Page 20 of Sticks & Serpents

“And this charity game?” I leaned in closer, lowering my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “It’s not just some PR stunt; it’s being propped up by my father’s money.”

I straightened up again, meeting Dean's gaze head-on with confidence radiating from every pore.

“You can’t touch me, Dean. Not when my father’s name is keeping this event alive.”

The color drained from Dean Walker's face as I leaned in; the tension crackling between us like a live wire. He knew as well as I did that his authority meant nothing against the legacy my name carried.

“You can’t be serious,” he finally stammered, attempting to regain some semblance of control.

I dropped the act, letting my smile fade into something sharper. “But I’ll make you a deal.”

His glare was cold, those dark eyes narrowing as if trying to pierce through my intentions. “What kind of deal?”

“I’ll behave,” I said, keeping my voice steady and calm. “No more fights. No more problems. But I want Holly.”

His body went rigid, the muscles in his jaw tensing visibly. “Absolutely not.”

I tilted my head slightly, letting a slow smile creep across my lips—an unsettling blend of charm and menace. “Then I guess we’re done here. And I’ll see you at the next disciplinary hearing.”

A heavy silence fell between us, thick enough to choke on. The weight of unspoken truths hung in the air, both of us acutely aware of what this moment meant.

He looked like he wanted to argue, but we both knew it would be futile. If he wanted me to keep my hands clean—if he wanted any chance of this Summer Charity Showdown being anything but a disaster—Holly had to be my problem to manage.

“Sinclaire,” he finally said, his voice dropping to a low whisper that barely masked his frustration.

“Do we have a deal?” I pressed, reveling in the power shift.

Dean Walker inhaled sharply, his resolve wavering under the weight of what I’d just proposed. This was about more than just me; it was about control and perception—the delicate dance that kept this institution running smoothly despite its cracks.

His gaze flickered away for just a second before meeting mine again with reluctant acknowledgment. In that fleeting moment, I saw it: the understanding that there were no good options left for him.

“Fine,” he muttered through clenched teeth.

I leaned back slightly in triumph, savoring the moment like it was the sweetest victory imaginable—a small win in an ongoing war that had only just begun.

The second I stepped out of Dean Walker's office, a sense of triumph washed over me. I leaned against the cool wall in the hallway, letting the adrenaline pulse through my veins like a drug. I had won. I had taken back control.

Holly belonged to me again. She didn’t even know it yet.

I pulled out my phone, fingers itching to reach out to her. I could picture her now—maybe in her room, tucked away in that nice little house she shared with dear, old Daddy, maybe pacing around like she always did when she was nervous or trying to shake off my presence. Either way, it didn't matter. The game was on, and she would soon realize how tightly woven our fates remained.

My thumb hovered over the screen for a heartbeat before I typed one word:

Surprise.

The weight of that single word felt electric as I hit send. A thrill ran through me at the thought of her reaction—her confusion, her inevitable pull toward me despite her best intentions. She had always been drawn to chaos, just like I was drawn to her.

With each passing second, anticipation bubbled inside me. The power of knowing she would be caught off guard fueled my excitement further. It was all part of the plan, a dance we’d been performing since high school—a twisted waltz between attraction and repulsion that only we understood.

I pocketed my phone and strolled through the hallway with purpose, my confidence radiating from every step. Holly would see things differently now; she wouldn’t be able to ignore me anymore—not after this.

As I rounded the corner near River Styx, I spotted a group of students lingering by the café’s entrance. They glanced at me with that familiar mix of awe and wariness, as if they could sense the storm brewing beneath my calm exterior.

Let them watch. Let them gossip about what I'd done with Logan Hartley; it only added fuel to my fire.

But right now? My focus was solely on Holly—the girl who never fully escaped from under my skin, no matter how hard she tried. And soon enough, she'd realize just how entwined our lives remained.

The next move belonged to me, and I couldn’t wait for her to feel it too.

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