Chapter 3

3

Elias finally let me out of the room when it was time for dinner.

His first words to me were a command to feed Minnie.

Looking at their shameless faces, I almost found it funny.

"Since you've got nothing better to do, you can look after Minnie. Her leg is messed up and her hands are hurt because of you."

"If you agree to take care of her, I might consider letting you compete internationally. You can forget about competing here since you're blacklisted."

The mention of the blacklist made my blood boil.

"I'm blacklisted because of you! You're the one who threatened the association!"

Elias looked slightly guilty, but he quickly masked it.

"You attacked Minnie. I had to do it. I couldn't let my relationship with you interfere with the rules."

It was pathetic. He talked about rules while rigging the local championship for Minnie.

He knew how much that title meant to me, but he worked with the judges to steal it from me.

He really thought I was stupid.

As the tension rose, Minnie grabbed my arm and acted the martyr.

"It's okay, Ria. I don't blame you anymore."

I looked her dead in the eye.

"Minnie, we both know how you got those scratches. Elias isn't listening, so you can drop the act."

She just smiled sweetly and led me to the table, trying to feed me a spoonful of food.

I pushed her hand away just as Elias walked back into the room.

He flipped the table over, plates smashing everywhere.

"Ria! That's enough! You hurt her, and now you're acting like a spoiled brat when she tries to be nice?"

"Is your hand broken? Do I need to shove the food down your throat myself?"

I realized then that Minnie had timed her move perfectly.

I looked at him and felt nothing but coldness. "No need. I'll eat out."

I went upstairs, grabbed my purse, and walked toward the door.

"If you walk out that door, don't you dare come back!" Elias roared behind me.

I didn't even look back.

I checked into a hotel and slept like a baby.

Tomorrow, everything would finally be over.