Skye Winters walked out of the Red Panda Hotel. She had a bit of sway in her hips like a runway model. She sighed satisfyingly to herself. She had expected to see Xandra because of the party invitation but to see Jae as well?
It seemed like they sure became close after what happened. That placed a dent in her plan but it just might work out—only differently.
A black limousine waited for her out front. The chauffeur opened the backseat door.
Skye slid inside, finger combing her hair, “You will not believe who I just ran into.”
The limousine rolled out of the hotel premises and headed for the airport.
At the opposite side of the backseat sat a young man with a prominent jawline and a perfectly straight nose. His wispy black hair had been gelled back to keep it out of his face.The rest looked like small beach waves around his head.
He wore a black suit and a pair of sunglasses. While waiting, he played with his phone.
When he heard his new stepsister’s voice, he didn’t even glance her way, “Who?”
Skye frowned a little at his behavior. She didn’t understand why girls were attracted to him. He doesn’t even give anyone attention.
Well, she wasn’t about to let him damper her good mood, “I saw Xandra.”
She pretended to check on her nails and waited for him to react. They were newly done too. It would be a shame if one of them cracks just before they arrive at their destination.
Her stepbrother’s eyebrows scrunched together. He had heard that name many times—mostly from Skye. There was only one person she called that way.
“You mean Alexandra?” He replied, eyes still on his phone. Unlike her, who was constantly spoiled, his father had given him trial papers to process. He reasoned that it was part of his training as the inheritor of the company.
Skye beamed when he got it right, “The one and only Alexandra Greenwood.”
“What was she doing here?”
“Oh, you know her grandmother’s birthday party is tomorrow” Skye explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world, “We actually got an invite, you know.”
Her stepbrother merely raised his eyebrows, a sarcastic look on his face, “No, I don’t.”
Skye rolled her eyes, “Anyway, guess who I saw with her?”
“Who?”
“Jae Parker.”
At this, her stepbrother raised his head, “I thought you said she was closer to Logan?”
“Well, she was” Skye waved her hand, “After what happened, she probably changed targets.”
“Gee, that sounds familiar” Neal snorted, turning his attention back to his phone.
He didn’t see it but his stepsister glared in his direction.
Then, he chuckled, “I thought you wanted her away from the Parkers?”
Skye scoffed, “You and my insider are so impatient. I am biding my time.”
“Like you haven’t made a move yet.”
“That folder was only to scare her. I’ll strike again when she calms down” Skye took out her phone and began to type really fast.
Neal frowned at a problem on a business proposal his father sent him. He needed to think of a compromise to turn into their favor, “I don’t get why you didn’t expose her publicly in the first place.”
His stepsister shook her head at his shallow ideas, “You are such an amateur. A big hit like that wouldn’t go unnoticed. It would be easy to trace back to me.”
“Well, what about that folder then?”
Skye waved her phone and her free hand in the air, “Who would she tell? Her aunt? Her parents? That will give her one way ticket home. There is no way for them to investigate it without authorities.”
Remembering her brilliant idea, she couldn’t help the smug smile on her face. It had been years since she last had a conversation with Xandra. Ever since what happened, her mother and her had never received an invitation from them again. With her mother’s marriage with Neal’s father, she would be able to gain access to those parties once more.
But that was only in case she needed them.
“Just how long will you wait?” Neal raised an eyebrow. Then, he typed out the idea he had for the proposal.
The corner of Skye’s mouth lifted up, “Not that long now.”
Her door opened and the chauffeur held out his hand to assist her out of the limousine. At the opposite side, Neal opened his own door, swinging a backpack over his shoulder. He used two fingers as a hook for the bag while his other hand continued to type on his phone.
He walked towards the airport without waiting for his stepsister.
Skye huffed at his back. Things would have gone smoother if her stepbrother cooperated with her plans. They both had something to gain out of it.
Alas, he still kept to himself.
Just he waits, Skye thought. If all went according to her plan, she’ll have the last laugh.
===
Back at the hotel, Alex waited for Jae to answer her. She didn’t mind. It seemed that he needed more time to calm himself down.
“Yeah, that’s her” Jae let out a big breath. The tension in his muscles finally left. What remained was the throbbing of his head. It was one thing to see Skye in this hotel. It was another thing to find out that Alex knew her
Alex exhaled sharply through her nose and pressed her lips together. She shook her head at the ground, “That is one bad bitch.”
Skye Winters.
Of course, it had to be her. It all made sense now. Alex didn’t even need to know what happened in their past to be convinced that Skye has been the reason. That girl would stop at nothing to get her way.
If Logan still had feelings for the girl, it would definitely be trouble.
“How do you know her?” Jae gulped. What he really wanted to ask was when Alex and her became close. If it happened after the fight, she might have already heard about it. Who knew what kind of story Skye spun around.
Alex bit her bottom lip and stared at Jae. She already closed, locked and cemented the gateway for that lane. The end of the road contained memories she would rather forget and never return to.
But if Jae’s hunch would turn out to be right…
… and that Skye might waltz back into their lives…
… then, they needed a game plan.
Alex took a deep breath, steeling her nerves, “I’ll tell you if you tell me how that girl got between you and Logan.”
