Strings and Schemes

Chapter 12

My dad excuses himself to speak with the High Commissioner, leaving Louis and me to our own devices.

"So... what happened with Zayn the other night? Crazy sex?" Louis doesn't even try to lower his voice.

I groan. Leave it to Louis to bring up my sex life in the middle of a multi-million-dollar diplomatic event.

I should shut him down, but honestly? I've been looking for any excuse to talk about Zayn lately.

"No, actually. Well... kind of." I pause. "It was... different."

Louis raises an eyebrow. "Different how?"

I sigh, searching for the right words. "I've never had someone look at me like that, Louis. No one's ever spent so much time just... focusing on me."

Louis gasps dramatically. "Excuse me? I have spent many nights selflessly servicing you, Raina."

I snort. "Not like that, Lou. We sleep together to get it out of our systems. You're a good friend, and you don't make me feel bad about my fear of dating and the public eye."

He shakes his head, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.

"But with Zayn..." I trail off, shaking my head. "It felt like more. And I've been trying to decode it all week."

Louis grins. "You know, I've never heard you hung up on someone before."

I groan. "I KNOW."

His grin widens. "It's not a bad thing, Raina. To let someone in."

I start to object, but Louis holds up a finger. "Before you shut me down—unless you want to end up in a political marriage with someone who doesn't give a shit about you, you've got to put yourself out there.

"So what if people find out? You're dating Zayn. You'll be found out eventually."

"We're not—"

Louis cuts me off. "Give it up, love. If what happened between you two was even more intense than what I saw the other night? There's no way you're not dating. Maybe not exclusively. But guys don't do that unless they care."

I open my mouth to argue, but he's right, and I hate it.

"Babe," Louis says gently. "You deserve the world. Stop selling yourself short."

I sigh. "Fine. I just don't want to be a fool for him."

Louis smiles knowingly. "Join the club."

The Scheme

Before I can fully absorb Louis' words, I spot my parents approaching with purpose.

My stomach drops. "What now?"

"Is that any way to speak to your loving parents?" My dad says dryly.

I roll my eyes. And that's when I see him.

The High Commissioner's son.

Oh, you have got to be kidding me.

I shoot a glare at my mother. "Did you know about this?" I demand in French.

She hesitates. "No, no, I—"

"Oh, fuck off, Mother." I switch to low, biting English. "I know a political setup when I see one."

My father narrows his eyes. "You will not speak to us this way, Raina."

I cut him off. "I'm not some bargaining piece. I am done playing your games."

Louis appears at exactly the right moment, a bottle of champagne in his hand.

"Let's go for a walk, yeah?"