Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Kellion leaned back against his seat, unsure whether to be relieved or even more worried. “Will you just fucking tell me who I should say sorry to?”
MJ looked down at her plate, knowing her face would reveal the truth if Kellion saw it.
Helios said carefully, “I’m not sure if there is something you should apologize for. But what we all know is that a girl had just left your bedroom in tears.”
“A girl?” Kellion asked sharply. He couldn’t remember inviting anyone to his bedroom when he had started drinking last night.
“I believe her name was Aria—-”
Helios didn’t bother continuing, not when his Vice President had already left. Kellion Argyros had always reminded him of a lazy big cat, one whose movements were of languid grace. But now? Helios hadn’t seen Kellion walk so fast in his life.
When they heard the elevator doors swoosh shut outside the kitchen, they all looked at each other.
MJ said uneasily, “Was it really necessary to make him worry like that?”
Almost in unison, the three remaining officers around the table smirked, making them all look even more handsome, devilishly so.
With a sigh, Hallie reached for a piece of toast. “Get used to it, MJ. They’re all kids at heart.”
ARIA
“Good morning, Aria.” The evil redheaded queen appeared to be in a very good mood when I got to the office of the Sign Language Club the next day after classes. Seated at the head of the club’s twelve-foot custom-designed table, Bobby was all smiles as she spoke, even lifting her cup of coffee in greeting.
Taking a seat next to her, I scribbled on my board. WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO BOBBY GRANGER?
Normally, that would have her snarling and snapping. Maybe it was because her fiancé Leandro Christopoulos was seated next to her, but Bobby only kept smiling. It was terrifying, to be honest. Everyone knew she had the shortest fuse in the entire student population, after all.
“No matter what you say, you won’t be able to make me mad.” Her voice turned sly. “You should be in a good mood, too, right?” Before I could answer, she added, “A little birdie told me someone came out of a guy’s bedroom at seven in the morning.”
Aaaargh!
I scribbled on my board and nearly shoved it in Bobby’s face. YOU SET ME UP LAST NIGHT.
“But you stayed so long, so the risk must have paid off.”
Grr. I hated it when Bobby acted so smug, and I hated it even more when she had reason to.
Beside her, Leandro said, “You are so wonderfully ungraceful in your victory, megaira.” His voice was mildly reproachful, but I wasn’t fooled. The way his blue eyes glittered with desire as his gaze rested on the queen, it was clear he found her attitude more attractive than a turn off.
Yuck.
Bobby must have caught the disgusted expression on my face because she was suddenly laughing. “You can look at me like that all you want, but I bet given a few weeks, you’d be even more sickeningly affectionate. It’s only to be expected when you have Kellion as a boyfriend—-” She paused when I started scribbling on my board.
HE IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND.
Bobby shrugged. “It’s only a matter of time.” Her tone became serious. “But you guys got to talk, right? Really talk?”
I gave her a small nod.
“And you get it now?”
HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS PARENTS.
Leandro’s lip curled when he read my answer. “Unfortunately, two of the shallowest individuals I have ever met in my life. I’ve always thought it a miracle that Kellion managed to stay sane the whole time he was with them.”
I nodded firmly, remembering what Kellion told me. I remembered another thing, not as important but something that had long confounded me. WHAT DOES TERATAKI MEAN?
Bobby shrugged. “My Greek still sucks.” She glanced at Leandro questioningly.
“Why do you ask?”
IT’S WHAT HE CALLS ME.
“Ah.” Leandro had always been described as aloof by the media, unlike his more easygoing cousin Derek, but right now, it was as if he was having great trouble keeping a straight face.
He said almost apologetically, “It means ‘little monster’, I’m afraid.”
I let out a silent gasp of outrage. That great big jerk!
Bobby burst into laughter. “Can I please call you that, too?”
Before I could answer, the door to the club burst open behind me, the door slamming so hard against the wall I almost expected to hear its hinges breaking and the door to crash towards the floor.
“Aria?”
I froze at the sound, knowing whom it belonged to. A second later, Kellion was kneeling in front of me, his face white while his gaze was wild and panicky. His hair was badly mussed, like he had come here straight from bed, and he had day-old stubble darkening his jaw. He was breathing hard, too, as if he had tried to beat the world’s record for getting here.