Chapter Eight - Making him jealous
758 Words
Lena woke the next morning with one thought in her mind.
Adrian.
And one decision.
If he wanted to call their little game
dangerous, then she was going to find out exactly how dangerous it could become.
She wasn't going to flirt with him again.
Not directly.
She was going to make him jealous.
By lunchtime, Lena had already chosen her target.
Ethan Laurent.
Her university friend was sitting across from her at a café near campus, laughing at something she'd said.
“You're acting suspicious,” Ethan said.
“Am I?”
“Very.”
Lena smiled.
“Maybe I'm just in a good mood.”
Ethan studied her.
“That's not the Lena I know.”
“Perhaps you're getting to know me better.”
He laughed.
She looked down at her phone.
No messages.
She hadn't expected one.
Adrian wouldn't text her.
He was too controlled for that.
So Lena decided to give him something else to notice.
That afternoon, she invited Ethan to the mansion.
When they arrived, Adrian was standing in the entrance hall.
His expression barely changed.
Barely.
“Lena.”
“Adrian.”
Then Ethan stepped inside.
“Hi. I'm Ethan.”
Adrian's eyes moved to him.
Slowly.
“Adrian Blackwood.”
They shook hands.
The exchange lasted perhaps two seconds.
But Lena noticed the slight tightening of Adrian's jaw.
Interesting.
“Ethan is helping me with a university project,” Lena explained.
“Is he?”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked at Ethan.
“What are you studying?”
“Photography.”
“Interesting.”
The word sounded anything but.
Ethan smiled.
“Lena said you have some incredible artwork here.”
“I do.”
“Could we see it?”
Adrian looked at Lena.
She smiled innocently.
“Can we?”
A long silence.
“Of course.”
They walked toward the gallery.
Lena deliberately stayed beside Ethan.
She laughed at his jokes.
Touched his arm when he spoke.
And every few minutes, she glanced at Adrian.
He noticed.
She knew he noticed.
But he said nothing.
That was almost more satisfying.
Later, Ethan showed Lena something on his camera.
She leaned closer.
“That's beautiful.”
“You think so?”
“I do.”
“Maybe I'll photograph you sometime.”
Lena smiled.
“I'd like that.”
Behind them came a quiet voice.
“Lena.”
She turned.
Adrian stood several feet away.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
“Victoria wants you.”
Lena blinked.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
Ethan glanced between them.
“I'll wait here.”
“No,” Adrian said.
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“I can wait.”
“I meant that Victoria is in the garden.”
“Oh.”
Ethan smiled awkwardly.
“Right.”
Lena followed Adrian into the hallway.
The moment they were alone, she turned toward him.
“You're jealous.”
“No.
“You are.”
“I'm not.”
“You barely looked at Ethan.”
“I looked at him plenty.”
She smiled.
“Exactly.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Don't start.”
“Start what?”
She folded her arms.
“You don't like him.”
“I don't know him.”
“You don't like him.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“You seem very interested in whether I like him.”
“Maybe I am.”
He stared at her.
Then his voice dropped.
“Why?”
Lena's confidence faltered for half a second.
Because the real answer wasn't funny.
She wanted to know if he cared.
She wanted proof.
Instead, she smiled.
“Because it's fun.”
Adrian studied her face.
“You're trying to make me jealous.”
“Maybe.”
“And if it works?”
Lena tilted her head.
“Then I'll know I succeeded.”
Adrian moved closer.
Close enough that her smile disappeared.
“Lena,” he said quietly, “you have no idea what you're playing with.”
She held his gaze.
“Then maybe you should tell me.”
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Adrian stepped back.
“Be careful what you wish for.”
He walked away.
Lena watched him disappear down the
corridor.
Her heart was beating too quickly.
She had wanted a reaction.
She'd gotten one.
But instead of feeling victorious, she felt something she hadn't expected.
Guilt.
Because somewhere between the games, the teasing, and the jealousy...
She had started wanting more than a
reaction.
She wanted Adrian.
And that was far more dangerous.
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