How can he want her back when his side of the bed isn’t even cold yet before she’s hooking up with someone new?
Teagan lets out a breathy moan of pleasure as her new friend kisses her thoroughly.
I can’t watch this. I’m so disgusted by her right now. How can she do this to Josh when he wants her back so badly?
Josh wantsherback.
An inferno of fury alights under my skin as I continue to watch. I should go. I should look away. But my mind and my hatred for her at this moment can’t be reasoned with.
A bell rings from somewhere, and I know my time is almost up.
I check my phone to make sure my flash is off, then do something I know will truly be the end of us. I take photos of her being mauled by this man. Then I switch it to video mode and hit record as she grabs him and pulls his lips back to hers.
This will do just nicely. I hit stop on my phone and hold it to my chest before I turn and walk out of the garden.
The loud bell rings again near the front of the estate. I quicken my pace so Teagan doesn’t catch me out here. I don’t need to talk to her anymore. There is really no point in fixing this friendship when I’m so close to finally having everything I want.
When I exit the garden, I see Henry standing at the bottom step to the entrance, ringing a small silver bell.
“Hey, Henry,” I greet him with a smile.
He returns the smile and ushers me up the steps. “Ms. Lexi! I’ve been looking all over for you and Ms. Teagan! Dinner is about to be served, and Mr. Pierce would like you all in attendance.”
I roll my eyes and open my mouth to tell him that I have no interest in being Pierce’s guest just as Teagan and her new beau stroll out of the garden hand in hand. Teagan sees me and immediately drops his hand and pulls away from him. Her expression turns to stone as she sheds his jacket and hands it back to him. He takes it from her with a smirk, throwing it back over his shoulder like some sort of male model. He looks proud of her as he holds his arm out for her. She takes it without argument. That pride turns to undiluted anger as he looks up at me. I glare right back at him.
Teagan was right about one thing: this man is obscenely gorgeous. He has that Disney villain vibe about him. Tall, dark hair, great body, and the most intense eyes I’ve ever seen. He’s the type of guy who could flay you alive with a single glance. If I weren’t entirely committed to Josh, he’d be exactly my type.
I can’t help but relish in the small kernel of victory that flares up inside of me, knowing that I have this type of effect on Teagan. To see that she still cares about my opinion enough to use this tall, dark, and handsome man as a crutch instead of facing me.
And here I was, just moments away from grovelling at her feet to forgive me. I don’t need her forgiveness. I need her out of my life so I can have Josh. Clearly, she doesn’t care about him the way I do, and this little video will show him that. This is just another game I’ll make sure to win.
“Oh! Ms. Teagan and Mr. Quinn! It’s time for dinner with Mr. Pierce. I will escort you both, along with Ms. Lexi, to the dining hall. Come, come! We mustn’t be late!”
I personally have no desire to meet this illustrious Mr. Pierce. Still, I find myself following right behind Henry, Teagan, and Quinn as we navigate through the crimson halls of Windermere.
Nothing this crazy author does to us will be worse than what I’m about to do to Teagan. I can’t stop the smile that snakes across my lips as I press send on the video message to Josh. There’s no way he’ll want her back once he sees this. Soon, I’ll have him all to myself.
Chapter fifteen
The dining hall we’ve been led to is immaculate. It’s like something out of a Victorian novel. The vast ceiling looks hand-painted. Little cherubs dance amongst fluffy white clouds and laugh across the sky-blue mural.
It’s the only bright spot in the room.
A long, but skinny, massive hardwood table spans nearly the entire room with a forest green table runner placed perfectly in the middle. Brass candelabras stand every couple of feet with three candles each, flames casting shadows on the walls around us as Lee and I search for our seats.
Each place setting has handwritten cards atop golden-lined china with swirls of deep red patterns. My stomach starts to turn when I realize that they remind me of blood splatters.
Earlier, after Lexi left to hunt Teagan down, Lee and I returned to the sitting room we found ourselves in after the mock escape room. We spoke to a few of the other guests, all of whom had undergone their own trials before being allowed entry. As much as I hate the drama that unfolded in our little friend group, I’m glad that we weren’t the only ones tested.
He might be insane, but I’m still anxiously excited to meet A. M. Pierce. He is the reason why we’re here, after all, and I’m not lettingTeagan and Lexi ruin that for me. Even if I’m partially responsible for them being at each other’s throats right now.
There are green velvet chairs on each side of the table, with one chair sitting alone at the head of the grand table. We find our cards toward the middle and sit. Lexi’s name is written on a card between Lochlan and Lee. Teagan’s spot is right next to me. It’s probably best that they have Lee and me as a buffer.
“Where do you think they are?” I whisper to Lee as I glance nervously about the table. Almost everyone has found their seats and is whispering amongst themselves. But there are still five empty seats. Two for Lexi and Teagan, the one on the end that I assume is reserved for Mr. Pierce, and two more that haven’t yet been claimed directly across from us.
“Maybe they decided not to come?” Lee answers just as the double doors at the head of the table open. Henry strolls in, flashing a polite smile to each of us.
Teagan walks in a moment later with a new man on her arm. They both look like they’re ready to burn the whole place down. I can’t help but shudder when I notice that her eyes are trained on mine. She and her new friend walk down the length of the table, looking at each guest card. They stop short when they get to Lee and me.
