Page 100 of My Ruthless Opponent

It got worse when Archer waltzed in and claimed a seat at the far corner of the room.

He wasn’t interfering with our work as promised but he was watching. Our every move.

“Hannah… just relax. Imagine you are all alone with Raleigh.”

The photographer’s patience seems to be running low. But what do I do? Pretending to be in love with Raleigh is harder than I imagined.

From the corner of my eye, I see one of the crew members serving Archer some tropical drink.

The crew member watches with bated breath as Archer takes a sip.

He visibly relaxes only when Archer nods in approval. I snort.

“If you are done drooling over our boss, please let me know.” Raleigh grits out and I twist in his hold to gape at him. Is he for real?

“I am drooling over Archer, is that what you are trying to say?”

“I call it like I see it.” He says coolly but his grip on me tightens ever so slightly.

“How can you say that? I don’t know whether to take offense to it or laugh out loud.”

“I’ll make it easier for you. Just focus on your job.”

My spine stiffens. “Screw you.”

“Is that an offer?” His baby blue eyes darken.

I want to know what he is thinking. He is driving me crazy with the hot and cold behavior. Does he have a secret mission to confuse the shit of me?

One moment he has no time to spare me a glance and the other he is staring at me as if he wants to devour me. My body and brain are screaming in frustration.

My body is all worked up again from the blatant hunger I am seeing in Raleigh’s eyes. But my brain is admonishing me. Begging me to ignore him.

How am I going to do that if I have to be glued to him all the damn time?

This ends right here. He doesn’t get to play with my mind like that.

In the background, the camera keeps clicking, and capturing our heated interaction.

I turn back to face the glass wall, lean my back into Raleigh’s chest and muster up a serene smile.

“That’s it.” Praises the photographer as he takes several pictures in that pose.

I reach back up and clasp his neck and look into the distance, channeling my inner model.

We are then told to face each other. Someone hands us each a glass of wine.

I keep smiling. I do as he tells me to do, and use Raleigh as my prop.

Look in the right.

Place one hand on Raleigh’s chest and laugh.

Stand behind Raleigh and place a hand on his shoulder.

As the shoot progresses, I feel him getting agitated.

Not once do I stare into his eyes and if I have to, I keep them devoid of any emotions.

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