Chapter 0247

“Wow, Fay,” Daniel says, making me jump as he comes to stand next to me. “I thought you were bad at hiding your jealousy this

morning, but it's got nothing on this.”

And I cringe a little as I look up into Daniel’s face. He smirks down at me as I realize how completely obvious I’m being. “Sorry,” I

murmur, taking his hand.

“It’s all right,” he whispers, moving close to me and running a crooked finger softly down my cheek. “Everyone knows by now that

you two had drama, so I think it's not abnormal for you to look a little jealous when he’s talking to a new girl. But let’s not forget

the goal, right?”

“Right,” I say, smiling up at him and tilting my chin up in a silent request. Daniel smiles at me before he bends a little, pressing

his mouth to mine in a slow, lingering kiss.

“Crazy in love,” he murmurs. “You and me? Crazy in love.”

“Yup,” I reply, grinning up at him and considering that at least it’s not a hard thing to pretend. Because I do love him — not that

way, of course. But Daniel’s my best friend. It’s not difficult to let everyone see that and throw in a few kisses here and there.

The next few hours are torture, though. Daniel doesn’t leave my side, of course, but the Russian dolls still flock to him, telling

annoying stories and each giving him obvious compliments in their individual attempts to stand out, to make him choose one of

them.

I sigh a little inwardly as I watch these girls flirt with my fiancé. I pretend to laugh at their jokes, but really I just wish I could simply

just tell them to give up because there’s not a chance in hell that he’s actually going to go for any of us.

Because, I know, Daniel and Jerome are still going strong, even if their midnight meetups have been temporarily disrupted.

But honestly weathering the affections of the dolls is the least torturous part of the night. The most torturous part is that Ivan

doesn’t say a god damn word to me. He doesn’t even glance my way, even as I watch him take the girl’s phone and clearly add

his number into it. He doesn’t even acknowledge my existence as he skips out of the party two hours before the rest of us do.

I scowl the whole ride home, and continue doing so as I climb the stairs with my hand warmly held in Daniel's, my mind turning

over every moment of Ivan ignoring me until Daniel closes my bedroom door behind us and turns the lock.

“Fay,” Daniel says, and I look up at him almost in surprise that he’s there. He frowns down at me. “Are you all right?”

“I'm fine,” I sigh, shaking my head. “I’m sorry, Daniel,” I murmur, stepping closer and leaning my head against his chest. “I just — I

went into all of that expecting to fight with him, to have to beat him off with a stick. I wasn’t expecting...”

“Cheer up,” Daniel says, patting me lightly on the back before heading towards the bathroom. “At least I think we successfully

convinced the Russians that I’ve only got eyes for you.”

“Yes,” I say quietly, watching Daniel pass through the bathroom door and waiting for him to shut it behind him. Then, once it’s

firmly closed, I hurry to my desk and pull out the little burner phone that Kent never took away from me. I bite my lip as I hold it in

my hands, considering my next move.

But then I think...fuck it.

And I send off a quick text.

Come and meet my horse tomorrow, I type. 9 am.

And alittle smile curls on my lips as the reply comes almost instantly.

Ill be there.

A little whirl of excitement starts low

in my stomach as I tuck the

back into my deginah@tien walk to

thd bathroom to rap a knuckle on the

door. “Daniel?” I call. “I’m going

through, okay?” Please read the

original content at .

“Okay!” Daniel calls cheerfully after me. “Sleep tight!”

The next morning, Jerome almost

crashes the Lexus when.he putts irito

6 pasirasonarrs Gta les and

Ss Ivan’s red Ferrari parked there.

Please read the original content at

.

“Fuck,” he whispers, quickly

straightening out the whee! anatheh

turping roland Bene, “What the

fuck, Fay?!” Please read the original

content at .