Page 149 of Loving the Liar

“I want to be removed!” I rage.

He licks his lips, smirking at me. “Believe me, you don’t.”

“This isn’t fair…I… He’s tricking me into this! And how…how can you kick me out of SFU?! I worked my ass off to?—”

“You slept with a professor.”

“What about him? He slept with me. He sleeps with many of his students.”

“Reeves is a Shadow,” Duval explains, like I’m so stupid for not understanding. “Don’t you know the hierarchy here? You’re at the bottom. His life within the Circle will always be easier than yours, because he serves us in ways you never could. He’s useful, not just three holes to keep us satisfied. He’s been warned to stop, he’s been warned of the consequences of his actions, so you worry about yourself.”

“But—”

“If you choose to become a Hera, your Shadow can decide whether you can go back to college or not. But currently, you belong to the Circle, and as Zeus, I’m the one in charge of the decisions for you. You’re out of SFU.”

The door to the office opens, and Achilles storms in, stopping by my side.

“Can I talk to you?” he asks his dad.

“Can’t you see we’re busy?”

“Let me talk to you,” he insists. “Now.”

Eugene narrows his eyes at his son, but he nods. “Wait outside my office, Ella. Christopher, I’ll see you around.”

I flip around, practically running out of the office, and Chris is right on my heels.

“What the fuck?” I snap, the second the door closes. “You are out of your fucking mind, Christopher Murray.”

“Full name, huh?”

“You’ve gone too far.” I just barely suppress the will to scream. “This is my fucking life.”

“Language.” He plays with something in his pocket, and my eyes dart to it, wondering what he uses as a coping mechanism to keep calm. “I’m getting rather annoyed by your lack of listening skills. I told you I would do anything to have you, and it looks like I did, doesn’t it? The how doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. Megan is out. I’ve freed the space for you like I promised. Now, take your rightful spot next to me. Because God forbid, I take this a step further. I will, but I don’t want to.”

“You can’t?—”

He puts a soft hand on my cheek. “I can do whatever. Never forget that. I always play to win, and victory comes at any price. I promise you that at the end of this, you will be by my side, Ella. You decide when you’ve had enough of the torture and are ready to give in.”

With the knuckle of his index finger, he grazes the gold necklace I wear, the one with the shell that shows I’m an Aphrodite.

“This will be gone soon,” he says assuredly, and I wish that made me feel an ounce of relief. But I’m sickened, even as my skin tingles beneath his touch.

The door opens again, Achilles walking out. He takes my hand under Chris’s dangerous stare.

“Cut her some fucking slack, Murray. You’re a cunning motherfucker if I’ve seen one.” Then he turns to me, eyes searching mine. “I bought you two days to decide. Let’s go.”

My best friend drags me with him, and I look over my shoulder.

As composed as ever, Chris is smiling beautifully at me, making my heart skip a beat.

The fucker has me, doesn’t he?

He fucking did it.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chris

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