Page 188 of Until We Burn
“Guess you gotta do a better job next time.” Kai shrugs.
Matthias’s lips curl in distaste when he notices Andrea standing with us. “And what are you doing here with them?”
Andrea smiles, nice and sweetly. “Oh, I’m here for you, Mr. Valdis.”
He fidgets and looks slightly disturbed enough to make me smile, too. I step forward with the Go game board box. It catches bàba’s attention.
“You taught me how to play this game as a child, remember? I thought we could play one more round for old times’ sake.”
Matthias rolls his eyes. “We don’t have time for this?—”
“One round,” Bàba agrees.
Unlike Matthias, he senses the calculating undertone in my offer. He knows this won’t be an ordinary game. As always, he won’t shy away from beating someone.
Bàba gestures for Matthias to vacate the chair. I smooth my hands over my skirt and sit down. I take out the bowls and the stones from the box and lay the game board down. Bàba watches me like a predator seizing up his prey.
“You first.”
My clammy hands unwind in my lap. I reach for the bowl and place the first white stone onto the board. He snorts before adding a black stone beneath mine.
I make my next move with an arch of my brow.
“You know, bàba, I always wondered how you kept the HMG afloat despite every scandal that comes out.”
He places another black stone down. “Regardless of what you think of me, I’ll always work hard to make sure the public gets access to the most pertinent news about the city.”
“I’m sure manipulating situations in your favor isveryhard work.”
His eyes, dark with displeasure, snap up at me. “What are you getting at?”
“I just think it’s interesting how major news stories from the HMG conveniently break out the second our reputations are under scrutiny.” My pretense falls. “Deny it all you want, bàba. Uncle Frederik told us everything and showed us proof.”
Kai slaps the documents down onto the table. They reveal bàba conspiring with hitmen and hackers to orchestrate a series of disastersthat would make headlines shocking enough to distract the public from our scandals.
Bàba sits so still, he almost looks calm. Only the slight bob of his throat gives away the panic festering inside of him.
I don’t hide my smile this time. I place another stone on the board and claim a small piece of his territory.
Bàba hisses out a curse before he fumbles for another black stone. “None of that matters,” he dismisses.
“You attacked innocent people and their establishments to cover up your own mistakes,” I accuse.
“They werefledglings.Anyone would’ve come and brought them down eventually. What difference does it make if I’m the one who does it?”
Matthias laughs. “Honestly, Diana, this is a waste of time. You can play your board games all you want, but whatever you do, your father will always have an influence that you will never be able to achieve.”
“Mmm, I doubt that,” Andrea says, “especially since he’s going to lose a major business partner.”
Matthias’ smile falls. He stiffens, gritting the words through his teeth. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Andrea holds up her phone. Photos and videos of Simon doping in his room flash on the screen. Color drains from Matthias’ face. He storms forward and rips the phone out of her hands.
“I know Simon is on steroids,” Andrea declares. “I’ve spent the last few months pretending to support him. In truth, I’ve been using that as an opportunity to document him using it.”
“That’s why he’s been acting out on the ice,” Kai accuses. “You knew the whole time and never did a damn thing.”
Matthias bursts out laughing. His hand trembles as he holds up the phone. “You think that junk on your phone is enough to take down my son? He’s aValdis!He could desecrate the goddamn Cup if he wanted to and still walk onto the ice. When are you going to understand that it will always be my word over yours?”
