, but it’s too late for that right now. Instead, a security guard waits for me at a large oak desk. He nods and waves me on. I’ve already entered the gate code, and this man’s job is much more about keeping out transients than play detective. Besides, how’s he supposed to keep track of every resident in this massive downtown skyscraper?
Unlike most of the buildings down here, this place is brand new; beautiful, shiny and modern. As I cross the lobby, I can’t help but admire all of the upscale furnishings.
I reach the elevator and then step inside, pressing the button marked fifteen, which is where Derek’s penthouse is located. When the door slides closed in front of me I nearly jump out of my skin as I lock eyes the woman staring back.
I am no longer Mandi Evans; that entire shell stripped away and replaced by that of the most ravishing woman I could ever hope to dream up, Ms. Hyde. I give myself a little wink in the elevator door’s reflection, still impressed by my incredible new body.
Wondering if Derek prefers the long and wavy look or a short bob, I adjust the length of my hair accordingly and then settle back on my original, voluptuous dark curls that roll down past my shoulders. I also suddenly remember that this building, like the one at the lab, probably has security cameras and I’d be wise not to make any more sudden changes to my appearance.
The door lets out a pleasant ping as it opens up onto the fifteen floor, which has only a small hallway due to the enormous size of the lofts. I step out and walk down the ornate carpet a little ways until I reach unit 1507, then knock loudly.
After a moment I hear the shuffle of footsteps from somewhere deep within, then abruptly the door is unlocked and
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