“You did what you wanted. Now, back off.”
He laughs, the sound is loud and humourless. “Who do you think you are to tell me to back off, Aiden? I’m the reason for your existence.”
I knew he would say that.
I grab the black king between my fingers. “Then it’ll be you against me, Jonathan.”
A smirk tilts his lips. “I always win.”
“Not this time, King.”
I don’t care if I come out of this battle dead, but I won’t let Jonathan have Elsa.
It was stupid, really.
Jonathan and I started on the same side. He was out to destroy everything that remained of the Steel name, which happens to be Elsa.
Jonathan wanted to weaken and break her emotionally so she becomes useless when she takes her position at the head of her father’s company.
With a weak head, Jonathan can pressure her and take over Steel’s empire.
Which is, in his mind, the greatest form of revenge.
Ethan took Alicia, and he’ll take Elsa and the company.
I realised all of this too late.
Jonathan already set the game in motion ten years ago.
He never told me about her. He never stopped to tell me she’s alive somewhere.
Instead, he kept her guardians close by offering them huge work opportunities with King Enterprises and used the chance to keep an eye on her.
Then, at the right moment, he made one of his employees recommend Royal Elite School to Elsa’s Aunt, knowing exactly how much she wanted a great education for her niece.
That day I saw her again, I came home to find Jonathan smiling with triumph. He was happy that his battle had started.
He didn’t ask for my permission when he brought her over. He didn’t even prepare me.
But Jonathan is all about the surprise factor.
The opponent is easier to handle when he’s taken off guard.
He likes to use that tactic a lot. In chess. In work. In life. Everywhere, basically.
Since the day Elsa walked into RES, Jonathan and I have been playing on the same side of the board.
Until I touched her.
Tasted her.
Became fucking lost in her.
The moment I decided that Elsa is mine and no one else’s, she stopped being a pawn on Jonathan’s board.
Yes, she was a pawn in mine. Yes, she didn’t have a choice to be dropped on my side of the chessboard.
But what she wouldn’t understand is that being my pawn is much fucking better than being Jonathan’s.