PleasureGames: A Games Novella Read Online Free PDF

smile to my face. "All right, let's play, then." I turned my voice sickly sweet. "Why, I'm a glass artisan, Mr. Forester. Are you a connoisseur?" The Heathcliff I remembered was more into sports and the business pages than art and beauty. It was a loaded question, provided he remembered what we used to fight about.
    "Sadly, no." His thumb skimmed over my hand, rubbing it in a too familiar way that unsettled me. "I'm not a connoisseur, though I do love to surround myself with beautiful things." He gazed at me, then his smile crooked up even higher on the one side. "Which is why I think we're going to get along fabulously. You're very beautiful."
    "Oh, no, I'm not," I told him. "There's a redhead out there that's gorgeous. Canary yellow dress. Tits like cannons. You'll like her much better."
    His mouth twitched with amusement. "That so?"
    "Absolutely. You want me to go get her for you?" I tried tugging my hand free again.
    "No, I'm quite fine with the company I have right now."
    "Really, I don't mind getting her. I'm sure she's more pleasant than I am. Plus, I bet she's something impressive like a lawyer or a model." I gave my hand another jerk. "It'd be no problem at all."
    He kept holding my hand. "You need your name badge before you can go."
    "Let go of my hand and I can put it on my dress." Right after I found it again.
    "You must allow me," he murmured. "It's the polite thing to do."
    Since when was Heathcliff interested in politeness? The man I knew could ruthlessly cut someone down when they were at their most vulnerable. Like he'd done to me. But I didn't throw that into his face. Right now? I just wanted to escape. I wanted to tear off my stupid white trailing gown. I wanted to free my hair from its wealth of artful braids.
    Mostly, I wanted to run out the door screaming. "Fine."
    He smiled at me like he'd won some sort of battle. "Wait right here, Juno."
    Like I could leave? I was trapped by the temptation of the fifty grand. So I crossed my arms over my chest and waited, fuming.
    Heathcliff picked up the corsage from the ground and dusted it off. He reapproached me and gestured that I should move closer so he could pin it back on. Reluctantly, I moved toward him and he began to work the pin onto one of my goofy shoulder straps.
    "I look forward to seeing you more in the future, Juno," Heathcliff said in a low voice.
    "Let's not play this game, all right?" I asked desperately. "We both know that we know each other. We can't pretend the past didn't happen. Just put me out of my misery early, okay? Pick Leona. She's a great girl and she's actually interested in you, unlike me."
    But he only smiled enigmatically. "I shall see you again soon, Juno."
    Ugh. "I really despise you." I turned and stormed away, hitching my heavy name badge onto my shoulder. This evening was going from bad to worse.
    He chuckled as I slammed the door behind me. Infuriated, I stormed down the hall, back toward the host.
    "Ready to return to the terrace?"
    "Whatever," I snapped.
    The host gave me a confused look, as if to say, huh, not madly in love with our prized bachelor, how very odd. But he went to my side anyhow and led me through the maze of hallways back to the waiting area. The moment the doors opened, I pushed my way through, somehow relieved to be lost in the sea of women again. I felt the twenty-four pairs of eyes of the other contestants on me, watching my reactions. Seeing how I felt after meeting 'our new man'. God, I wanted to vomit.
    Instead, I went straight for a drink tray and grabbed two. Now? Now was the time to drink.
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    " L adies and gentleman ," Lawrence said, moving to the center of the room and clapping his hands. "It's almost time for our Decision Ceremony. Please move to the marked spots as designated on the floor. Your spot will be the same color as your dress."
    Like a bunch of drunk birds, the women fluttered over to the center of the room, laughing and talking, all giddy with excitement.
    All except me. I grabbed