the kidnapping.
All the slash marks and scars make complete sense now.
“There’s also something else you need to know about.”
My head jerks upright at Cole’s voice.
“Aiden has been hiding his —”
The door to the back entrance slides opens with a bang.
Xander stands there, watching us both with narrowed eyes. “What the fuck did you do, Nash?”
“Throwing his punch back.”
“You better be ready when he fucks up your face,” Xander snarls.
“King doesn’t scare me, Knight.” He pushes past him. “Nothing does anymore.”
And then he strides inside.
Xander gives an awkward smile, and even then, the dimples make an appearance. “Is there a chance you’ll forget what you just heard?”
I shake my head twice.
“Fucking Nash and his vindictive arse.” He mumbles as if to himself. “I told King not to provoke that little bitch and his —”
“Hey, Xander.”
“Yeah?”
“Can you give me a ride? I need to go somewhere.”
36
Aiden
“Our meetings are becoming frequent.” I drop my weight on the sofa in Jonathan’s main office. “Twice in two days. That’s almost a record.”
He unbuttons his jacket and sits opposite me. A chessboard rests on the coffee table between us as a witness to our upcoming war.
Jonathan’s office is so big, the huge glass windows nearly show the entirety of London. His leather sofas and desk are pitch black.
I thought he’d have a triumphant look all over his face after the stunt he pulled at Elsa’s house this morning, but he appears calculative.
Which means he’s not done.
That head of his is concocting another plan, and this time, it’ll be more brutal.
Jonathan in a nutshell; if he doesn’t win, he destroys everything to get what he wants.
And he wants Elsa wiped out.
Or more like he wants her family’s name erased from existence.
“You’re keeping her with you.” He grabs the white king piece and twirls it between his fingers.
“It’s no surprise that you’ve been watching me.” I lean my elbows on my knees. “But have you also been watching Elsa all this time?”
He narrows one of his eyes. “She’s being watched?”
Elsa always mentioned that she felt eyes on her. I confirmed it earlier when I found her about to faint. A black Mercedes followed us almost all the way to the Meet Up. They only disappeared when I changed lanes.
I was sure it was Jonathan’s control freak side, but if it wasn’t him, then who the fuck has been watching her?
“You did what you wanted. Now, back off.”
He laughs, the sound is loud and humourless. “Who do you think you are to tell me to back off, Aiden? I’m the reason for your existence.”
I knew he would say that.
I grab the black king between my fingers. “Then it’ll be you against me, Jonathan.”
A smirk tilts his lips. “I always win.”
“Not this time, King.”
I don’t care if I come out of this battle dead, but I won’t let Jonathan have Elsa.
It was stupid, really.
Jonathan and I started on the same side. He was out to destroy everything that remained of the Steel name, which happens to be Elsa.
Jonathan wanted to weaken and break her emotionally so she becomes useless when she takes her position at the head of her father’s company.
With a weak head, Jonathan can pressure her and take over Steel’s empire.
Which is, in his mind, the greatest form of revenge.
Ethan took Alicia, and he’ll take Elsa and the company.
I realised all of this too late.
Jonathan already set the game in motion ten years ago.
He never told me about her. He never stopped to tell me she’s alive somewhere.
Instead, he kept her guardians close by offering them huge work opportunities with King Enterprises and used the chance to keep an eye on her.
Then, at the right moment, he made one of his employees recommend Royal Elite School to Elsa’s Aunt, knowing exactly how much she wanted a great education for her niece.
That day I saw her again, I came home to find Jonathan smiling with triumph. He was happy that his battle had started.
He didn’t ask for my permission when he brought her over. He didn’t even prepare me.
But Jonathan is all about the surprise factor.
The opponent is easier to handle when he’s taken off guard.
He likes to use that tactic a lot. In chess. In work. In life. Everywhere, basically.
Since the day Elsa walked into RES, Jonathan and I have been playing on the same side of the board.
Until I touched her.
Tasted her.
Became fucking lost in her.
The moment I decided that Elsa is mine and no one else’s, she stopped being a pawn on Jonathan’s board.
Yes, she was