Billionaire's game #2 : Beyond the Billionaire's image

"Madeline, are you out of your mind?" Hendrick West snapped. "It was nothing! Why would you call my mom over something like this?"

He shoved Linda Fairbank out of his arms and grabbed my phone, ending the call immediately.

"Linda and I are like brothers," he went on, his voice rising. "This is just how we joke around. And you go running to my parents? Are you for real?"

As Hendrick fired off one accusation after another, Linda tilted her chin up, looking down at me like I was beneath her.

"If you want to be with him," she said, "the first rule is you've gotta keep up. He bet me he could have you wrapped around his finger in bed. I didn't buy it, so he told me to hide under there and see for myself. It's not a big deal. Why are you making it one?"

Hendrick nodded like that made perfect sense, then turned back to glare at me.

"Well? Apologize to Linda."

I let out a cold laugh. Under their stunned stares, I raised three fingers.

"Three."

Linda frowned. "What are you doing? Just so you know, I've known him my whole life! You're the outsider here. Don't even think about coming between us."

Hendrick immediately backed her up.

"She's right. Madeline, you might be my girlfriend, but Linda's my closest friend. It was just a joke. Don't use this as an excuse to make things hard for her."

I didn't even bother responding. I lowered one finger.

"Two."

"Did you hit your head or something?" Hendrick snapped. "What the hell are you even counting?"

There was a flicker of unease in his eyes as he reached for my hand.

Linda rolled her eyes and pulled him back, casually pressing his hand against her chest.

"She's probably just freaking out. Girls like her are always this fragile. Not like me."

Hendrick's attention drifted instantly, his focus pulled away as he reacted to her. I was left standing there, completely ignored.

I took that moment to lower my last finger.

"One."

The second the word left my mouth, there was a sharp click at the door.

I raised a brow at both of them. Their faces were frozen in shock.

"Hendrick," I said calmly, "your parents just got here."

I tilted my head slightly.

"So instead of defending her and coming at me, maybe you should start thinking about how you're going to explain this."