Page 7 of Ice-Cold Obsession

And if I play my cards right, he’ll probably pull strings to make sure I get the job. He’ll think it’s his idea and that he’s orchestrating this to get closer to me, but in reality, it’ll be all me.

I immediately start drafting an email to the athletics department. I keep it professional but enthusiastic, mentioning my interest in sports photography and my desire to get involved on campus. I attach a few photos that I took in high school, including the one that won a state competition. It’s good enough to show that I know what I’m doing. Besides, I love taking photos.

Before I send the email, I go to my social media profile and make a post. I upload a photo of the coffee shop with the caption saying:Excited to apply for the team photographer position! Fingers crossed!Along with some emojis.

I hitpostand stare at the screen. I don’t have many followers yet, just a few students I’ve connected with yesterday. But I know Gabriel will see it. He’s probably already stalking my profile and trying to figure me out.

And when he does, he’ll think he’s reeling me in and getting me exactly where he wants me. He’ll make sure I get the job because he wants me close.

But what he doesn’t know is that I’ll always be the one in control.

I head back to my dorm. So far, everything’s going according to plan. Gabriel is interested, I’m getting closer to him, and he has no idea what’s coming.

Carla’s face flashes in my mind, and there’s an ache in my chest. But this time, it’s mixed with determination and resolve.

I’m going to make Gabriel pay.

Chapter 4

GABRIEL

I’M SCROLLING THROUGHScarlett’s social media for I don’t know what time today, and there’s barely anything on there. Her profile is practically empty. She has a few photos from what looks like her hometown, some nature shots, and a few selfies.

It’s frustrating because I’m used to girls who post everything. Their lives are open books, easy to read and even easier to manipulate. But Scarlett is different, and that makes her harder to figure out.

I click on one of the nature photos. It’s actually good and professional-looking in a way that suggests she knows what she’s doing. She has an eye for this, apparently.

There’s another photo from what looks like a high school event. She’s with a group of people, all of them dressed up, and there’s a trophy in her hands. I zoom in and read the banner in the background.Photography competition. So she’s not just dabbling in this but she’s actually won something.

Interesting.

I scroll back to the top of her feed and stare at her profile picture. It’s a close-up of her face, with natural lighting and no filters. She looks less guarded and more like the kind of girl who’d be easy to get close to.

But she wasn’t easy at the party. She was polite and distant, and every time I tried to steer the conversation somewhere interesting, she deflected. It was maddening.

Most girls would’ve been all over me by now. They would’ve touched my arm and given me their number without me even asking. But Scarlett didn’t do any of that. She didn’t even looked impressed when I told her I was the captain of the hockey team.

That’s not normal. Either she’s playing some kind of game, or she genuinely doesn’t care who I am.

I’m betting on the first one.

Girls always play games. They pretend they’re not interested because they think it makes them more appealing, and if they act hard to get, I’ll chase them harder.

And they’re right, because I will.

I like winning, and Scarlett is like a challenge I can’t walk away from.

I’m about to close the app when a new post pops up. It’s a photo of the coffee shop, but the caption catches my eye.

I stare at the screen and a grin spreads across my face.

She wants to be the team’s photographer?

Awesome.

That means she’ll be around me all the time, and I won’t have to chase her or come up with random run-ins. She’ll just be there, and I’ll have constant access. All I have to do is get her the job.

And if things go the way I want them to, I can use this position against her later. If I make sure she knows that I’m the reason she got the job and that I can get her fired just as easily if she doesn’t cooperate, it’s the perfect leverage.