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2025-02-25 11:35:28
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THE LYING GAME Prologue
SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO.A bubbly house. Last-minute preparations and the familiar yearly rush. A young girl giggled as she hurried past a pair of busy maids and made her way into her bedroom. Shutting the door securely behind her, she packed up her curly black waves into a ponytail and headed straight for her wardrobe.It was the sixth of June and every sixth of June marked the wedding anniversary of the Chantel Couple. Her parents.For this year’s anniversary, the six-year-old had prepared the most thoughtful present. She knelt on the floor to pull out a box that she had hidden away from the watchful eyes of her elder brother, Lucas, and the Chantel household maids.Bang! An unusual sound from someplace in the house made her hurry. Were they starting the fun already without her?She carried the brightly wrapped up box from the floor and gave a last-minute check to her appearance in the mirror. For the occasion, she had worn a matching dress with Sofia Chantel, her mother. It was a gr
Last Updated : 2023-10-04THE LYING GAME 01
~JADE~You know if I ever got a second chance at life, I probably wouldn’t do this.I wouldn’t be in one of the finest clubs in Rotana with my feet in dumbass six aching inches stilettos and rib-cracking corsets. I wouldn’t risk my twenty-three-year-old life by planting a recording chip underneath the table of one of the wealthiest men in the city while I danced to the slow beat of the music in the room.Most of all, I wouldn’t make the mistake of letting him catch a flirty glimpse at my exposed cleavage as I delivered a closing bow to my three-men audience and retrieved the chip.Unless this wasn't a second chance at life. This is real, and I’ve just succeeded in attracting the most unwanted attention from my target, a spoilt third-generation heir.“Hey Jade, It’s clear over here! Tell me you’ve gotten that son of a bitch?!.” Ruby, my best friend and aide for the night screamed through the tiny intercom secured behind my ear.In a bad way Ruby, I wished to respond. Instead, I straigh
Last Updated : 2023-10-09THE LYING GAME 02
~JADE~I was not fond of Crystal. At least not like I was with the rest of the girls. Crystal was new and she had joined us much later so I never really bonded with her.But she was one of my girls…My hold on the helm of my gun tightened as I stared from Lazarus to the unwelcome visitor. From the relaxed look on Lazarus’s face, it dawned on me that he knew who this visitor was. This visitor killed Crystal before our eyes…, and Lazarus had allowed it.For whatever gain?“If you needed to punish anyone for failing this mission, it should have been me. Not her!.” I gritted the words out to Lazarus as I stared daggers at the two men by the door. “You put me in charge of securing the chip and I failed, that was totally unnecessary!.”Silence.Lazarus’s face remained calm and indifferent. All the words I uttered had fallen on deaf ears. Rather, he stared at the men by the door and tapped his cane impatiently on the floor.“You mean… this chip?.” A smooth voice expressed and I frowned to se
Last Updated : 2023-10-17THE LYING GAME 03
~JADE~We were quiet on the drive back home, probably because Marcel, Vincenzo’s right-hand man, was behind the wheel and had insisted on delivering us to our dorm. But I knew he didn’t give a fuck about us and was only keeping an eye on us for Vincenzo.Pearl retched the instant we got in and Ruby followed after her to calm her down. When they returned, Pearl was hysterical and sweating heavily.“I can’t do this anymore.” She announced and kept pacing about the room. “I can’t keep pretending that everything and everyone around here is sane!.”“Did you see what they did to Crystal tonight? For fuck sake that could have been any of us!.”I shut my eyes tightly as Pearl’s voice rose, and then I waited until her words melted into the background.“I’m going to bed first,” I said and stood up. Ruby nodded, but Pearl scoffed.“Yeah.. run away, Jade. Run away and pretend that everything is fucking fine like you always do!.”I ignored Pearl and walked away. As I got to my room, I rushed to t
Last Updated : 2023-11-21THE LYING GAME 04
~JADE~“Strip.”“Come closer to me.”That commanding voice……Like a strong magnet, It pulled me in and I found myself seeking its source. I knew I was intruding. My instincts screamed for me to retreat and step back to a safer zone, but I was too far gone. I walked further into the room and met a stunning sight.On a king-sized bed at the center of the dark room lay a stark naked woman. She remained stuck in a sensual pose, like a model in a Playboy magazine. In front of her was a man who I figured had spoken earlier. His sturdy back was turned to me, but his fluid hand worked elegantly on a canvas in front. Retreating should have been extremely easy, but the model was staring straight in my direction. Her eyes widened the instant she sighted me. She lost composure and hurried off the bed, then scrambled hastily for the pieces of her dress. From the white and black cotton uniform in her hands, I realized that she was a maid in the house. The artist’s fingers immediately paused. “I’
Last Updated : 2023-11-25THE LYING GAME 05
The large clock in the room ticked proudly from second to second, laying the weight of the thick silence on our shoulders as we waited awkwardly for the staring contest to come to an end.I couldn’t take my eyes off Eva Axton. Sweetheart-shaped face covered with pronounced makeup, golden blonde hair, and tight-fitting clothes. She was at most fifteen and was already at the peak of teenage rebellion. Angel’s deep eyes were squinted and I wondered what was going on in his mind as he stared at his niece. It was obvious that Eva had angered him greatly and I was curious to know how he planned to punish her.The offender in question was staring back at her guardian with equal intensity and no ounce of guilt in her stance for her misbehavior. Disappointingly, the expected scolding didn’t come. Instead, Angel took a deep breath and broke the silence. “I already have enough on my plate without your foolishness, Eva. Cross me one last time and we will have a rethink about schooling altogethe
Last Updated : 2023-12-04THE LYING GAME 06
~ANGEL~The unfinished work on my canvas was far from perfection but I had thought of a last-minute remedy. The back door creaked, but I kept my eyes on the art. Drawing provided me with an escape that nothing else could offer. It soothed my troubles and gave me peace, it was all I needed at the moment.“Mr. Axton.” A timid voice called and I knew it was the maid. She had let herself in and approached me. “Strip. Come closer to me.” I instructed, my eyes still glued on the canvas. I had to get exactly what was missing and the addition of a real-life figure to the hue of colors may just account for a thrilling finishing touch.The maid obeyed without another word; she stepped out of her uniform, remained naked, and got on the bed. Then she inched closer to me and struck a position that made me frown. Her presence was perfect, but her stance… not exactly. I needed something closer to wild, yet subtle; a commanding position not a seductive prey.I was just about to make my point pract
Last Updated : 2023-12-11THE LYING GAME 07
~JADE~I was awake long before the knock came. Eva Axton was not only a nuisance to my mission but also a pest to my sleep. “Kim?.” My brows lifted to see the Asian maid outside my room so early in the morning. “I’m sorry. It's Mrs. Lopez. She asked that you get ready and come downstairs as soon as you can.”Eva’s escaping figure the night before flashed before my eyes and I swallowed and tried to fix the maid a smile.“Is everything alright?.”“I think you have nothing to worry about,” Kim reassured and turned away just as swiftly as she had come.I freshened up and made myself presentable in jeans and a lilac V-neck fitted top, then made my way to the common room where Mrs. Lopez was already waiting. “Good day, Mrs. Lopez. You called for me?.”The housekeeper’s eyes narrowed as they took in my outfit, then she gave a tight smile and handed over a package.My brows lifted to realize it was a new phone.“I have a phone, Mrs. Lopez.”“It’s a work phone.” She explained. “You have a
Last Updated : 2024-01-05
Latest chapter
THE LYING GAME 38
“Matte, Satin, or liquid red?” Elena asked, leaning into the mirror as she flipped her hair to the side.Weekends were slowly becoming her favorite time of the week and for this one, she was willing to go all out.Her maroon dress hung three inches above her knees with a high neck in the front and a low-cut V-neck at the back that revealed the deep line running from her exposed neck to her small waist. Her makeup was light but she felt the irresistible urge to wear lipstick. “Matte. Definitely…matte.” A voice yawned in the background.Elena sighed. Grabbing the phone from the vanity table, she yelled into the speaker. “Get your lazy ass up from that bed, Ruby.”“We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”“Yes ma’am.”~A low, rhythmic clink sounded in the hallway, drawing the attention of all active staff to the woman strutting on the grounds like it was a personal runway.A bucket fell in the distance as the murmurs built up. Elena kept her chin up, her shoulders squared and her face str
THE LYING GAME 37
Elena woke up to a consistent banging on her bedroom door. Muttering long strings of curses beneath her breath, she struggled to her feet, and instantly missed the comfort of her duvet as she departed from it.Still swearing, she turned the key with more force than usual, her face contorted in a glare as she prepared to meet face-to-face with the culprit. “Eva?” She frowned, her brows lifting as she scanned the girl who looked like she had gotten straight out of bed as well.Eva was dressed in a silk nightgown and had a brooding expression on her face which worsened as their eyes met.“Can I come in? Please?” She asked, breathing heavily. Without getting a response, she barged in, moving to sit on the bed. “I’m a fucking sixteen-year-old!”Elena rolled her eyes as she walked towards the windows, pulling the drapes aside and flinching at the intensity of the sunlight outside. “Language, Eva. Now take a deep breath and tell me why I’m up from my bed early when you ain’t even going to
THE LYING GAME 36
“I heard your voice last night…”~Elena’s nails dug into the softness of her palm as she watched the girl lower herself into a kneeling position, her cotton hospital gown rumpling as she did. She couldn’t stay a word. Couldn’t breathe as she waited for Eva’s next words.“I thought I was going to die.” Eva continued, adapting into a sitting position on the cold floor as she stared into the distance with a slack expression on her face. “You know, for a long time, after my mother’s… death. I looked up to Zeta.”“She was like.. a gift. The mother who stayed. The shoulder I got to cry on. The one who I could nag to. The only person who truly…understood me.”Elena stayed quiet but her ears were wide open. Her mind raced as she tried her best not to freak out.“I was a fucking fool. I should’ve listened to you. I should never have gotten too attached.”Eva’s voice cracked. Her shoulders quaked and her voice broke.“I am too goddamn naive. I allowed myself to get deceived by the same woma
THE LYING GAME 34
“What do you fucking mean Eva got missing under your watch?!”A deep voice bellowed from behind. Elena and Salvatore looked up from the CCTV footage they were intensely watching. Turning around, they found Angel seated in his chair outside the room with a dark scowl on his face. He’d arrived at the hotel a few minutes ago, expecting to join the event, only to be greeted by the sudden news.The manager who appeared to have aged ten more years walked forward stiffly, her knees buckling as she pleaded with trembling lips and chin. “I’m sorry, Mr. Axton. I will… take full responsibility for this.”“Responsibility?” Angel snickered. A devilish grin settled on his face. “Will your goddamn responsibility find my niece?”The manager’s trembling lips parted and closed.“Thought so.” Angel’s eyes clamped tight. “Get lost!”The manager scurried off and for a second, the room stilled. Angel moved in and everything returned to normal. Unfastening his wristwatch, he handed it over to a bodyguard
THE LYING GAME 34
“What do you fucking mean Eva got missing under your watch?!”A deep voice bellowed from behind. Elena and Salvatore looked up from the CCTV footage they were intensely watching. Turning around, they found Angel seated in his chair outside the room with a dark scowl on his face. He’d arrived at the hotel a few minutes ago, expecting to join the event, only to be greeted by the sudden news.The manager who appeared to have aged ten more years walked forward stiffly, her knees buckling as she pleaded with trembling lips and chin. “I’m sorry, Mr. Axton. I will… take full responsibility for this.”“Responsibility?” Angel snickered. A devilish grin settled on his face. “Will your goddamn responsibility find my niece?”The manager’s trembling lips parted and closed.“Thought so.” Angel’s eyes clamped tight. “Get lost!”The manager scurried off and for a second, the room stilled. Angel moved in and everything returned to normal. Unfastening his wristwatch, he handed it over to a bodyguard
THE LYING GAME 33
Huge chandeliers hung above the high ceiling, illuminating the tastefully decorated hall, and casting its halos on the cheerful gathering below. Evangelina Axton’s 16th birthday gathering was marked as a private event. The media was forbidden from getting a 100 meters close to the hotel and only a selected few elites were cordially invited to grace the occasion.Elena downed her second glass of champagne as she watched Eva pace about the room nervously. Finally, she stopped in front of a full-body mirror, clasping her fingers together.Tonight, Eva appeared more mature in a baby’s breath blue evening gown and beautiful makeup. Her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders in curls and even Elena could tell how pretty she truly was.The event manager had been to the dressing room twice to announce that it was time for Eva to make her appearance, yet the girl kept postponing, saying that she wasn't ready.At the third knock, Elena stood to her feet. She picked up a clip from the dressin
THE LYING GAME 32
Elena collapsed on the living room sofa, not hiding her exhaustion any longer. Mentally, emotionally, and physically, she was drained.It had been a hectic day in school guiding Eva, who was not only nonchalant about her projects but too stubborn to take corrections as well.Somewhere, deep down in her heart, she wondered if perhaps Eva belonged to a secret coven of nanny-frustrating wards. It wouldn't be a surprise if she was. At least, it would make it easier to understand her witchy- bitchy attitude.Zeta’s disappointment had not only made her morning harder, but it had frustrated the rest of her day and right now, it made Elena mad that the silly woman had been sick at home while she had been at the receiving end of Eva’s foul mood.“Eva?” A familiar voice called out from the doorway, and Zeta suddenly appeared, making Elena frown.Was she not supposed to be… sick?Scanning around the room and settling on Elena, the smile on Zeta’s face froze and the expression on her face turned
THE LYING GAME 31
Long, slender legs, fitted into red-hot stilettos, moved elegantly past the corridors, and into the private elevator.The lift halted at the top floor with a ding, and Zeta Mancini stepped out into the hallway. Her entire figure was wrapped in a big, brown fur coat, and her smooth face was beaten into a sleek perfection. Reaching the doorway where she had been barely thirty minutes ago, she placed a hand in between the door frame and retrieved a slipper preventing the door from coming together with her free hand.As she entered, it protested with a click, locking her in. She walked carefully into the quarters, finding her way to its large bedroom.Her pulse was pounding somewhere in the 160 range, but despite her pounding heart, there was a fluttery, empty feeling in her stomach. The bedroom door was slightly ajar; just the way she had left it earlier. It was a good sign. She hoped. At least it meant no one else had come in after she did. A commanding presence filled the room the
THE LYING GAME 30
4:28 A.M.Beads of sweat ran down the deep middle line of Elena’s small back, denting through her light workout vest.Her hands, which had been extended in continuous repetitions for the past thirty minutes above her crouched knee, trembled as she collapsed on the cold floor and reached for her phone. At exactly 4:30 A.M, the phone vibrated. Looking at the familiar number on the screen, Elena picked it up on the third ring and held it up to her ear.“So what?” Vicenzo’s impatient voice filtered through. “Has this whole operation been a total waste of my time or not?.” Elena rolled her eyes.With the events the night before concerning the lighter case and the invitation, they were truly making progress. But, thinking about the unsolved relationship between the two silver cases, she took a deep breath and responded in a robotic tone. “I received an invitation from Angelo last night. His painting of me has been nominated for an award. He wants me there with him, to receive it.”There
