Page 8 of Rivals
My hands squeeze into fists because I am about to make the decision sans the discussion. Which will be a resounding,screw you and screw this. I will not work with this asshole. For anything or anyone, including the degree I have worked so hard for. Not a chance. The fact that there is no possible way I can afford another semester out of pocket goes without saying. I am broke. What little I do have has to cover rent, and I might actually be able to eat more than ramen for a few weeks.
He stands and faces me. I watch him carefully, like a predator and prey. Only, I’m not so sure I’m the predator. My legs itch to run again. Well, I guess that makes me the prey. Serves me right. The whole point of sabotage, Revna, is tonot get caught.
“I would like to ask why. But I’m not going to bother because I know you won’t tell me the truth. So, here is what I am going to say. I will work with you because I want to win. I want my name in the MoMA. That is why. That is theonlyreason why.“ My head rears back at his words. I’m shocked, to say the least. Why would there would be any other reason? Maybe he thinks I have some kind of weird crush on him or something.
“If this was a way to get my attention, Revna, you have it now and—“
“You cannot be serious. I don’t have a single inkling as to why you think I would even be remotely interested in you, Lachlan. And you don’t know shit.”
Deny. Deny. Deny.
“Yeah— ok, whatever,” he says. “I will work with you, though, because Professor T is right; we will get kicked out. I don’t know about you, but I seriously can’t let that happen.”
“Not my problem,” I say and turn to open the door.
A large, warm hand grabs my shoulder, halting me. The warmth from his palm seeps into my skin, and I push the shiver that builds in my body down as far as it will go. Then I remember myself and shrug him off.
“It is your problem, Revna, because the only other option, aside from what Professor T said, is going to the dean and telling him you sabotaged my painting. There are cameras in this school. They aren’t in the art studio where we all are, but the timing won’t be hard to figure out. The only answer will be that you did it.”
His mouth tips up in a smug smirk, and I want to slap it off. This man makes me positively violent. I could still leave. I could use my rainy day fund that I swore I wouldn’t touch. It would be enough for me to start over, and I don’t need much. I would probably have to leave New York City. Then again, I don’t have any particular fondness for this place. I’m in New York because a lot of artists have better chances here. Despite that, it boils my blood even more to be the fall guy out of both of us. He’s guilty, too.
Revna,youmessed up. I guess that goes without saying. But maybe it’s worth a shot. As much as I can’t stand him, it could work out ok.
Lachlan moves away and goes to lean his hips against Professor T’s desk, crossing his arms. Why does this infuriating man have to be so good-looking? It makes me want to scream. Regardless, I know what I have to do.
“Fine. But on one condition.”
The corner of his mouth tips up again. “And what condition might that be, seeing as you are the one that caused all of this in the first place?”
“I haven’t admitted to anything, for the record. You have no idea if it was me, and you don’t actually have proof. And frankly, I think you are bluffing about the cameras. However, my one condition is that this stays strictly platonic. We know howemotionalthings can be in the art world, and I get to make the final decisions.”
Lachlan bursts into laughter, throwing his head back exposing the column of his throat as it bobs with his chuckles.Stupid necks, why do they have to be so attractive?
Then the laughter stops and his eyes turn dark. He takes a step toward me, and I take a step back. My back hits the wall next to the door, and I slowly lift my hand to grab the handle. I don’t know what he is about to do, and I sure as hell don’t trust him. There is no reason for me to. I did ruin his painting, so it is highly likely he will set out to ruin me.
I turn the handle to make a run for it, but Lachlan slams the door closed. His hips push me back, pinning me to the wall. I’m frozen, and my mind is screaming to knee him in the balls and run. I could scream right now, but air won’t flow into my lungs.
He grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him instead of a way out. “Don’t worry, little bird, I would be more concerned about you jumping my bones. Do we have a deal?”
All of my options are bleak. At least with this one, I still have a chance for the MoMA. “Ok,” I rasp.
“Ok, what, Revna? I need to hear you say it.” His body is fully pressed against mine, and his heat seeps into my cold, and lonely bones.
“Ok, we have a deal,” I squeak out.
“Good girl,” he says, then throws the door open, walking out. A shiver runs down my spine, and I’m not quite sure what I got myself into. I’m partially stunned because I responded that way. My body froze when he was so close to me. I was weak in front of him, and I hate it so much my blood singes my veins. It won’t happen again.
I may have to work with him, I’ll consider it my penance for being so damn stupid, but I refuse to let him get under my skin again. Clearly, he has, and it only ends in disaster. I just have to get him to quit working with me. Then, this will all be over, and we can both walk away. So, game on, Lachlan. We will see who’s the last one standing.
Once I get my breathing under control, I glance at the clock. I have seconds to be back in the presenting gallery before the judges arrive. I scurry down the hall and go stand next to Lachlan. He looks at me like I’m a speck of dust on his shoe, and I ignore him. Professor T sees us and nods, taking our presence as her answer.
Art always has a way of bringing you to the edge of insanity, like a teeter-totter. Well, the weight of working with Lachlan is tipping my scales. I don’t know what that means for him, but I do know that means my hold on it is thin. But maybe that will work in my favor. I guess we will find out.
Chapter 9
Lachlan
Herskinsingedmyfingers. It almost hurt…in a good way. I hate it because it should be nothing but bad.
