Chapter 68

In the end, Ashley chose to stay quiet and continued walking. She didn't realize that they were already by the casino's entrance.  Everyone was excited to inside the casino.  The siblings were joking around with each other while waiting for their turn to go in.

They were taking selfies, left and right ... Because of that, from the onlooker's point of view, they looked like people from the boondocks, so they caught the attention of the casino host who was standing by the entrance.

The Casino host who was guarding the entrance left and spoke with the security guard.  After a while, finally, it was the family's turn to go in...  First to go in was Jessie and Fely, whose bag was checked before the security let them in.

While the couple was about to go in, the casino host greeted them. "Welcome!" as the couple walked past her.  Fely smiled timidly while saying, "Thank you."   

Next to enter was Arman, and he was asked for an identification card. Arman then showed his driver's license, and he was able to enter without any hitches.  Then it was Ariel and Arnel who both didn't encounter any problems since they were able to present identification cards as well.

Then it was Arnold's turn, which keeps on taking selfies while talking.  Not realizing that the person he was speaking with was already too far away from him.  "Older brother Arman, is your cellphone charged? My battery is running low." Asked Arnold while he still keeps on taking selfies.

He did not notice that there was a security guard behind him. He was shocked when the security guard suddenly grabbed his cellphone.  "Taking pictures is not allowed in the casino. Can't you read what is posted there?" the security asked as he passed the cell to the casino host. "Here, ma'am!"

"Wait!  Give it back, please!  I won't do it again, I promise!"  Arnold was nearly in tears and was hysterical because of what happened.  When the guard didn't pay him any mind, he stood there like a statue while shocked.

"Mom…. Dad…!" were the only words that came out of his mouth while looking at the security guard and the host that was walking towards the security desk.

"Brother Arnold, didn't the concierge people told you already during the tour that taking pictures in the casino is not allowed? See, your cellphone got confiscated because you're hard-headed." Ashley reminded Arnold, who was getting depressed.

"Can you present an ID?" asked the security guard who got the cellphone of Arnold.

"Sir, can you give back my cellphone? I promise that I will not take selfies or other pictures. I didn't notice the poster." Arnold pleaded with the security guard.

"Sir, do not worry. We will return the cellphone to you when you leave the casino", the casino host said to Arnold while smiling.

"Sir, can you present an ID?" the guard repeated himself while obviously getting irritated already with Arnold, who was not moving to present his ID. Arnold was not able to do anything but to show his ID.

"How can I be sure that you will return my phone? Don't I get a receipt." Arnold asked as he entered the casino.

"Sir, please go to that desk," while pointing to the desk, said the casino host.

"That is where you can get a claim card. Please proceed there." the casino host politely said to Arnold with a sweet smile.

Finally, it was Ashley's turn. She was still smiling sweetly as she was about to explain, "Sir, what should I do? I didn't bring any ID because I left in our room. I didn't bring one because I did not know that I would need one. Can't I go in without an ID?" still smiling beautifully so that the guard would let her in.

"Sorry, miss! No ID, no entry! No exception!" said the security without blinking.

The whole family of Ashley was already inside and waiting for her to come in. When a few minutes have passed, and she has not arrived, Arman thought of going back for her.

Arman saw Ashley pleading with the guard to let her in without an ID. He also heard the guard's answer, so he got worried.

"Ashley, why don't you get your ID? Come, I'll go with you." Arman offered as Ashley's eyes grew big.

'Shit! What should I do? If I refuse, Brother Arman will think that I am hiding something...If I let him come, he will know that I am staying at the penthouse and even using a private elevator...How do I handle this?'\

Ashley did not know what to do and answer...Good thing, Tanaga came.

"What's the problem?" Tanaga asked Ashley, who was hesitating to answer her brother.

"Oh! Sir, it's like this...An ID is needed to enter, but I forgot mine in my room," Ashley said while looking at Tanaga as if to say... "You know what I mean?!" with her eyes.

Tanaga understood what Ashley was trying to say, so he decided to do something about it. "It's alright. She's my assistant. She doesn't need an ID to enter." Tanaga said to the security.

The security looked at Tanaga from head to toe before it answered rudely and loudly. He made sure that the casino host and customers could hear him. "Excuse me! And who gave you the right to say that it's ok for her to enter because she is your assistant.?"

'These foreigners… every time they are here in the Philippines, they act as if they own this hotel and casino,' the security thought while waiting for Tanaga's answer.

Meanwhile, Tanaga's face soured with what the security guard said. 'Why are my employees in this hotel like this? They all lack the customer service relationship. How will I answer him without looking conceited in from of Ashley's brother?' Tanaga thought.

"Excuse me! If you are a guest here, why don't you get first the ID so that we could be done? Miss, you can only enter here if you can present an ID. If you have none, then sorry…" Then he faced Tanaga.

"And you sir, if you also want to go inside, present your ID first. However, if you also don't have any ID like your assistant because you also left yours in the room, then my advice to you is the same.

"Do you understand me?" the security said in a loud and angry tone of voice.  In which the casino host heard, and went to the source of the noise that could be heard outside the casino door….