Page 30 of Carnal Games

The way he’d gone speechless screamed no other woman exists to him besides Rosalie. She’s wrong if she believes he’s got eyes on someone else.

“If I had my way, he’d be my dead fiancé,” she grunts, leaning her elbows against the bar.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Bianca assures me, at my horrified expression. “It’s normal for her to mention killing her fiancé once or twice a day.”

“He can’t be that bad.”

“His looks are a trap,” warns Rosalie. “Don’t get fooled by them.”

“I think maybe you should go forward with the plan,” I say to Bianca, and whisper, “just to be on the safer side.”

That earns me a grin from Rosalie, and I just know I’ve won her over.

My purse buzzes, startling me.

I unzip it and pull out my phone. A text is waiting from Nathan.

Nathan: Hii, sorry it’s taking a bit long.

Nathan: She’s having me recite the speech. *Sad emoji with a teardrop*

Nathan: Just wait upstairs for me.

Putting my phone back inside, I look at Bianca and Rosalie. “Sorry, I have to go.”

“Wait…” calls Bianca. “Give us your number.”

“To find us later,” explains Rosalie.

This takes me aback. They want to be friends with me? Rich kids in my school have never wanted to be friends with me. I’m the shy, awkward girl that gets ignored. Yet these two are asking for my number.

I can’t contain the warmth that spreads through my chest.

“You want to meet me again?” I still ask, wanting the confirmation.

Bianca’s expression softens. “If you’re dating Nathan, we’re going to run into each other at a lot of parties. It’ll be nice to see a familiar face. Plus, you’re cool for not calling security on us. We were kidding about slashing Nova’s tires.”

“I was totally serious.”

“Shut up, Ro.”

“I can keep Nathan and Nova distracted,” I offer as a joke.

I laugh as Rosalie bear-hugs me. Pulling back, she grabs my shoulders. “Your number. Now.”

After we’ve exchanged numbers with a promise to go out for lunch together soon, there’s a skip in my step as I walk out of the ballroom.

Even if there’s a pang in my chest at not seeing Kian anywhere.

He really has cut himself off from his family.

I easily find the stairs leading to the first floor. Not even a blind person can miss the giant spiral staircase. No one stops or asks me questions as I climb them. Upstairs, it’s quiet and serene. Low pulses of music coming from the party downstairs. I stroll down the hall to my right, deciding to wait in one of the rooms there.

Opening the first door, I immediately swing it shut with an awkward apology to the couple making out inside.

Shit.

I’m careful as I press my ear against the next door, trying to pick any sounds. When I turn the knob, it doesn’t budge. I decideto check the opposite hallway. There are two rooms at the very end. My heels click-clack on the lavish marble floor. It’s squeaky clean as if it were only carved today.