Lover on Loop: Her Cruel Revenge Game novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: The Donor Dinner

Asa's POV

Darren gave a donor dinner on day eighty-four, and I was the centerpiece.

He seated me at the long table in the gallery, between a retired banker and a woman who had bought three of my prints.

Greer sat across from me, beside Darren, in a green dress I had never seen.

There were forty places, all taken, and every guest had paid for the privilege.

"Asa," the banker said, jovially. "I want you to know I'm a great admirer of your courage."

"Thank you."

"I mean it. Eight times. And you still turn up."

"He always does," Greer said.

She hadn't looked at me once since the soup.

She spoke now to her wineglass, in a voice so cool and light that the whole table turned.

"It's rather touching, really. A man who'll sit across from the woman who breaks him and ask for the bread."

A woman laughed, then stopped.

"Greer," Darren said, fondly. "Be kind."

"I am being kind." She lifted her eyes to me, at last.

They were perfectly empty.

"Mr. Redfern, I do hope you don't think there's anything between us. I don't know you. I don't want to know you. I've been told what you did, and I can't think of a single reason to speak to you after the tenth."

My throat closed.

The banker had gone red.

Somewhere down the table a fork clinked.

I looked at Darren.

He was watching me with soft, patient interest.

Two weeks ago he had stood on my porch and told me he had a recording.

I knew what he wanted.

He wanted me to stand up, or shout, or cry, and give him a scene.

I put down my napkin.

"Thank you for dinner," I said to the table. "I hope the auction goes well."

I walked out with my back straight.

← Chapter 19 · All chapters · Chapter 21 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend