Page 7 of Darling Obsession

I’ve come to the horrifying conclusion that unless I find some perfect decoy Darla, I’m fucked.

I’ve lost endless hours to obsessing over this shit, and come up with nothing better.

I’m on the verge of completely losing my shit here.

Unless.

Unless Damian, the only person in my family besides myself who’s more than willing to bend some rules, can help me with finding a loophole or something. “Do you think it was Jamie?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Youarespinning. This is your challenge, Harlan, not mine,” he reminds me. “And not Jameson’s.”

“It had to be Jamie.” Though the more I think about it, maybe it was Savi, and she’s just a better actress than I thought. What made me so sure it wasn’t her in the first place? Justbecause she said the challenge she chose would last for exactly six months?

Okay, so she had no reason to make that up.

But still.

“What the hell does it even matter who chose it?” Damian says. “You’re not going to convince Jamie, or whoever, to change the challenge. And even if you could, that’s not how the game is played. Granddad had the challenges sealed in the envelopes, and those are the challenges we have to complete. Quit spinning your wheels, face reality, and save yourself the anxiety, Harlan.”

While he speaks, my hand squeezes my thigh under the table. I rub my fingertip obsessively over the seam on the side of my pant leg, drawing small, quick letters, over and over.

The blonde waitress delivers Damian’s drink, and he takes a long sip, assessing me with cunning eyes. Normally I’d appreciate that Damian is such a sealed vault. That brain of his is filled with the secrets of many a powerful man, and woman, in this city and beyond; pretty much goes with the territory when you host the rich and powerful at your exclusive private clubs—including a sex club.

But he didn’t choose this challenge for me. I see it in his eyes.

At least I think I do.

“Do you recall when Graysen read us Granddad’s letter?” he asks me. “The point of each challenge is personal growth.”

“Fuck that. Granddad was a player. He’s amusing himself with this shit.”

“May I remind you that Granddad is dead.”

That jagged shard materializes in my throat, sharp and bitter. “There has to be some kind of loophole. Or… what do they call it in gaming? Like a cheat code or something.”

“May I also remind you that Granddad wasn’t a cheat.”

“Tell that to Grandma.”

Damian doesn’t exactly sigh, but he glances at his watch. Of course, he has beautiful women to entertain, somewhere. “Let me ask you. Why are you so upset about your challenge?”

“Do I look upset?”

“You look vaguely like a vampire who hasn’t fed in weeks.”

I scoff.

“Have you seen any sun this summer?”

“Not if I can help it.”

“What’s the big deal here? All you have to do is introduce a woman to the family. While that may seem unreasonable to you, I’m pretty sure Jameson’s sex ban was much more uncomfortable.”

“Why the hell does anyone want to meet her? It’s not even serious.”

Damian’s dark eyebrow quirks. “Well, let’s see. Maybe because she’s the only woman you’ve mentioned to the family in years. Ever since what’s-her-name? The one who ran off with her tennis instructor.”

It was golf, but I don’t correct him. I’d rather we all forget the details.

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