AllFreeNovel
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He picks up one of the crystal pieces. “This is the king. Ultimately, the aim of the game is to protect him. If he gets killed, then it’s game over.”
“Of course, it’s the king that matters. What about the queen?”
Xavier tuts at me. He places the king down to pick up the queen. “Don’t underestimate the queen. If you lose her, you may as well quit. She is the most powerful piece in chess.”
I shoot him a smug smile. “That’s more like it. The king is useless without his queen.”
For the first time today, Xavier has a genuine smile. “Yes, he is. She is his ultimate protection. She will move anywhere across the board to protect him.” He places the queen gently back on the board. “Chess is all about strategy. It’s about analysing and reading your opponent and the board. My favourite is getting someone into a zugzwang.”
“A what?”
Xavier laughs quietly at my confusion and rearranges the board. “In this situation, white is in zugzwang. It means that no matter what move white makes, it will cost him a counter or, in this case, the entire game. Essentially, they are forced to hurt themselves or forfeit the game.”
I don’t understand his enthusiasm, but it makes my heart full seeing the childlike excitement on his face. “Have you always enjoyed chess?”
The shadow of sadness darkens his features again. “My dad loved playing chess. He’s the one that made this board and gifted it to me.”
The heavy black and white marble board and crystal pieces look professionally made.
“This is beautiful. Does he do this for a living?”
“He died seven years ago. Today’s his death anniversary.”
His sullen mood makes sense now. Xavier has never spoken about his family to me, and I never thought to ask. I assumed there was history there he didn’t want to bring into his present.
“I’m sorry for your loss.” Providing comfort doesn’t come easy, so I change the subject. “How long did it take for him to make?”
He shrugs. “Not that long. He was a good craftsman and tried to teach me.” He pauses for a moment. “Do you want to get out of here?”
The sudden subject change gives me whiplash. He stares at me with hope.He needs to get out of here.
I nod. “Sure. What did you have in mind?”
He stands up. “Follow me.”
I follow behind as he walks to his bedroom. He smirks when my eyes widen and explains he needs to change. My shoulders relax, and I sit on the armchair while he enters the closet. When he comes out, my mouth runs dry at the sight of him casually dressed.
“Close your mouth, Miss Hayes. Or else you’ll catch a fly,” he jokes.
I purse my lips shut but still admire how the t-shirt clings to his toned muscles. I peek at the abs underneath as he lifts his arms to pull his jumper on. It should be illegal for someone to be hotandrich. My laugh at his shoe choice has him looking over at me.
“What’s so funny?” he asks.
“Millionaire withConverse?”
His eyebrows shoot up. “What’s wrong withConverse?”
I grin at him. “Nothing at all.”
He ties his laces and begins the walk down the stairs. “Don’t offend me by calling me a millionaire again.” He smirks at me as he holds the front door open. “I’m abillionaire, baby.”
If it were physically possible, my ovaries would have imploded from the arrogance laced in his words and eyes. The confidence he emits is just enough to be sexy.
“Sorry, Mr. Billionaire.” I climb into the passenger seat of his car. “Where are we going?”
There is a youthfulness to his smile. “Ice skating.”
I don’t want to dampen his mood by telling him I don’t know how to skate. Maybe, by some miracle, I’ve developed the instinct. Instead, I change the topic. “What’s the most you’ve spent on shoes?”
