Page 57 of Mafia and Gold Digger

He leans back slightly, the hint of a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He's got me. And he damn well knows it.

The endgame is swift. His queen advances. I see the checkmate coming.

I try one last desperate move, but it's no use. His rook slides into place, and my king has nowhere to go.

"Checkmate," he clips.

He’s beaten me.

I just stare at the board, wondering what the heck just happened.

"Well played," he says, though I can hear the smugness in his voice.

“How did you do that?” I blurt out. “You told me you can’t play chess.”

“No,” he drawls, “I said Ididn’tplay chess. And I don’t. This is the first time I’ve played in a very long time.”

My jaw drops. “You lied again…”

“No, I didn’t.”

“But why would you even do that?”

“To learn your favorite plays and your preferred strategies.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.

“You’re on Chessgenius.com all the time, and anyone can watch you there to learn all about your game.”

“You’ve been stalking my games?”

“Stalking is an exaggeration, so don’t flatter yourself. After all, every single game is made available for the public to watch.”

He’s been watching all my games? Learning my moves and tactics all along? “You’ve been studying my game, while I know nothing about how you like to play. That’s tantamount to…to…cheating.”

“Hardly. Anyway, it’s not my fault that you didn’t see through what I said.” His voice is beyond smug and triumphant.

I glare at him. “Being a beautiful liar isn’t something to brag about.”

He quirks an eyebrow at me. “You think I’m beautiful?”

“In your dreams, Valentino,” I bluster.

“Anyway, you’re too trusting,” he drawls.

“You’re too manipulative!”

“That’s what playing a game is all about. Manipulating your opponent so that you can win.”

“Not everything in life is about manipulation, Valentino.”

“Maybe not. But it sure makes life a hell of a lot more interesting.”

This infuriating man. I should have avoided him right from the start. Because Saint Veneti is a beautiful liar and a goddamn genius rolled into one.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Can I punch you yet?”

But he just chuckles in response. “We’ve got an engagement to plan first.”

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