The 32 players who had lost their first match mingled in the lobby for a while, as they would play out the rest of the lower bracket that day. Anyone who had won would play one match a day for the rest of the week afterwards. The others, it seemed, had either not seen or noticed what Ryan now realised he had been witnessing during Celine and Jay's match. Most had probably chalked it up to a young, horny guy being done over by a mix of shyness and frustration with his impending loss.
Ryan knew better.
He sat, not really listening, as Mark and Eric discussed their games. Neither had been seated where they could have seen what had happened. Both had won their matches as well, although Mark only barely, from what Ryan was absorbing passively.
Now Ryan was replaying everything he had seen. The way Celine had sat so closely, how Jay had tried to raise his hand... The way he had looked back to see her, focused on him, as if to say...
This will be you.
“So you're quiet, how did your game go?”
Ryan blinked, looking up.
“I know why he's distracted. He was sat next to that girl Celine. Who was she playing again? Jay. Lucky guy.”
Yeah, he thought, lucky.
“Yeah,” he lied.
What could he do? Was there a camera watching the room maybe? Could they review the footage? Looking around the room he was the only one lost in contemplation. None of the players at the tables near Celine's seemed to be paying it any second thought.
There was no proof. It dawned on Ryan that he was the only one who knew what had happened, he couldn't even get a second witness,
Well, of course there were two others who knew. Jay... and Celine. Those eyes...
A door slammed open and two officiates entered, followed by Jay.
“Mr Baum, if you can't substantiate your accusations then I have no choice but to disregard them.”
“But- but-!”
Behind them came Jay, and shortly after in a confident but casual stride was Celine.
“You won't even tell us what you're accusing your opponent of. Ms Rose here has been very patient and understanding, but you refuse to even make a formal complaint.”
“Please-”
“Mr Baum if you carry on like this I'll have no choice but to disqualify you.”
Ryan was suddenly caught, unsure what to do. He could intervene, but here in front of all these people... No, he had to do something. Maybe now the ball was rolling he could tell them what he'd seen.
He made to stand, then paused, reconsidering. Then stood.
Ryan made it all of two steps before, out of nowhere, Celine was there. She stood in front of him and held out a hand.
“Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Celine.”
Stunned, Ryan was rooted to the spot. Had she been anyone else he'd have been just as surprised, but given her sheer presence – and what he knew – he was more than a little intimidated, after all she was looking down on him from a good 18 inch elevation.
When he didn't respond, she tittered behind her other hand.
He tried to duck past her but found her hand on his shoulder.
“You know, usually you should shake your opponent's hand,” she said amusedly, yet something about the glint in those emerald eyes spoke of far darker intentions.
“You didn't shake his,” Ryan uttered flatly, gesturing to Jay with his chin, momentarily finding his confidence.
The hand on his shoulder squeezed, and Ryan wilted under her withering gaze.
“I said you should shake your opponent's hand...” she said softer, and leaned down, bringing her cleavage closer and closer to his face. He took one step back, then another, as her magnificent chest swelled to take up more and more of the space he had formerly occupied, until at last her eyes were level with his. “DOMME BOND VILLAIN QUOTE HERE.”
Ryan shrank, an ice cold feeling running down his back at her words.
Now many eyes were on him, and gritting his teeth as he recognized what she had done, he rued her meticulous cruelty. As she deftly stepped back to politely sit out the argument taking place, for all the world seeming the victim of a bad loser. He now looked to have shared a private conversation with her which - to the eyes of those around - would seem an endorsement in the conflict.
"Mr Baum, your second bracket game is in fifteen minutes. I strongly suggest you prepare for it unless you would rather be disqualified."
The boy seemed on the verge of tears, and Ryan could only empathize. The sheer injustice of it all was grating at his every nerve, and he could only imagine how difficult it was for Jay. Hell, it was obvious given the boy was shaking. How could they expect him to admit what she had done? That he had given in to her wiles so easily...
Now the murmurs grew, and it wasn't hard to guess what the court of public opinion had decided.
Jay swallowed, and predictably, walked out the door.
"Well, that settles that. Jay Baum is disqualified on grounds apparent," the referee announced, and turned to Celine. "Thank you for your patience, Ms Rose."
"Oh... believe me, it was my pleasure."
***
Ryan watched the second bracket play out for a while. 16 games became 8, then 4. They were excellent players... just as Jay had been no doubt, Ryan reminded himself. That poor boy had never had a chance.
Making for his hotel room, he wanted to brush off what he'd seen... and his encounter with Celine. It had been bad enough watching it, but every time she looked at him...
Passing back through the lobby, which seemed to be where many young players were congregating – although far from all, he noted – the ladder was clear to read. His next match was tomorrow at 3pm, versus a girl named Sarah. He had tried to find her in the lobby to introduce himself, but with no luck.
Once or twice he caught people staring at him as he moved around the lobby, and he cursed himself for how Celine had so easily mentally connected him to her in the eyes of his opponents. She somehow always seemed to be one step ahead. Or more, he mused, remembering the stunning ploy she had pulled off in her first game.
Unable to find his opponent he headed to his room. He hadn't really bothered to unpack yet, and decided to take the opportunity before looking for some food in the restaurant. As the elevator doors opened on his floor, he froze. There, ahead of him, leaning against a wall... was Celine.
He thought to himself that he could find somewhere to hide until she was gone. Then again, she didn't seem to be going anywhere. He'd have to see her again eventually... After a few moments, the doors began to close again, and he considered just letting them close. Ruefully, he put a hand out to stop them, and stepped into the corridor. She hadn't yet looked up, and yet, Ryan couldn't help but feel that she was watching him.
Feeling foolish just standing here, and not willing to look any more a fool in front of her than he already had, he walked to his door. He tried to look casual, yet confident, and as a result looked awkward and nervous.
Eventually, she looked up, yet her eyes didn't seem to travel as she did so. She had been watching.
“Ah, we meet again,” she said with a smile.
Deliberately ignoring her, he reached out for the door with his keycard, only for her to pluck it from his hand with ease.
“Don't tell me, we're neighbours?” she asked, looking at the card with an idle fancy.
Ice-water poured down his spine and prevented him from reacting as perhaps he should have. Ryan realised, to his horror, that this hadn't been some kind of ambush. She had the room beside his. At this close proximity, he could smell her aroma. It was sweet, yet strong. Damn, Ryan thought, no wonder Jay was such a wreck...
“Give me my key.”
Celine gave him a chilling stare as she hid the card behind her back as he reached for it, but her smile never wavered. After a few moments, where Ryan could have sworn he could hear her mind working, she handed it over. Yet as he took it, she ever so gently ran her finger across his.
He snatched his hand back. Her finger...
“Good luck in your match, Ryan Brodie. I'll be waiting for you in the finals.”
She stalked past him, and he was momentarily overwhelmed by her scent. He rested against the wall, taking a moment to slow his breathing, and hating himself for how easily she was able to intimidate him... and for the erection just the brush of her finger on his had spawned.
Ryan bestilled his beating heart and went to enter his room. The card, however, didn't work.
“God damn it,” he muttered. He'd gone through all that and his card didn't even work!
He went to reach for the elevator button, but got the chilling image of Celine waiting at a floor below and trapping him in there with her. Well, perhaps the image wasn't that chilling...
The stairs it was, then.
Reaching the lobby, he waited at the front desk for someone to show so he could swap his key card. As he did so, Ryan stared up at the bracket on screen idly as the rest of the matches had been announced. Ryan Brodie versus Sarah Kiljain. He still hadn't met his opponent yet. In the bracket below, there she was, Celine Rose versus-
Ryan ran.
***
A knock at the door got Eric's attention.