All Chapters of The Man I Shouldn't Want: A Game of Seduction & Lies: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

I sit on the edge of my bed, clutching the phone in my lap like it holds the answers to the universe.It’s best if we stop seeing each other. For you. For me. For everything.Ric is leaving me.The thought loops endlessly in my mind, squeezing the air out of my lungs with each repetition.I try to piece together his reasoning, but it feels like grasping at smoke. Why would he say this? Sure, he was upset about how I reacted to the article that dragged his name into the mess of my life. Was it the article itself? Or the backlash he must’ve faced after it circulated? Did something happen at work? Or did I do something wrong?Then another thought creeps in, insidious and unwelcome.My father.It has to be him. He must’ve said something to Ric. Twisted his words to sound like wisdom, like advice. But if that’s the case, why would Ric frame it as something that’s best for him too?I clutch the phone tighter, as if it might offer clarity, but the questions only multiply.I want him. I know I

The audition room is larger than I expected — cold, clinical, yet suffocatingly intimate. It’s the kind of space where every flaw feels magnified under the harsh fluorescent lights. My heels click against the polished floor as I follow the casting assistant to the center of the room, the sound unnervingly loud in the silence.When I glance toward the table at the back of the room, I falter for a moment, unable to believe my eyes. It’s not common for the director to attend auditions, especially the initial ones. But this isn’t just any role, and Ryan Haymitch isn’t just any director.There he is, seated at the far end of a long table, flanked by a handful of others — producers, writers, perhaps studio execs. Haymitch’s presence dominates the room effortlessly. He’s everything I’ve heard and more: piercing eyes that seem to strip you bare, a calm yet calculating air, and an unspoken challenge hanging in the air—prove to me you’re worth it.“Miss Jones,” someone to Haymitch’s left says, t

The next few weeks are a whirlwind. Meera and Anya morph into an unstoppable force, each in their own way. Meera, with her relentless optimism, ensures I show up, ready to work, while Anya’s sharp efficiency slices through any lingering hesitation I might have — and we’re careful to never touch back on the topic we discussed. Together, they completely monopolize my waking hours, filling every second with preparations for the promotional lineup for Choose Me, Choose You.I’m told by my father’s assistant that the meeting for Turning Point Industries is pushed forward a couple of weeks, and I’m grateful for that delay. Anything to not think of Ric. Anything at all. Meetings with the production company’s PR team become my new normal. I’m trained to stick to the key promotional messages, avoid spoilers, and, most importantly, handle tricky or personal questions — a section that feels tailor-made for my current situation. My reputation is, let’s say, delicate at the moment.Aura and Hugo,

The disappointment is immediate, a ripple that passes through the room. A few people exchange glances, their expressions ranging from subtle irritation to barely masked frustration.“Not ideal,” someone murmurs under their breath, just loud enough for me to hear.My cheeks burn, but I refuse to let it show. Straightening in my seat, I force a smile, plastering on the kind of fake confidence that’s gotten me through countless red carpets and press interviews.“Don’t worry,” I say, my tone breezy, as if this was all part of the plan. “We’ve got this. The deal’s as good as sealed.”There’s a pause, the room teetering between disbelief and begrudging acceptance. A few nods follow, hesitant but hopeful, and I latch onto them like a lifeline.“Let’s pivot,” I add quickly, gesturing toward the charts on the screen. “These projections are strong. They speak for themselves. What matters now is how we present the vision, the story behind the numbers. That’s what clients want to buy into.”It’s a

The words hits me like a physical blow, sucking the air from my lungs.“She’s what?” I whisper, barely able to hear myself over the blood pounding in my ears.Meera nods numbly, her face pale and drawn. “They just found out. Apparently, it happened earlier this evening. Details are sketchy, but…” She trails off, her voice cracking slightly.I release her shoulders and stumble back a step, my thoughts scrambling for purchase. Dead? Hayley? The same Hayley who messaged me last night, cryptic and urgent, asking to meet?“Are you sure it’s her?” My voice is trembling, but I don’t care.Meera hesitates, her lips pressing into a tight line. “It’s on the news. They haven’t released full details yet, but her name’s been confirmed. Natalie, this isn’t good. Not for anyone.”My stomach churns violently, and for a moment, I fear I’ll be sick again. Hayley Murphy is dead. The woman who in the last few weeks had been tangled in my life — and Mike’s — gone all of a sudden.“What… what happened?” I m