Page 74 of Playing With Secrets
I give us both more than two fingers worth because we’re going to need it for this playoff. Otherwise, we might kill each other before we’re through the first round.
He takes his glass from me. “So much for keeping it amicable.”
“It was never amicable. You went too far out of the gate. Once you did that, there was no turning back. Again, you should know this because it is your game we’re playing.” I cock a brow and the veins in his forehead pop.
Oh my, how great retribution feels.
They should bottle it up and sell the shit.
“Get on with it, Stone.”
“Such a spoilsport, Efron. I thought you enjoyed messing with your opponent.” My eyes flicker with satisfaction. “Oh, wait. I forgot. You only like that when you’re the one standing where I am.”
“So far, all I’m seeing is a guy who wants to be murdered.” His eyes shoot flames my way.
I think he is genuinely on the brink of killing me, so my histrionics are done.
“You’ll never believe who I ran into. Care to take a guess?” I rest my hand on the counter as he drives invisible hate spears into me from across the bar.
“The only person I can think of that would give you some leverage would be Isabella. I already know you met with her.”
“Wrong guess, but I’ll tell you for time's sake. I ran into Ava Aldridge.” I tilt my head and send him a questioning look. “Did you know she was in town?”
Hunter’s chest flexes as he pretends to be unbothered. “I try to interact with her as little as possible. So, no. I didn’t know she was in town.”
“It was the damnedest thing. I was coming out of the office the other night and she was walking in. I’m starting tobelieve in karma.” I laugh with my revenge. “Anyway, enough about that. The point is, I asked her out for dinner. She’s a lovely woman, don’t you think?”
“Quit dragging this out, Jamison. It’s getting boring.”
“Oh, no. You don’t have a say in how this goes down tonight. You already had your turn.” I twist my glass in a circle and train my eyes on him.
He needs to see I mean business because I do—billion-dollar business.
He leans back in his chair, pretending not to care. “What did our conniving little Ava have to say?”
“She was tight-lipped at first, but again, something random happened. Isabella was dining at the same place as us. She stopped by to say hi. You can imagine Ava’s surprise when I introduced her as one of your girlfriends.”
I take a drink and taste vengeance. “Of course, Isabella denied you were together as boyfriend and girlfriend, but the damage was done.”
“How so?”
“Ava was more than willing to talk after Isabella excused herself. I guess she’s getting sick of waiting for you to take her back. You keep promising her you will, so I understand why she gets so upset.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Jamison. She doesn’t want me back.” He shakes his head like I’m an idiot. “She wants the world to believe we’re together until she gets what she really wants.”
“Whatever she wants doesn’t matter. She’s willing to be my ally in the war between you and me.” I pause and let him ruminate on that information for a moment.
We’re in a heated stare, neither of us wanting to give an inch. He’s used to holding out, so I break it.
“You have all my secrets lined up and waiting to drop them on Dori if I don’t follow your rules.”
“You’re right about that.”
“Here’s the thing. I’m a smart man and calculate everything that could happen given certain circumstances. No matter what I say today, you still have that power over me.” I top off his drink and pour some more for me.
“Then why play this game with me? You know, the second you leave, I’m setting things in motion with Dorothy and she’ll find out everything.”
“Because I have a lot more to share. You’re not on offense yet. Far from it.” I rest back against the counter behind me.
