Yeah. No argument there. It’s all over the way she holds herself, and the way she's playing now: calm, ruthless, calculating. She’s been quietly lining up sets the entire game.
She leans across the board toward Felix. “Trade you Marvin Gardens for your two oranges,” she says. “You need the yellows, anyway. Better shot at a comeback.”
Felix squints at the board, then at her. “You’re not trying to screw me, are ya?”
"I'd never," she says, pressing a hand to her chest in mock offense. "This is a win-win for the both of us."
I smother a smile. Silas doesn’t bother; he leans in, frowning. “Don’t do it,” he tells Felix. “She’s setting you up.”
Felix considers that. Then hands over the oranges, anyway. “Deal,” he says.
Naomi takes the cards, and I swear their hands overlap for a beat longer than necessary, and tucks them into her growing empire.
Silas grumbles. “You two deserve each other.”
She just beams and starts dropping houses on the newly acquired property. “Don’t worry, captain,” she says. “You’ll get your turn.”
He rolls.
Seven.
Right onto her fresh orange with three houses.
I wince. Felix goes, “Oof,” under his breath.
“Pays up." Naomi holds out her hand, palm up, fingers wiggling.
Silas glares at the board like it personally betrayed him, but he counts out the money anyway and he presses it into her palm. He doesn't want to let it show, but I can tell even he isn't immune to her charm when she lets it show. And that puck shot earlier? It definitely earned her some respect.
“Don’t get used to it,” he mutters.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she says, her smirk back.
The game goes on for another hour. Or, more accurately, theslaughtergoes on. Naomi now owns Boardwalk, Park Place, and all the railroads. She's ruthless, collecting rent with a cheerful, "Thank you, gentlemen."
Felix folds first, of course. He throws his last bills into her pile and flops back dramatically. “I’m ruined. Utterly ruined,” he declares, wrist draped over his forehead.
“Tragic,” she says, but she nudges his ankle lightly with her foot, a silent you’re fine.
I hang on a little longer, mortgaging half my side of the board until I hit her hotel on Park Place. There’s no coming back from that, and I just hand over my remaining cash. "It's been a pleasure," she says, not sounding sorry at all.
Then, it’s just her and Silas.
He’s gripping his top hat token, his jaw is tight, but there’s a stubborn light in his eyes.
He rolls.
The token clacks along the board and lands… on her railroad.
Felix snorts into his drink. I bite the inside of my cheek.
Naomi rubs her hands together. “Well, well.”
"Jesus," Silas grunts, passing a proud-looking Naomi the last of his cash.
Her fingers brush his as she takes the money. “Good game, captain,” she says softly.
For a heartbeat, his eyes meet hers, and I can see something in his face eases. “Yeah, well,” he says, clearing his throat. “Had to let you win. Hospitality and all that.”
