Page 133 of The Elusive Billionaire

Madi and Clover are the first around the corner, but Savvy drags along at a much slower pace.

“I figured we could make plates and then sit in the dining room so we can get started. I have my MacBook set up in there to take notes. Does that work?” I don’t make eye contact while piling my plate with California rolls and tempura because that’s what I’ve seen Savvy eat in the past.

“Sounds good,” Madi singsongs, almost like she’s daring me to look at her, so I do. Her perma-grin has got to go.

“You’re taking this all very seriously.” Clover’s voice is always just a touch above a whisper. Has she ever yelled at anyone?

I realize a moment too late that everyone is staring at me expectantly.

Oh, right. Clover said something.

“I take everything seriously. I’ll meet you in the dining room.”

The whispers of gossip bubble up as I exit the room. Then I’m left pacing the length of the table for another ten minutes before anyone joins me.

Savvy enters first, and the talons of impatience embedded in my chest retract their claws.

“Monroe, you can sit here,” I say, pointing to the chair I have a death grip on. “Clover and Madi, you sit across from us.”

“You have assigned seats?” Savvy’s question drips with sarcasm, and I control my breath in response.

“Yes. I need to study everyone’s reactions to the questions, so I’ll know how to respond at go-time.”

“Go-time?” she snorts. “Grey, this isn’t a covert operation. You’re not a Navy SEAL. It’s a small-town fair.”

“It’soursmall town’s second biggest event of the year. And it only comes in second to the Cozy Cup Festival because in January, everyone’s all strung out from the holidays and needs an excuse to get drunk and happy without all the pressure.”

I feel Madi and Clover’s gaze on me, but I ignore them. “I saw how intensely everyone took the Cozy Cup Festival, and I worked tirelessly to ensure Madi won for Braxton’s sake. Did you think I wouldn’t put in the same amount of effort when it’s you and me on the line?”

Savvy’s eyes are wide and watering. “You— You’re unhinged, you know that, right?”

I wave her off. “Yes, yes I know.” Adopting an annoying female tone, I say, “How can you go from hating me to loving me in the blink of an eye? How can you fight me every step of the way, yet say you want me forever? How can?—”

“Don’t be an asshole,” Savvy snarls.

“My point is.” I ensure my tone is dark and demanding. “I don’t know how it all works, it just does. I want what I want, and if you’d stop fighting me for two seconds, you’d realize it’s everything you want too.”

A chair slides into place across the room. A quick glance tells me Clover is intensely uncomfortable because if she pulls her cardigan any tighter around herself, she’s sure to collapse a lung.

“Now,” I say as gently as I’m capable. “Can we please get on with this so I can learn everything I need to know to win?”

“This isn’t how normal people go about dating, you understand that, right?”

I feel my face pull into a smile. “Yes, I understand, Monroe. I understand it all. And after I learn what makes you tick, I’ll ensure you have the fairy tale you dream of yet don’t dare to reach for.”

“That’s not?—”

“Swoon,” Clover says, fanning her face. “Seriously, swoon. Can I use that line in a book? Can you imagine if a stalker said that to his next victim?”

My jaw drops while she reaches into a bag at her side for a small notebook. “Clover, in no way, place, or time, would a stalker be the Prince Charming in that scenario.”

“Oh, Grey,” Clover gasps as though I’m out of line. “You’re out of the loop. Stalker thrillers and stalker romance are hot commodities right now.”

I blink three times before I can shift her train of thought from my consciousness.

I also addfind Clover a therapistto my list of shit to do.

“Okay. Well, no stalking, but I would like to know what I’m up against with this game. I…” My palms sweat, and my stomach hollows out.