Page 123 of The Wildcard
Ray hummed and smiled back at her, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine.”
Vera said something from behind her, but Ray’s gaze strayed past the girls, widening as she caught the sight of those chocolate locks.
Angel had walked through the entrance of the venue, Kyle at his side as the others trailed behind them both. Ray averted her gaze, sudden warmth flaring in her stomach as she recalled how she’d walked away from him yesterday, and how he hadn’t talked to her since.
From the corner of her eyes she noticed Kyle call out to Vera, but kept her focus on Myra in an attempt to keep herself from staring at Angel just to gauge his response.
“So,” she started, and saw Irene and Myra take a step closer, “It’s your last day here. The event should start by 7:30 in the evening today, so you’re free to do as you wish until then.”
Ray was acutely aware of another form of chill climbing up her spine as she turned away from Vera and pointed at the architecture, “It’s like an outdoor party,” she said, making sure to keep her voice steady,
“Filled with grim warnings.” Irene muttered and Ray turned over her shoulder, her lips quirking into a smirk,
“As expected.” She said and laughed as Myra sighed dramatically.
“Walk with me? I’ll show you around?” Ray asked and saw Myra nod enthusiastically as Irene jutted her chin out,
“Why the special treatment Walker?” she said in a low voice, and Ray was aware of Vera’s attention snapping in the direction, “Not fishing for favors, are you?”
Ray laughed just as the familiar scent of coffee and cologne filled her lungs. Angel was still far, but not far enough when she turned to Irene calmly and said, “Have you ever seen us fishingfor favors, Sinaga?”
Irene’s lips quirked into a smirk, “After yesterday, it might seem inevitable for any of you to do so.” She said and Ray’s lips stretched further.
Vera started from beside her, but Kyle must’ve pulled her back because her words were muffled. Ray let out a calming breath, taking a step forward as she tilted her head in Irene’s direction,
“You want to start talking about favors now?” she said, her voice low and dangerous as she probed past the glint in Irene’s eyes, “We all know who’s in deeper debt now, don’t we?”
“So, youarein debt?” Myra question was unexpected, but not enough to deter Ray. She looked at her, saw her inspecting her nails. Ray had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from smiling.
They weren’t going to make this easy, were they?
“Ah, I should’ve phrased that better,” she said, straightening her shoulders in a smooth move, “Debt might be a common term for you. But it’s foreign to us. You understand?”
Myra’s eyes snapped up, the same dangerous look entering her gaze. Ray shifted back on her heels, grinning as she did so,
“So, how about you leave our finances to us, and focus on your own?” she asked politely, “I’m sure yours needfarmore work. Isn’t that right, Myra? Irene?”
Both the girls clicked their tongues but let the matter fall. Ray hummed and clapped her hands, snapping them out of their dazes. Her chin lifted, her eyes looking down on both of them with a wide smile as she continued,
“Now, shall we?” she said but didn’t wait for any of them to respond. Instead, just turned and started walking away from the group.
At the last second, she turned her head over her shoulder and said haughtily,
“And for the record, I’ve already shown the other representatives the place, so they know their way. I just wanted to spare your feelings, but looking at you now,” Ray made sure to move her eye up and down Irene’s stiff figure, “I don’t think I need to.”
And started walking with a small grin.
She was vaguely aware of Kyle butting into their deceased conversation with a, “I’m pretty sure that was a compliment.”
Ray laughed at his words, but continued to walk away, veering away from the staff that was making the last minute arrangements, all hoping that it wouldn’t rain or snow tonight. This event had been planned for months now, with so much work put into it that Ray was half afraid even the staff would revolt if it all went to hell.
“That was rude.” Came Luke’s soft voice from behind her suddenly. Ray paused in her tracks, her brows furrowing as she saw him and the others behind her. Others including Jack, Christina, and Angel. Her brows shot up as she saw him stand beside Luke, his expression sealed off as he looked at her warily. Ray cleared her throat but looked back at Luke with a serene smile,
“I never said I was nice.” She responded and took a step back as she realized how close all of them were standing, “Can I help you lot?”
Jack peeped in line with her vision with a small smile, “We just tagged along because Kyle said he had to talk to you and Angel.”
Ray’s eyes shifted to Angel, who shrugged at the question in her eyes, offering her nothing else. The wind blew past them and Ray shivered inwardly, forcing herself to not rub her arms together to seek warmth.
