Page 208 of Carnal Games

The reality, everything I thought I knew, alters in the blink of an eye.

Swallowing the brick of betrayal in my throat, I accuse, “Us running into each other at the store the first time, you planned it?”

“You aren’t the only one capable of purposely running into someone.”

His taunt is a slap in my face.

All this time, I thought I was betraying and manipulating him.

But it was the other way around.

I was the one getting played.

“Why?” I don’t understand. What could he possibly gain by inserting himself into my life?

“Because I had a feeling once he met you, he wouldn’t be able to resist you. I had to bide my time, play my cards right until I had the one thing he would want the most, but could never have. I want him begging me on his knees to have you.”

So much venom drips from his cutting tone that it threatens to poison me.

I gaze at my best friend, the man I trusted with my life, not recognizing him at all. My Nathan couldn’t be so vindictive.

Is he more like his father than I realized?

I can’t even be furious at him or yell because I have no leg to stand on. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt like a bitch. The taste of my own medicine is bitter.

“You hate Kian that much?”

His mask doesn’t budge, nor does he answer.

Just when I think he can’t stoop any lower, he pushes off the table, straightening his cuff links as he says, “The wedding is happening, Iris. You’ll hold up your end of the deal, unless you’d like Kian to know you’ve been after him for three years. He won’t see it as a grand gesture of love or devotion. He’ll see a young girl trying to seduce a rich guy for his money, going as far as to date his brother just to get closer to him.”

I clutch my stomach, feeling the wind knocked out of my lungs. I stare at him in disbelief, gasping, “Yo-you can’t do this. I’m your friend, Nathan.”

“We were never friends.” Crossing the distance, he strokes the first drop of tear away and whispers, “We were two selfish people using each other.”

“Please don’t do this.”

“You’ve waited three years to be his, you can wait for a few more.”

I see my future shatter before my eyes.

It’s at the hands of a person I never would’ve imagined to hurt me in my worst nightmare.

Stepping back from him, I wipe away the wayward tears and glare at him.

“All these years I harbored guilt that I was using you,” I sob, a mix of fury and anguish. “But turns out, it was you who was using me all along and I let myself fall into your trap.”

His lips press into a thin line before he drives the knife deeper. “You were fine when I was in the dark about your intentions. You’re mad because I outsmarted you, Iris. That I was one step ahead. If it’s any consolation, I didn’t think he’d catch feelings for you this hard and fast. Even if by some miracle Kian stays with you, you still owe me.”

“Owe you?” I hiss.

“If I hadn’t intervened, you’d still be watching him from afar. I could’ve kicked you out of my life any time over the years, but I didn’t. Be grateful for that.”

“Or I could confess to Kian and take away your leverage,” I threaten, expecting his smugness to turn to dust.

Without lifting his eyes off me, he reaches inside the pocket of his suit jacket and pulls out a set of papers. “Here.”

My stomach knots as I gingerly take them and look down.

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