ON GAME DAY, I ran around doing errands for Reardon and the company, finding time in between to pick up a cheese plate and some other snacks.
The players texted me, almost compulsively, throughout the day. They wanted constant updates on who was confirmed. I felt giddy every time my phone lit up. It was like getting a text message from a boy you really liked, but even better. Reardon kept me late in the office to work on some closing documents for a new development project.
I barely had time to dry my hair and throw on a little makeup. I put on my disappointingly ordinary outfit and decided I would compensate for my lack of elegance by being superfriendly, helpful, and professional. I raced to the Viper Room with my mix tapes and my cheese plate. I tried to light some candles and place a few flower arrangements around the room to make it look more inviting, but it doesn’t get much seedier than the basement of the Viper Room, and flowers and candles aren’t going to change much.
Diego, the dealer, showed up first. He was dressed in khakis and a crisp white shirt, and he shook my hand and gave me a friendly smile. Reardon knew him from playing poker at Commerce Casino, a cardroom not too far from L.A. Diego had been dealing cards in casinos and home games for over two decades, and he had probably seen almost every scenario a card game could produce. But even his years of experience couldn’t prepare him for how much this game would change all of our lives.
“You ready for this?” he asked as he unpacked a green felt table.
“Sort of,” I replied.
I watched how quickly his hands moved while he counted and stacked the chips.
“Do you need any help?” I asked politely.
“Do you play?” he replied teasingly. “You don’t look like a poker player.”
“No,” I answered. “This is my first time at a game.”
He laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you through it.”
I breathed a little easier. I needed all the help I could get.
Barnaby showed up next, complete with his top hat. He was one of the only ones Reardon had kept on staff. He was manning the door; I gave him the list of names and stressed that he only let people on the list in.
“No problem, honey.”
“Don’t let anyone else in.” I repeated myself several times.
“Sorry, Barnaby, I know you know what you’re doing, I’m just so nervous. I want everything to be perfect.”
He put his arm around me.
“Don’t worry, angel, everything will be better than perfect.”
I smiled gratefully. “I hope you’re right.”
AT 6:45 P.M. I STOOD by the front door and waited. I fidgeted with my dress. I started to feel insecure about how to greet the players. I knew their names, but did that mean that I should introduce myself?
Stop it, I said in my head. I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself down by imagining myself as I wanted to be.
“Molly Bloom, you are wearing the dress of your dreams, you are confident and fearless and you will be perfect.” None of this was true, of course, but I wanted it to be. I opened my eyes, lifted my chin, and relaxed my shoulders. It was showtime.
The first person to arrive was Todd Phillips, the writer and director of Old School and the Hangover franchise.
“Hello,” I said, warmly reaching out my hand. “I’m Molly Bloom.” I gave him a genuine smile.
“Hi, gorgeous, I’m Todd Phillips, nice to meet you in person.
“Do I give the buy-in to you?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said, eyeing the giant stack of hundred-dollar bills.
“Can I get you a drink?” I asked.
He ordered a Diet Coke. I went behind the bar and set the enormous amount of money down.
After I served him his drink, I started counting the stack. It was $10,000 all right. I put it in the cash register with Todd’s name on it. I felt cool, edgy, and dangerous counting that much money. The others started to arrive.
Bruce Parker introduced himself and handed me his buy-in as well. I knew from my research that he had been a founding partner of one of the most prestigious golf companies in the world. Bob Safai was a real-estate magnate, and Phillip Whitford came from a long line of European aristocrats. His mother was a glamorous supermodel and his father was one of the most famous playboys in Manhattan. Reardon came blasting in with his typical “oh yeah!” greeting. The rumpled Houston Curtis showed up next, followed by Tobey and Leo. I straightened my shoulders and smiled as naturally as I could. They are just people, I told myself as butterflies flew manically around in my stomach. I introduced myself, took their buy-ins, and asked for their drink order. When I shook Leo’s hand and he gave me a crooked smile from under his hat, my heart raced a little faster. Tobey was cute too, and he seemed very friendly. I didn’t have any back story on Houston Curtis except that he was somehow involved in the movie business. He had kind eyes, but there was something different about him. He didn’t seem to belong with this crowd. Steve Brill and Dylan Sellers, two more major Hollywood directors showed up next.
The energy in the room was palpable. It felt less like the basement of the Viper Room was a sports arena.
Reardon finished ripping into a sandwich and shouted to no one in particular, but everyone in general, “Let’s play.”
I WATCHED, FASCINATED. It was all incredibly surreal. I was standing in the corner of the Viper Room counting ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH! I was in the company of movie stars, important directors, and powerful business tycoons. I felt like Alice in Wonderland tumbling down the rabbit hole.
Diego fanned out ten cards and each player drew for their seat. There seemed to be a lot of weight being given to this action.
When everyone was seated, Diego began dealing the cards. I figured this was a good time to offer the players more drinks. I plastered on my brightest smile and went around the table offering drinks or snacks. Strangely, I wasn’t getting the warmest reception.
Phillip Whitford grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear, “Don’t talk to a guy if he’s in a hand. Most of them can’t think and play at the same time.”
I thanked him graciously, and made a mental note.
With the exception of a few drink orders, no one spoke to me during the game at all, and I had time to watch closely. The ten men seated around the table were speaking openly. The movie stars and directors spoke about Hollywood, Reardon and Bob Safai analyzed the real-estate market. Phillips and Brill harassed each other constantly in hilarious fashion. Of course, there was talk about the game itself too. I felt like a fly on the wall in a top-secret, masters-of-the-universe club.
At the end of the night, as Diego counted each player’s chips, Reardon said, “Make sure you tip Molly if you want to be invited to the next game.” He winked at me.
As the players filed out, they thanked me, some kissed my cheek, but they all pressed bills into my hand. I smiled warmly and thanked them in return, trying not to let my hands shake.
When they were all gone, I sat down in a daze, and with trembling hands I counted $3,000.
But even better than the money was the knowledge that I now