Page 41 of My Ruthless Opponent

Shit. Shit. Shit.

With the way this bratty princess is throwing daggers at me with her bitchy eyes, I know it’s game over. Then she smiles.

“Indeed. Did you know he built the resort in Maui because that’s where he first met his wife? It’s so romantic.”

Thank. Fuck.

She almost had me worried sick with her suspense.

I squeeze her waist, silently thanking her. She circles mine, snaking her hand inside my tux jacket. And pinches me. Hard.

This bitch.

“Really? Did you make a pitch? You did, didn’t you? I bet he must be impressed by your ideas.”

Hannah’s face contorts. “No. He is already in the talks with Muse Agency.”

I don’t look at Victor at all as I say, “He is?”

Hannah nods solemnly. The reason for not sparing him a single glance is to induce a guilt trip. It may work or it wouldn’t.

I am just making all this up as the conversation is progressing. I trust my brain. Trying doesn’t hurt. So, I am going to bluff until I succeed.

A light bulb goes off in my head. An idea, even crazier than the fiancé thing.

This is the ultimate move. Winning is a possibility if I executed a two-move checkmate.

“Did you tell him about the wedding idea you had the other day?”

Up until now, Victor was only watching a couple (me and Hannah) converse guiltily. Because I made him think that he somehow hurt Hannah’s feelings by not listening to her pitch.

But for me to win this chess game, a guilt trip was not enough. I have to make him believe thatheis the one winning.

A person like him can give us a chance only if we are offering somethingbetterthan Muse.

Of course, this fool knows KIM Advertising is better than Muse Agency. Yet, he is ready to compromise the quality of the ad campaign.

But what if we provide him what he is looking for… but better. Beyond-his-imagination better.

“Wedding idea?” Victor asks, his expression and tone curious.

“Yes. You see, I popped the question last night.Withoutthe ring.” I shake my head for good measure. “I just couldn’t wait to ask her. She cried and laughed while saying yes. It was perfect. Anyway, Hannah being Hannah, after an hour of the proposal. She came up with this insane idea of getting married on your resort.”

Hannah tenses against me, but I go on. “This woman changed her pitch last night—which she had been working on for months—because she wanted me to give her a fairy tale wedding as a punishment.” I chuckle. For making the act real. But in reality, I am fucking screwed. Or more like I screwed myself with all the hot stinky garbage that spilled out of my mouth.

Trusting my brain and creativity is going to cost me my life. Because Hannah is squeezing the fuck out of my waist. I wouldn’t be surprised if her nails dig up a chunk of my meat.

Do I stop spewing bullshit?No. “Hannah and I are very private people. We had both agreed on applying for a marriage license instead of having a ceremony. She changed the pitch last night because she thought this would serve as a lesson for me. After all, I am more anti-social than her. Marrying on the resort and having it on camera is indeed a nightmare for someone like me.”

I breathe deeply because this is sounding stupid even to my ears now.

“What she doesn’t know is that I can do anything for her. Even if it meant stepping out of my comfort zone.”

I look at her like a lovesick puppy looks at his better half with pink rosy glasses on.

“Is it true?” Victor’s voice is filled with awe. Yep. Going to hell.

“No,” Hannah says. And it takes a great deal of effort not to strangle her.

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