I let out a small laugh. "I can't believe this! Do you hear yourselves? I'm certain he's not into me and just wants to have fun, like a cat playing with a mouse."
"And in the end, she gets devoured," Saphya retorts. "You won't convince me that he doesn't want to taste you, Dixie."
Pia giggles quietly. It’s a good play on words.
My fantasy resurfaces in my mind. Despite all logic, my body seems inclined to surrender to Player. But I'm more than just a bunch of hormones trapped in a body! I have strength of character, and I fully intend to stand against Player. I straightenup and square my shoulders before declaring, "Well, he's not going to have me!"
"Well said," Pia approves.
"He can find himself another prey," I add, "because I won't give in."
"He does have killer abs though," Saphya comments.
I give her a dismayed look."Whose side are you on?"
My friend raises her hands innocently. "Yours, of course!"
I nod with satisfaction, but Saphya isn't finished.
"But I do have eyes," she adds, "and I can tell you that Player is smoking hot. Honestly, I'm surprised there isn't a line outside his bedroom door."
At the thought that he might sleep with women right here, in our apartment, my stomach tightens. It's stupid! Completely inappropriate! Player has the right to hook up with whoever he wants. Actually, it would be good if he did, at least maybe he'd finally stop pushing my buttons once and for all.
Yes, I think I'll actually suggest he do it, so I can finally be rid of him.
10
PLAYER
The tripto New York takes way too long for my taste. I don’t have a lot of free time during football season, and I have to admit, nothing irritates me more than having to show up at my father's penthouse in the heart of Manhattan.
As the elevator doors slide open with a muffled whisper, I feel an overwhelming urge to flee. Most people dream of living in such luxurious surroundings, but as far as I'm concerned, this is nothing but a freaking gilded cage.
"Good morning, sir."
My father's butler stands there like he has nothing better to do with his days. He has that uptight expression that's always gotten on my nerves. I don't even bother greeting him, instead saying, "Bolton summoned me."
I watch for a sign of annoyance or disapproval when I use my father's first name, but he remains stone-faced. Either he's too used to my behavior, or he's super professional. Either way, his lack of reaction irritates me even more.
"Your father is in his office. I'll..."
The rest of his sentence is lost behind me as I make my way through the vast apartment. The penthouse occupies the top three floors of a building constructed on the edge of CentralPark. From here, the view of the park is incredible, but I'm too worked up to care in the slightest.
I take the imposing marble staircase that connects the three levels down one flight of stairs before turning into a hallway. The walls are paneled with wood treated by some sort of esoteric Japanese burning technique. I don't know why I'm thinking about this aspect of the decor, maybe because I've heard my stepmother talk about it thousands of times.
"You're late."
My father's comment shoots out the moment I set foot in the immense room that serves as his office. The locker room I share with my Jaguars teammates could easily fit inside this room.
"You should have come to me if you wanted punctuality," I retort. “You know how busy college football schedules are.”
My gaze slides over my father's face before settling on the shelves behind him. The room hasn't changed one bit since we moved into the penthouse ten years ago. While my stepmother has free rein to redecorate the entire apartment whenever the mood strikes her, the same doesn't apply to my father's office, this is his territory. The thing with Bolton Boardman is that he considers the entire Earth as his property, and the people who inhabit it are, in his eyes, merely pawns he can move according to his whims.
I move closer to the huge windows overlooking Central Park. If I once appreciated how lucky I was to live in such luxurious surroundings, I quickly learned it wasn't free. I can only enjoy my father's fortune and all the advantages it conferred on the condition that I obey his every command.
My fists clench. I thought I could spread my wings and leave everything behind, but unfortunately, I made the wrong choices, and I'm paying dearly for it.
My father's voice rises behind me. "How's college going?"
