Chapter 19
“Why are you here?” Tobias frowned.
Russell added, “You’ve got the wrong room.”
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“Oh, sorry.” Kaia stepped out and checked the room number. “Huh? Owen, isn’t this the one you told me?”
Owen looked puzzled. “Yeah, it is.”
Kaia got it right away and walked back in.
Russell blinked. “Why are you coming back?”
Kaia stepped inside and told them, “We’re not in the wrong room. You are. This is where we’re meeting our friend.”
“No way. I booked this room. You must be mistaken,” Russell said. He was sure of it.
Kaia frowned, then asked, “Are you sure you booked this one?”
Russell held out his phone. “See for yourself.”
Kaia’s eyebrows went up. She looked from Tobias to Russell and asked, “Which of you is King T?”
Both Tobias and Russell froze, staring at her and the good–looking man beside her.
“Are you here for the match?” Tobias stood up, eyes shifting between Kaia and Owen–mostly on
Owen.
“Yeah,” Kaia said. “So, which of you is King T?”
Tobias sat back down at the chessboard. That answered it.
Kaia raised an eyebrow and sat across from him.
Tobias’s eyes widened. “You’re Queen K, huh?”
“Who else would I be?” Kaia said, calm as ever.
Once she confirmed it, Tobias stood again, his expression a mess of emotions.
“Whoa!” Russell blurted, staring at her like she’d grown a second head. He looked even more shocked than when he found out she was Myles’s student.
“You’re the famous Queen K, huh? Seriously? Oh my God. What’s happening right now? Am I dreaming?” Russell muttered, rubbing his head like he was trying to wake himself up.
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Chapter 19
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Tobias wasn’t much better, though he hid it a little more. Inside, he was just as shaken and kept giving her complicated looks.
“Didn’t you want to play with me? I’ve been waiting for this. Sit down–let’s start,” Kaia said, picking up some chess pieces. “I’m not giving you any advantage. Let’s guess who goes first.”
Tobias took a deep breath, trying to keep it together, and sat down again. “Odd.”
Kaia opened her hand. “You go first.”
“Alright.” Tobias nodded, acting calm.
With players this skilled, one wrong move could cost the whole game. But Tobias played fast, barely stopping to think.
Kaia was the same–Tobias moved, and she moved right after. The sound of the pieces hitting the board filled the room.
Owen and Russell watched from the side, almost shouting out more than once.
They were incredible–this really was Queen K versus King T. Nobody could tell who would win.
Half an hour later, Kaia picked up her coffee and sipped it like she had all the time in the world.
Tobias slowly held a chess piece and looked up at her.
She moved with a natural grace, completely at ease.
Tobias was stunned and couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Kaia noticed and set down her cup. She asked, “Do I have something on my face?”
Tobias snapped out of it and frowned slightly. “It’s your turn.”
“Oh. Kaia didn’t think much of it and made her move.
A while later, Tobias slowed down, staring at the board with a frown.
Russell tensed, worried he might actually lose.
Kaia just waited and didn’t say anything.
A minute later, Tobias finally moved, Russell let out the breath he’d been holding.
Then Kaia paused, Owen grabbed a fan and started fanning her.
Kaia shot him an annoyed look–she wasn’t nervous, but Owen clearly was.
Owen gave an awkward smile and made a fist to cheer her on.
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Chapter 19
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Tobias noticed it and felt something twist inside him. His eyes darkened.
Finally, Kaia made her move and looked at Tobias. “Your turn.”
From there, the match got even more intense–it was like watching two armies clash. Neither could break through.
After a long standoff, they both stopped at the same time.
“Let’s call it a tie. No point dragging it out,” Kaia said.
“Agreed.” Tobias nodded.
“We’ll play again next time,” Kaia said coolly.
‘Okay,” Tobias replied.
Then, Kaia stood and stretched.
‘It’s noon. Hungry? My treat,” Owen asked Kaia.
Kaia touched her stomach. “Yeah, I could eat. Let’s go.”
‘Where to?” Owen asked.
‘Let me think,” Kaia said.
They chatted as they walked out. Tobias watched them, noticing how close they seemed, and felt a twinge of jealousy.
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