Read Online This Round I'm Yours by Clarise Tan, Marian Tee, The Passionate Proofreader - Free Book Online Page B

answer was so quick, so eager, it became clear in that instant. The reason why the younger man had suddenly come after her when he had been silent for so long. The reason why he had become more aggressive and demanding than usual.
    It was all because Alfred Cohen had become his master. Alfred was pulling his strings this very minute, and Grant didn’t even seem to know he had turned into the other man’s puppet.
    When her gaze met Alfred’s, the older man smirked. He knew she was on to him, but he also knew right now, she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
    “Well, Lacey baby?” Grant was smiling again, his face a reflection of the delusional life he was living in. “Shall you show us to your room?”
    Slowly, she nodded. She had no choice. She didn’t want to force Alfred’s hand and have their showdown in public.
    The R.A. at her dorm gave Lace a rather suspicious look as Lace and the two guys walked past her.
    If this reached Silver’s ears , Lace thought wildly, she could always deny it, right?  
    Inside her room, Alfred was quick to lock the door, and Lace bit her lip hard to prevent herself from saying anything about it. The sooner this was over, the better.
    “This room’s just like your old one in Northwest,” Grant commented, his words drawing her attention back to him.  
    Seeing him in her room, her window and bed behind him, her greatest basketball idols looking down at Grant from where she had their signed posters framed on the wall – it didn’t feel right. It made her feel like she was living a nightmare, and she didn’t know what to do to wake herself up from it.
    Grant grinned when Alfred came to stand next to him. “My baby’s even more beautiful in person, isn’t she?”
    The other man grinned back. “I dunno…I gotta see more to find out.”
    Grant guffawed. “Now, now, don’t talk about my future girlfriend that way.” He tried to pull her close, but she slapped his arm away. Lace held her breath, thinking it would make Grant angry, but he only laughed.  
    “Feisty as ever.” He glanced back at Alfred. “You were right, Fred. She’s still playing hard to get.”
    Fred’s smile was oily, his gaze leering as it ran over Lace’s body. “You’re a lucky man, Grant. That kind of fire…she’s gotta be dynamite in bed.” His lips smacked together, and the way he looked at Lace now made her feel like he was undressing her. “I’ve got a copy of your videos—”
    For a moment, her world stopped spinning.
    And then her world faded as she threw herself at him. “ASSHOLE!” Nothing mattered anymore, her rage eclipsing her fears. She tried to scratch his eyes out, kick his balls, do anything to hurt him the way his words were still burning her body from the inside.
    God. God. God.
    Why was this happening?
    “Stop it, Lace!” A part of her realized Grant was doing his best not to hurt her as he tried to pull her off Alfred, but she couldn’t make herself stop. She felt sick and dirty, and she couldn’t help thinking if she managed to hurt him just once—
    A second later, she was crumpling to the floor, Alfred shoving her off him so hard she hit her head against the wall.
    “Fucking bitch,” Alfred snarled.
    “Fred,” Grant protested nervously. “Don’t—” But his voice died when the other man shot him a warning look.
    “I’m just going to teach this bitch a lesson,” Alfred snapped.
    The world was still spinning too fast around Lace by the time she realized Alfred was crouching down in front of her. She tried to resist when he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Listen well, you bitch.” Gripping her by the hair, Alfred knocked her head against the wall.
    Lace cried out, the pain making her feel like her skull had been cracked open.
    “My boy’s too nice to you, but it’s time you learn who’s the boss here.”
    Even as the world spun faster, Lace made herself spit at him.
    “Fuck.” Wiping the spit off his face, Alfred snarled, “Do