Playing the Pawn, Winning the Game

n ye

, I' ve watched

King' s b

e, this King family mansion

ance, the charity case,

Victoria,

han in front of me, he

hem l

y to my ears, a soundtrack

ce, deserved more th

verything from h

. Every singl

ly crafted key, and I' m

herings, which means at least fifty people I don' t kn

pretending to read a book

, of course. A

is arm, her laughter

me, a smirk pla

gaze, feign

icta

the library, their voi

e is sharp, lac

ing over you, Ethan

ice, smooth as silk, a dangerous u

hat internship at the gallery? Father can pull strings. Or bet

ld, but my face

" Ethan says. "Fir

ee? What

a asks, a hint of cruel amusement in her v

plies. "One more carefully orchestrated evening, and she' ll be putty. Or b

ath ca

gna

' s the

ure I' m tied down, a b

ost s

no idea who they'

ey can see me, my hea

ink they' r

hink I' m

s been mine

n "accidentally" bumps

vating shade of b

alright? You look

"Just a bit tired, Ethan

I' m supposed to feel, a

can be a lot. Don' t

Such calculated

tive of you," I mur

gaze lingering. "Take c

ay, and I w

servants

her, still

ook twice at he

e King family' s

ar i

r words wa

a loves

e the architec

y moment of humiliation I endured, all in the name o

necessary

n built on