Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“This isn’t funny,” she whispers angrily.
“You can always tell him you refuse,” I whisper back, grinning. “Be the bad guy. You’re so good at it.”
Renn sets his drink down and pulls a computer in front of him. “Now that we have that settled, let’s get down to business. Astrid, do you have any more questions for me or Gray? Or are you good to go?”
I turn to her, expecting to see her trying not to explode. But that’s not what’s happening. She’s … calm. Too calm. She’s the calmest she’s been since I met her.
The way she breathes is unnerving. It reminds me of an animal before it attacks. Her chin lifts, and a slow, mischievous smile curls her lips.
My heart begins to pound. A knot forms in my stomach, pulling tighter by the minute. I stay silent, waiting for her to make a move. She’s quick on her feet, as I learned this morning. But that smile? That I don’t trust.
Astrid picks up the clipboard that fell earlier. “No, I think I have all that I need.” She flips a page with a cheerfulness that’s downright unsettling. “I’ll email the performance team and get a copy of Gray’s meal plan, and I’ll follow up with S&C about his training regimen on Monday. I doubt that the communications team has any media lined up for him, but I’ll shoot them an email, too, and be sure.”
What?
“That sounds great.” Renn nods in approval. “This is exactly what I was hoping for. I’m glad we had this chat.”
Astrid turns to me, her eyes twinkling with mirth. She brushes a loose tendril of crimson hair off her delicate shoulder. “I’ll meet you downstairs in the performance center on Monday morning. I do have a commitment first thing, so let’s shoot for ten o’clock. The whole staff should be there by then. We can do a tour, I’ll introduce you to the team, and we can go over how I can make your transition to the Royals a success.”
You will, huh?
She sits in some misplaced triumph, like she’s just bested me. Like she’s going to be the one calling the shots between us. Her smile says she expects me to be thrown off my axis and capitulate to her or, at the very least, make an ass out of myself by pushing back. It’s too bad that I can do this so much better than she can.
I crack a grin of my own. “That sounds perfect. I can’t wait.”
“Do you need anything from me right now, Gray?” she asks, sweetness dripping from each word.
“Not that I can think of, Astrid,” I say, holding her gaze tightly. “You’ve really gone above and beyond today.”
Renn stands. “Then I think that’s it for us. Thanks for coming in, Gray. We’re excited that you’re a Royal. I expect great things from you.”
I rip my attention from Astrid. I very much doubt that you think that now that I know the truth. “I won’t disappoint you, Mr. Brewer. I mean, Renn.” I get to my feet and shake his hand. Then I turn to my assistant. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Oh, I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Renn answers a call on his cell phone as I turn away. I glance over my shoulder to ensure he’s occupied and then lean toward Astrid. “Stay out of my way, and things will be fine,” I say just loud enough for her to hear.
She laughs as I walk away. “Gray?”
I pause with my hand on the doorknob.
“Make sure you get some protein and stay hydrated,” she says, smiling devilishly. “It’s going to be a big week.”
You have no idea.
I toss her a wink and walk out the door.
Let the games begin.
CHAPTER
FOUR
Astrid
I hum along to the radio as I wait for my opponent to make his final move.
Playing a quick game of chess before I get out of my car and go into my house is one of my small joys in life. I started doing it years ago when I was in my last relationship, mostly because I didn’t want to go in and deal with … that. But I've come to enjoy the peace, and the way it feels like I’m in a protected bubble away from the world.
It’s a habit that I have no interest in giving up.
“Just make it,” I say, humming happily and watching my phone screen. “End your pain, sucker.”
My opponent wastes entirely too much time choosing his next move. Finally, he slides right into the trap I set six moves back. And I win.
“Check …” I make my final move, wait for him to accept defeat, and then log off the app. “Mate.”
I reach for the door handle to go inside, but my phone buzzes with an incoming text. Audrey’s name is printed on the screen above her message.