Chapter 1: Introduction
The house was alive.
Music pulsed through the walls, shaking the floor beneath their feet as laughter and the clink of glasses filled the air. The mansion sprawled around them, all sleek lines and expensive art, the kind of place where people pretended not to notice the price tags on everything. Amber moved through the crowd like a storm, her laughter bright and her dress clinging to every curve. She knew exactly what she was doing—every glance, every touch, every slow blink was calculated. She was the sun, and every guy in the room was a planet orbiting her, desperate for a little warmth.
Jake was the loudest, the most obvious.
He was the kind of guy who didn’t just *want* Amber—he wanted to *own* her, to prove to everyone else that she was his. His hand was already on her waist, his voice a little too loud as he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. *"You’re killing me, Amber. You know that, right?"*
She tilted her head back just enough to meet his gaze, her lips curling into a smirk that said *I know exactly what you’re doing.* "Maybe I like the chase," she murmured, her fingers brushing against the rim of her glass before she took a slow sip. The movement was deliberate, slow enough to make Jake’s jaw tighten.
Now it's time to the party to start , says Jake, it's nice that everyone of you picked a top and a Skirt like I asked to your, your all look very cute . He grins, his eyes flicking over the girls, lingering on Amber a little too long. "So, who's ready to play a game?"
A few groans, a couple of cheers, but everyone's attention is on Jake now. He's the ringmaster, and they're all eager to see what trick he has up his sleeve.
Amber rolls her eyes, but there's a spark of interest in them. She knows Jake's games—she's played them before. She leans back against the counter, her glass cradled in her hands, and watches as he pulls a deck of cards from his pocket.
"Pong," he announces, fanning the cards out.
If the girls team loses, you have to do all the presentation. If the boys team loses, we'll do all the dishes. Deal?" Jake's grin is wide, his eyes gleaming with challenge. He's already counting his winnings, Amber thinks, her lips twitching.
Chloe, who had been quietly sipping her drink in a corner, looked up at the mention of the game. Her eyes darted from Jake to Amber, then back to Jake. "I-I don't know how to play," she admitted, her voice barely audible over the hum of the party.
Liam, who had been leaning against the wall, pushed off and stepped towards Chloe. "It's just a game, Chloe. No pressure," he said, his voice soft and reassuring.