FORCED TO BE WITH MR RIGHT

CHAPTER 7: The Greek god's Frustration

Reign's POV:

I watched her storm off - Daisy, the infuriating girl who somehow managed to get under my skin faster than anyone ever had. Arms crossed, glaring, storming through the backstage corridor like she owned the place.

Part of me wanted to chase her, tell her she was being ridiculous. Another part… well, another part found it impossibly entertaining. The fire in her eyes, that flare of defiance - it was maddening… and, strangely, intriguing.

I hated this. Hated being dragged into this engagement. Hated how my parents had decided my life for me. Hated the fact that my entire carefully curated world now included a girl who clearly despised me. And yet… every time I caught her eye, something in me shifted. That smirk, the glare, the way she refused to even be impressed by my performance - she got under my skin in ways no one else ever had.

“Why is she so… stubborn?” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. She wasn’t like the other girls I dealt with - fawning, predictable, obsessed with fame. Daisy wasn’t impressed. She didn’t care. And that… that was frustratingly attractive.

I glanced at Krystal, who was leaning casually against the wall, her usual playful smirk in place.

“You think about her a lot,” she teased, raising an eyebrow.

“I do not,” I said quickly, hiding the truth behind a scoff.

Krystal chuckled, stepping closer. “Oh please… the way you glared at her during the show. Admit it - you like the challenge.”

I shook my head. “Challenge? She’s… annoying. That’s it. Purely annoying.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, smirking knowingly. “Keep telling yourself that, Reign.”

Before I could respond, my phone rang. Derrick.

“Yo, man! Where are you? The guys are chilling, thought you’d join - oh, whoa, wait… you’re not with Krystal, are you?” His voice was curious, casual.

“Not exactly,” I said, keeping it vague. “Just… dealing with some stuff.”

Derrick laughed. “Stuff? Sounds serious. Spill it later, yeah?”

“Yeah, later,” I muttered, hanging up.

Krystal winked. “Stuff, huh? That better not involve our dear rude miss”

I didn’t answer. Because yes… it did. And no one could know - not Krystal, not Derrick, not McKenzie or Michael. Not yet.

When I got home, Audrey was in the living room, arms crossed, clearly waiting for me. “You look like you’ve just survived a battlefield,” she said, smirking.

“Feels like it,” I muttered, kicking off my shoes. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to deal with her - Daisy. She’s… she’s different. And she’s furious at me, like really furious.”

Audrey raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”

“She’s not impressed. Doesn’t care about the fame, the fans… she thinks I’m a jerk. And she hates my flirting with Krystal,” I admitted.

Audrey chuckled. “Well, you are a jerk, but that’s beside the point. You like the fight, don’t you?”

“Maybe,” I said, trying not to admit too much. “But it’s… complicated. Our parents - forcing this engagement, forcing me to be around her… it’s going to be a war.”

Audrey’s eyes softened slightly. “Listen, little brother, if you’re going to survive this, you need strategy. Don’t let your feelings, whatever they are - spill out. She’s fiery, yes, but she’s clever too. Underestimate her, and you’ll regret it.”

“I know,” I said, rubbing my temples. “I just… can’t stop thinking about her. That glare, that fire - it’s… frustrating.”

Audrey laughed, standing up and ruffling my hair. “Frustrating, huh? Sounds like someone’s already falling for the challenge. Just… don’t make it easy for her. And whatever you do, keep this between us for now. None of the friends, none of the chaos.”

I nodded, leaning back against the couch, feeling a mix of irritation and excitement. She might hate me, she might call me arrogant, rude, entitled..... but one thing was certain: this was far from over. And if her fire met mine… the sparks were going to be explosive.