Page 28 of Reckless Rival

On instinct, he turned on his camera and took a video of her cracking more eggs and rubbing the yolk along the side of the car. Once satisfied her work was done, she took off her gloves and other items and placed them in a trash bag before stuffing everything back into the backpack she had with her.

Rana had a tough time containing his laughter as he captured her vandalism act on video. This is all he needed to get her out of Simha. Away from him. He stood still, recording how she traced back her steps staying away from the security cameras.

Even as he thought about the look on her face when she is kicked out of Simha, he couldn’t help but admire how well-executed her plan was. No breaking glass or denting metal, she chose the easiest, noise-free, and the most damaging way to vandalize a car.

He turned off the recording and went down the stairs, going faster than usual. He reached the lowest floor and waited for her as she made her way down each stair, quiet as a rat. Nam-Rat-A.

Suppressing his need to laugh, he stood by the main entrance of the parking structure, hidden in the shadows. He waited for her like a lion waited for its prey. As he patiently waited, he was possessed by a strange excitement. It had nothing to do with getting her booted out of the campus but an evil thought of how he could use it to get back at her before he eventually got her thrown out. She deserves it for even thinking about messing with his head.

He stiffened when he heard her soft steps, and his heart thudded as she got closer. He cleared his throat when she was a few feet from him and saw her freeze. A dark pleasure gripped him when he saw her startle and freeze in fear.

“Got any eggs left for breakfast?” He had a tough time not laughing as he stepped out of the shadows. He wasn’t sure if she heard him let alone recognized his voice because she didn’t move. “I saw what you did.”

To his surprise, she didn’t respond, but instead, she took off like the wind. She ran so fast it took him a moment to realize the scene he had played out in his mind was not happening. He could not help but laugh as he followed her down the narrow path and just as he thought he caught hold of her, she cut across onto the lawn and was so much faster than expected.

What the heck is she doing as a boxing second when she can run so fast?

She was halfway through the small patch of grass between the housing units when he caught up to her, his arm going around her waist to scoop her into his arms. She let out a muffled cry as their bodies hit the soft green lawn.

“Let me go,” she growled. “I’ll call security.”

“Namrata, stop fighting me.” His words made her freeze in his arms. “I saw what you did and have it recorded on video. So, no point threatening me.”

She slowly rolled away from him and sat up. He still could not see her face. The hoodie was still intact and was the mask. A silence fell between them, and he waited for her say something.

Instead, she stood up and quickly took off her dark hoodie, mask, and sweatpants and stuffed them in the bag. She looked down at him standing tall in a pair of cycling shorts and T-shirt. “You have nothing on me even if you recorded everything. Don’t try to scare me.”

She started walking away, and he let out a chuckle. “There is only one person on the campus who wears a thirty-year-old classic men’s Rolex.”

“Dang.” He heard her curse before she walked back to him, her body language completely shifted. She didn’t talk immediately as if she was figuring out what to say. “Don’t fool around with me. This has nothing to do with you.”

Rana could not help but smile, the vicious pleasure deepening. “I have no need to fool around with you. I saw everything you did starting from the first omelet you made on the car hood.”

“Stop. This is not funny.” Her voice shook as if realizing that it could lead to the worst possible outcome.

“I’m not laughing. I’m here to stop such an incident from happening again.” He scoffed.

Her eyes narrowed. “Really?” Her fists went up to her waist. “If you were so concerned, why didn’t you stop me instead of taking a video?”

He looked at her for a long moment. How the hell did this girl look so hot when she was angry and scared at the same time. The look on her face was giving him a new high. “Are you going to argue with me or figure out the next steps?”

“Figure out? This is your ticket to get rid of me. I have no regret for what I did to that asshole’s car. I only wished I had looked out for prying eyes.” She looked like she was not going to take his threats.

Something inside his chest tightened. Did someone trouble her, and it was her way of getting back at them? “What happened?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“I have nothing to say to you. If you intend to report and share the video that you claim to have—”

Her voice was lost when he pulled out his phone and started playing the video. She remained silent and stared at the screen, but he could not take his eyes off her face. She had a perplexed expression and looked up at him, desperation gripping her. “What do you intend to do with the video?”

He smirked, his eyes running over her face, enjoying her position. “What do you suggest I do?”

She looked at him for a long moment. “Looks like you have decided what to do. Just tell me what I need to do for you not to report me?”

He chuckled. “Are we negotiating now?” His cocky tone was getting under her skin.

Like she had enough. “Buzz off. I don’t care anymore.” She turned to walk away from him, and he reached out to hold her by her elbow.

“What are you willing to do for me to keep this video from circulating on campus and eventually showing up at the security office?” His question held a challenge, and he hoped for her to take the bait.

---