Page 146 of Illicit Games

Suddenly noticing I’m mostly picking at my food, she frowns with worry. “Is everything okay? Do you not like it?”

“I had a late lunch, so I’m full,” I lie.

“Oh. Why didn’t you say so?”

“You finish up.”

I take a few bites here and there until she’s done. Together, we take the empty plates to the sink. She leans beside me against the counter while I do the dishes.

Casually, I mention, “Your five months as my assistant are ending soon.”

“Umm… yeah. I didn’t even realize.” Smirking, she teases, “Are you thinking of getting rid of me?”

Never… my broken heart screams.

“Or maybe you want to keep me longer? Should I change my profession?”

Drying my hands with the washcloth, I pull her back to the dining table.

“Just wondering when you’d want to do the interview so I can put it in my calendar.” Tilting my head, I raise a brow. “It’s the whole reason you came to work for me, isn’t it?”

She tenses, a crease appearing on her brow. Masking it quickly, she utters, “Yeah, of course. I haven’t forgotten.”

“Why don’t we have a practice run?” I suggest, sitting down. “Let’s see how much you’ve learned about me, my company. I’ll screen the questions right now.”

Her throat bobs nervously. “I haven’t prepared the list yet.”

“I’m sure you can think of some off the bat.”

Her chin wobbles. “Kian.”

“Sit, Iris.”

The mask she’s been wearing for months slips. Fear dims the shine in her blue pupils, and her pink cheeks pale as a sheet. I notice the second she realizes she’s been caught and the jig is up.

Gripping the back of the chair, she stutters, “Please let me explain.”

The dark cloud bursts, raining down on me. A part of me hoped she’d deny it. Leaning back, I flick my wrist. “Explain why you’ve been tricking me for months.”

“I was always going to tell you, I swear,” she cries. “I was waiting for the perfect time after the threat had passed.”

“Too late for that.”

Her expression falls completely at my callous remark. “It’s true I was sent to spy on your company and I joined you under false pretenses, but I did it to help find those innocent girls. I never believed you had a hand in it. More than that, I agreed to do this because I wanted to get closer to you, to be seen by you. To become yours.”

“So Harshita never offered you a job for gathering dirt on me?”

Guilt makes her rock back on her heels.

I shake my head as my hand balls into a fist on the table.

“I rejected their offer, Kian. I was never going to take it. I just let Harshita believe it. When she asked me to give info about your secret investigation, I said no. I have been on your side from the beginning. Please believe me.”

I do believe her.

That’s the fucking problem. Because I can neither hate her nor be mad at her. I’m just crushed. A heavy weight presses down on my lungs, suffocating me.

“What haven’t you told me about the attacks, Iris? How long have you known that you were beaten because of your snooping?”