Page 19 of Hateful Games

It doesn’t help the older he’s getting, the more sinful his features are transforming. The chiseled and square jawline, always lit with a cocky smirk. The intensity and mysteriousness behind his caramel brown eyes, challenging and mocking when gazing at me.

Beneath his attractive looks and charm that is nothing but a smokescreen and has everyone eating out of the palms of his hands, lurks a manipulative and calculative man.

No one notices it. Because he reserves it for me.

The sneakiness characteristic seems to run in his family’s genes.

Nevertheless, there’s always a flock of girls frolicking around him.

I only wish he would choose one of them to marry.

“Is there anyone else you know there?” probes Bianca. Rising, she comes to help fold the dresses I’m rejecting for the trip. “Because even if he miraculously kept you company, he’ll be pretty busy for his graduation ceremony.”

“I heard he has a cousin living there,” I reply. “Miya something.”

“Hopefully she’s nothing like Nova.”

“Yeah, right. As if he wouldn’t have filled her head with venom.”

Bianca looks at me with sympathy, well aware how much I hate spending time with people outside of my close circle. Now, I’m being thrown headfirst in the deep water.

Both of us pull apart when there’s a knock on my bedroom door. Standing in the doorway, is my mother. She cautiously enters, looking as though she came straight from the office. Another thing that hasn’t changed—her endless galas and charities.

“Namaste, Aunty,” greets Bianca. “I came to say bye to Ro.”

“Lovely to see you, beta,” replies my mother genuinely. She’s always adored Bee like a daughter. “How’s your mother? I hope she’s coming for lunch next weekend.”

“Oh yes. She would never miss a chance for fresh gossip.”

My mom laughs. All of us aware of Bianca’s mother’s big mouth, which we joke about quite often. Thankfully, my bestie isn’t one to be offended.

“Is your packing done, love?” my mother says to me, eyeing the two full suitcases leaning against the wall while one is lying open on my bed. “You’re only going for a week. Are you sure you need so many clothes?”

I scowl. “Well, yeah. I’m also going to shop there and will need extra space.”

Most likely I’ll need to buy another suitcase, considering Bianca has given me her own list. The girl is a shopaholic and that list is a mile long.

“Like you already don’t have enough dresses stuffed in your closet,” admonishes my mother with a silly smile.

“So do you, Ma.”

She laughs and for a moment, it reminds me of old times. She and I have always been close and I miss it. Of course, my love hasn’t waned for her. Deep down, I’m just hurt. I wish she had at least warned me. So I hadn’t felt ambushed.

“Did you need anything, Ma?” I ask when she doesn’t leave.

“Actually.” She clears her throat and reveals, “I came to tell you, you will need to leave tomorrow morning for London.”

“What? Why?”

She grimaces apologetically. “Your father needs the jet the day after tomorrow.”

Fucking hell! Even an extra day with the cocky bastard sounds like torture. Mom leaves after delivering the bad news and I look at Bianca when she lends a sympathetic hand on my shoulder.

“Any chance you’d be willing to let me break your leg?”

“Shut up.” She rolls her eyes. “You’ll be fine.”

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