I WANT AGAIN..

It’s just me…

The car stops in front of the Greys’ house. Promise, sitting in the front seat, has fixed her hair five times since we left her mother’s house. Beside me, Ways stares at the front door with a neutral expression.

— He’s here…

Promise whispers with a satisfied smile.

Without waiting, she gets out, smooths her skirt, and rushes inside. I roll my eyes and follow her, with Ways on my heels.

In the living room, Troy is lounging in an armchair, one arm casually resting on the armrest, the other holding his phone. Around him, his friends are arguing over a game they just finished.

— Hey,

Promise greets as she perches herself right on the armrest of Troy’s chair, leaning toward him with a bright smile.

Troy gives her a brief glance before turning his attention back to his phone.

— Hey.

— Just “hey”? I’m hurt… she pouts.

He doesn’t answer, but I notice the slight tension in his jaw. My gaze follows his, and for just a second, I catch what’s unsettling him.

He’s staring at me, sitting on the couch, my expression unreadable.

Interesting.

Promise, however, doesn’t give up. She crosses and uncrosses her legs slowly, desperately trying to catch his attention.

— Don’t you want to talk somewhere else?

she murmurs in his ear.

— Not really,

he says flatly.

Her cheeks flush, and she straightens up with an annoyed pout.

— You’re no fun, Troy…

But Troy is no longer paying her any attention. He’s tense, and I know exactly why—because of how effortlessly I ignore him.

It was perfect for me. It was like this in the past, and it will always be.

I clap my hands to shift the focus.

— I have a challenge.

Leo, who has been absentmindedly twirling a pen between his fingers, looks up, intrigued.

— Go on, let’s hear it.

— A speed and precision challenge. First one to pick this lock in under three minutes wins.

A silence falls over the room.

— Wait, you’re serious?

Liam asks, raising a brow.

— Completely,

I reply with confidence.

Leo bursts into laughter.

— I hope you haven’t forgotten—I’m a genius with my hands.

— Oh, I can’t wait to see that,

I say, taunting.

Troy straightens slightly, amused.

— And what’s at stake?

— If Leo wins, you guys get a good little pup for life. I know, it doesn’t sound appealing now, but later… the famous and stunning Banks Ross, doing anything and everything you want. Absolutely everything.

I emphasize my last words with a suggestive look at Troy, who watches me with interest.

— And if you win?

— If I win… Leo joins my crew. You lose him for good.

Leo raises a brow, surprised. Then, a grin spreads across his face.

— I like it.

Troy whistles.

— You better not lose, man.

— I never lose,

Leo replies.

— We’ll see about that,

I say, pulling out two lockpicks I had discreetly slipped into my bag before coming.

I toss one to him and head toward an unused interior door. The others gather around us.

— On my signal,

Ways finally speaks, casting us a glance.

Troy immediately turns away, as if seeing me near another guy is too much effort to handle. Amusing.

— Ready?

Leo and I crouch in front of the lock.

— Go!

My fingers move immediately. The key is to feel the mechanism, find the right angle… Leo is fast, but I have the advantage—I’m more methodical.

Promise takes this chance to scoot even closer to Troy.

— Don’t you want to cheer me on? she purrs.

— Hm? Cheer you on for what?

he asks absentmindedly.

I smirk. He’s not paying attention to a single word she’s saying. His gaze keeps flicking toward me, even though I pretend not to notice.

And then—click.

I straighten up and push the door open with a satisfied snap.

— Done.

Leo freezes, eyes wide.

— No way…

— Oh, but yes.

Leon bursts out laughing.

— Bro, you lost.

Leo stays still for a second, then sighs and extends his hand to me.

— I lost. I’m a man of my word.

I shake it, victorious.

Promise, on the other hand, stomps her foot, furious.

— Troy, you didn’t even watch the challenge?!

He blinks, snapping back to reality.

— Hm?

She crosses her arms, pouting.

— You’re impossible.

But I can see it—it’s not indifference.

It’s just that something else unsettles him far more.

And that something is me.

— So now that I lost, I’m supposed to hang out with a bunch of eleven-year-olds?

Leo grumbles.

Leon bursts into laughter, followed by Liam and Luis.

— Give me your number. I’ll be calling you soon.

I say, batting my eyelashes.

— What, don’t tell me you actually have a phone?

— What if I do?

Troy finally dares to speak to me.

— No, but you’d like that, wouldn’t you?

— Excuse me?

Troy frowns.

— Your number, Leo.

I blink and snap back to reality.

I let out a sigh as my mind returns to the present.

If I allowed myself to drift so far into my thoughts, it’s simply because the scene before me bores me to no end.

The mayor of the city—that useless man—is currently having a rough time in court, facing charges of embezzlement and forgery.

What a pain… and to think I went through so much trouble to get my hands on the mayor…

Now, he’s about to be sentenced and imprisoned. I frown, doubtful.

For months, everything she worked tirelessly to build upon her return has been falling apart.

One by one, all her allies are being taken down.

That’s precisely why she had to come back—things were becoming urgent.

When the verdict is announced, it’s final.

She has officially lost her pawn.

Not that she can’t find another, but she has no interest in starting from scratch.

With a sigh, she grabs her bag and stands.

As she exits the courtroom, she collides with a firm chest.

She looks up—and her entire body reacts.

— You? Here?

I ask Troy, stunned.

His eyes narrow, staring straight ahead as if he hasn’t even seen me.

Shocked, I watch him walk right past me.