Page 67 of Reckless Hate

He looked amused. “The Outreach Program is where we go into underprivileged schools to help children get exposed to games.”

“I know what an Outreach Program is,” she snapped. “I signed myself up for one. But what do you mean by partnered together? You play basketball, and I play tennis.”

His mouth twisted. “I know that. But the dean thinks we should collaborate and partnered us together.”

She stared at him. “I don’t believe you.”

“Check your email. I’m sure you received the message too.”

She picked up her phone and opened her email. She scrolled the new unread messages until she came across the one addressed from the dean’s office.

Dear Miss Roy,

Congratulations on being selected to participate in the Simha Outreach Program. Your contribution would hopefully enrich the lives of children you would help. In order for your services to be effective, you will be partnered with Ved Simha, a senior athlete who has experience and will guide you through the process.

Sincerely,

Neelima Raj

Director of Administration

Samantha stared at the email for a long moment.

There was a masculine chuckle. “The words are not going to magically change even if you stare hard at it.”

She looked up at his smirking face. “I won’t agree to this,” she said.

He shrugged. “Well, then I guess you’ll have to speak to the dean and let her know.”

That shut her up. Her enemy knew very well that she was barely in Neelima Raj’s good books. Any additional trouble caused might end in a suspension.

“Connard!” she snapped.

His smirk grew. “In English, please.”

Ignoring his request to translate the French word for asshole, she glared at him. “You could have sent me a message or text. You didn’t have to come here.”

“Yes, but this is more effective,” he said, deliberately using the dean’s words. “Or do you prefer going to the library to discuss this?”

She frowned. Going to the library with Ved Simha would mean getting unnecessary attention. The jerk already made her into a hot topic of discussion when they engaged in a war of words and stupid pranks. And then they were caught kissing during the masquerade event. She didn't want to be associated with him publicly anymore.

“Fine. Let’s get this over with.”

She didn’t look at him since she knew he’d have an arrogant smirk for getting his way. Pulling out a dining chair, she sat down and waited for him to join her.

He sat opposite her and took out his phone. He showed her the video of the previous year’s Outreach Program. Reluctantly, she was impressed by what she saw. He spoke to the children about basketball and his personal experiences. He also showed them the game of basketball and had them playing with him. At the end of the program, many children signed up to play basketball with a coach sponsored by Simha University.

This began several decades ago. Her father had once been such an underprivileged child who had benefited from Outreach Program. He was later enrolled as a student into Simha University through a scholarship to join their tennis program before he became a world tennis champion.

It had been her childhood dream to participate in the Outreach Program to help others like her father.

“We will have to coordinate between our game schedules,” her enemy said before he turned off the video on his phone.

She nodded. She looked at him, expecting him to get up and leave.

But he remained seated. “I just got back from a three-hour bike ride. I’m starving, and that pasta smells good.”

She frowned. Food was one of her greatest passions, and she could never refuse giving food to anyone. Not even to her worst enemy.

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