Twisted Hearts, Billionaire's Game

e it

etween them, cold,

heartbeat quicken as she w

nding in the middle of hi

ting long shadows

r. His wheelchair

e enormous oak desk, his

d always worn still obsc

that part of his face whi

without it, and the mask

s between them-phys

tte wasn't in the

Richard," she

ied, I need to see wha

met hers, and for on

here, before it was gone b

first time, he did not

oundings, of emotions, of

thrown him into

to know?" he as

is

he took one step

want to know who you re

açade, but the

ment, Richard said n

nd touched the edge of th

ps unlocked and, with a sm

it away fr

e gasped

Richard's face was

ld easily grace the front

different story. Deep, jag

curve of his jawline and m

sunken just a little, te

as far from grotesque-it j

lished, flawless image h

s stuck in her t

stant. She had numerous f

d as

ious, his eyes lock

swer. He was used to watch

ng for any hint of disgust

to f

se things. Instead,

between them vanished. She

a heartbeat, then laid

pon his sca

en?" she asked a

t-free as s

ed, and for a second

rd. Then he did, in a raw,

the memories w

ars ago. I was y

s invincible

her hand still l

survi

d again, and th

"But I did not e

ne o

We all bear scars, Ri

er to see t

rd's expression so

rceptible, but Charlotte

scars, beyond the armor.

and it touched

hat moment, it was g

rew back from her touch, w

ch or

nothing," he r

ask st

ing in her chest,

was hiding behind the mas

low h

hy do you wear i

to hide.

wisted in a bitte

ontrol. People see precise

ithout it, I am just a

ch more than t

t he merely s

e more, Charlotte.

elps me to

furrowed. "To w

es darkened.

-

ad been days in the

out through all the socia

tailed: every function,

tarted to feel like some s

Richard, respected him, f

an beneath

ept

started to. But Ri

ust that little bit farth

to touch. Each time she t

would retre

ting, in fact. But C

asily d

how, when they we

and winning. But winning

nd Charlotte was out

-

arlotte sat all by

one of the few places she

sturbances. The room lin

older books in some place

paper and seemed to carry

comfor

e window, turning

t, as her phone, sitting

an unknown number flash

ul, Mrs. Hamilton

jumped. She star

t racing on. Who would se

at? Was thi

a reply in

te: Who

came all bu

who knows what Ri

in her throat; thi

knew Richard-which ki

aking just a little

ss

do you mean? W

very long pause, a

was must have vanished.

s not as he seems.

are. You'r

d in Charlotte's

ry, half-expecting someon

here was no one. Just sil

weighing

final time before s

ai

Don't t

any implication

nto the screen, h

rd was secretive, but now

ous than she could