The Billionaire Who Stole My Heart

The local chess club was a familiar haunt for the regulars.

As soon as Grayson and Brittany started their game, a crowd gathered around them.

These folks were seasoned players, not much for the latest TV shows, but they'd caught a glimpse of the previous inter-city tournament and recognized talent when they saw it.

Someone called out to Brittany, "Hey, weren't you on TV a while back?"

Brittany, who'd forgotten to wear a mask, quickly denied it, "No, sir, you must be mistaken."

As she fumbled for her mask in her pocket and put it on, the old man didn't press further, assuming his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Grayson knew Brittany well enough to recognize her modesty. Anyone else who'd beaten a star player from Welandia would've been all over the news, boasting. But not Brittany. Even faced with recognition, she shied away from it. The elder, nudged by his family to come home for dinner, couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity.

At the dinner table, his granddaughter, Mabel, was enjoying her meal when he leaned in, "Mabel, you're a journalist, right? Did you cover that match where the girl beat the Welandia chap? What did she look like?"

on her phone, Mabel showed him, "This

up, "That's her,

"Thanks, grandpa,

interview subject for Mabel, who had long wanted a

club, Mabel caught Brittany and Grayson stepping

with the Craneville Citizen's Gazette, can

and alone, refused,

of the town, Brittany. People want to know about you. Let's set up a

the spotlight, Brittany tried to turn off Mabel's camera,

leave, Mabel's desperation peaked, grabbing

over. Furious at the damage,

ambulance!" Grayson shouted, realizing the gravity of

up with her broken camera to notice Brittany's