The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Serana glanced at Boyd, her mind a blank slate as to what to say next. However, nothing was inappropriate about Yasmine’s actions afterwards. They munched on slices of cake and sipped on coffee, making small talk about how each other had been lately.

Aside from her initial sharp words, Yasmine’s demeanor was so faultlessly normal you couldn’t pick a bone with it. If there was anything to comment on, it was that her phone never seemed to leave her hand for long.

But the more she played it cool, the more both Serana and Boyd felt something was off.

“Do you come here often?” Boyd asked casually as Yasmine’s plate became crumb-free.

Yasmine gave a half-smile. “Yeah.”

“It is a nice place,” he admitted.d2

Taking a sip of her coffee, Yasmine leaned back in her chair. “Yeah.”

Boyd pursed his lips, and silence fell like a curtain.

Serana looked on, worry creasing her forehead. For years, Boyd had always been the one looking down on others, never the one to seek out chit-chat.

Serana could tell he was trying to find common ground, to say something – anything – to ease the tension with Yasmine.

Even though Yasmine was sitting there with them, who could really say where her thoughts were?

The misunderstanding that had started over a jar of flowers seemed resolved, and they were interacting like before. But was there real forgiveness from Yasmine? Not likely.

There they were, sitting across from each other, yet it felt like miles between them. Serana was curious – could Yasmine ever truly like someone?

What would she be like? What lengths would she go to? She’d love to see that.

But who would be the one to break through?

Yasmine’s phone rang, but she ignored it, standing up instead. “You guys carry on. I’ve got something else to attend to. I’ll head out first.”

She answered the phone as she pulled out her chair.

Boyd stood, reaching to catch Yasmine’s wrist. Phone to her ear, Yasmine looked at him. “Something else?”

Boyd stared for a moment. “Where are you off to?”

“Home.”

Derek’s figure appeared beside them. He eyed the hand Boyd had on Yasmine. “You want something?”

Boyd’s grip tightened unintentionally.

Yasmine pulled her hand back, phone down. “Should be clear now.”

—

Serana watched through the glass as Yasmine’s car pulled away, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief. “She’s still the same.”

Boyd didn’t respond.

the car, Yasmine’s expression remained

her way more times than necessary

you need glasses?”

focused on the road. “You got nothing to say? No contact for two

her finger across her phone’s screen, engrossed

twitch was barely perceptible. “All this for a free

stars on the level, “Am I that cheap in

“Then what’s your reason?”

“Just feeling annoyed.”

response. “Those were just kid’s squabbles from when we were ten. Holding onto

him off. “Do you want me

wheel tighter. “Can’t

seemed to follow her more closely than ever. Any guy that approached her would be “taken care of” by Boyd

an item. Rumors reached Yasmine, and she found the idea

relationship with

from her, Yasmine addressed Boyd directly, “Rumor has

ever-composed Boyd, and silently shoveled food

eyes flickered. “You’re a bit slow on the

paused. “When

Silence.

More silence.

to Serana, “Clearly, there’s some misunderstanding. Don’t overthink

mouth to speak, but Boyd set down

two seconds. Almost as he stood up, she abruptly stood up as well.

Boyd’s expression darkened.

being pulled toward the exit. They stopped at the basketball court next to the

until Boyd inhaled deeply and spoke,

frowned. “Escape?

what I

in. Now, out of nowhere, I get a ‘boyfriend’ and a love rival? Boyd, are you trying to

“Who’s your love rival?”

and exhaled, “Alright,

Serana and

my business. As for the rumors, we know what’s up. I

cut through the

with a penetrating intensity, “You sure you’re

like, actually dating or something? How come I, the person involved, am the last to know? Have you been openly courting me, or poured out

stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers, “So, all of that has to happen for it to be considered real dating,

“When I first heard the rumor, I found it ridiculous. Just the rumor alone seemed absurd to me, so the idea of it being true is even harder to

“Why?” he pressed.

it weren’t for your insistence on linking our childhoods together, I would’ve probably stayed completely cut off from you. I think I’ve been pretty generous by interacting with you and Serana up to this point. If I had to get involved with you in any other way, that would really

brows knitted together, clearly displeased by

to make amends, and don’t

brutally honest. Her confidence was disarming, silencing any retort before it could

all of this was just a big misunderstanding, it might have become a pathetic joke of unrequited feelings. However, the look in Boyd’s eyes that she had seen in the cafeteria left no doubt about his sincerity.