Falling for the Rival

Ch. 12: Pressure

Romeo

John fucking Richmond. Of all the people I could've run into, he's the biggest threat to my already damaged reputation.

A flash of movement in my peripheral vision propels me to ditch the elevators, grab Juliet's hand, and drag her to the door leading to the stairs.

"This isn't the workout I signed up for," she grumbles, eyeing the flight of stairs.

"Would you rather have our pictures on the front page of the tabloids tomorrow?" I ask, descending the first few steps.

Juliet's warm hand relaxes in my grip. I drop it because touching her is a bad idea. Probably worse than this absurd sparring session she came up with.

I've trained for too long; she doesn't stand a chance.

And yet, the stubborn ladybug is hoping for victory.

Juliet scrunches up her nose. "No. Being seen with you is the last thing I need."

"Likewise, ladybug," I say.

She slows her steps. "I know. Your girlfriend's father wouldn't like that. Can't really blame him."

The truth scratches at my throat, begging to be let out, but Juliet can't know Addison and I aren't a real couple. Addison hasn't told anyone a thing, and I can't betray her trust by running my mouth.

"He's the least of my concerns," I say. Vincent isn't my family, but my parents would lose their shit. Especially my mother, who can't imagine anyone but Addison by my side.

"I guess we have another issue," Juliet says. "If John is a member, we can't meet at this gym."

"We can't meet at any gym, Juliet. There are eyes everywhere."

"Of course." She scoffs. "What a predictable way to back out. Just admit that you hate losing."

Laughter breaks free from my chest. "No more than you."

"You know what?" She pauses on the step before the landing. "I've got a better idea. We can spar at the warehouse."

At the warehouse where she can run into Richie or do something to out us both? Not a chance in hell.

"No," I deadpan.

"How cowardly of you." Juliet's ponytail bounces as she starts descending another flight of stairs. "Then again, I don't know why I'm surprised."

Even though she's goading me, I can't deny that she's right. The warehouse is the only place where it'd be impossible to run into paps. Nobody knows my true identity, and Hugh doesn't care about the mask as long as I bring him money and spectators.

"I need to talk to Hugh," I say after a few minutes have lapsed. "And make sure we're alone when we spar, unless you want another meeting with Richie's snake."

"Richie can keep his snake to himself." Juliet continues her descent as if I hadn't just agreed to take her to the place she has no business visiting. "If he's being a dick, I'll take him down. But only after I twist you into a pretzel."

***

Ladybug is still on my mind as I walk into the Carrington Group's headquarters hours later.

I should be thinking about the project Grandpa wants me to be in charge of, but as I ride in the elevator to the tenth floor, my mind is laser-focused on tomorrow's sparring session.

Hugh assured me nobody but him would be there. He asked if I wanted to book the warehouse on some evenings for a fee, but I'm not planning to make sparring with Juliet a habit.