<h4>Chapter 83 - I Like You</h4>


    "I like you." Adam started.


    Mnie stared at him as her insides twisted. Was she having some weird dream like thest time? That time he''d been undressed in her dream... Subtly, she sped her hand and pinched her wrist.Nope. She felt the pain so this was probably not a dream.


    Then, was he serious? Did he really juste here to... confess? He looked so flustered, she almost believed it. Almost.


    "What did you say?" she asked carefully. Knowing him, he was probably pulling some prank on her. But if he was, then he was too good an actor. He looked the perfect blend of confused and hesitant.


    Adam let out a breath, ruffling his hair like he was trying to shake loose whatever was bothering him. "I like you. And I don''t want to lie to you."


    "Oo...kay?" Mnie said slowly, still unsure where this was going.


    He frowned at her tone. Why was she looking at him so apprehensively? He had not even confessed yet... And then he realized what he''d said and how it could be construed.


    Hurriedly, he shook his head," No no. I don''t like you."


    Mnie blinked again as she stared at him. Had he lost his mind or something. But again, all she said was," Oo...kay?"


    He cursed again and stood up, pacing," I mean I like you but not romantically. Just that you are a decent and good person."


    Mnie nodded. The guy must have definitely hurt his head or was probably drunk and hade here out of some confusion.


    Adam could see it in her eyes that she was not taking him seriously. Of course, he was making such a mess of things that she probably wouldn''t. He needed to stop wasting time.


    "I like you and I I used you," Adam blurted out suddenly and watched her brows furrow even more as she asked slowly, "What?" Her brows shot up. "What do you mean you used me?"


    "I didn''t mean to... not like that." Adam shook his head. "It was a low move, and I knew it. That''s why I''m here. I thought... I should tell you."


    Mnie crossed her arms as she looked at him, finally realizing something. "Tell me what exactly?"


    "The pictures," Adam muttered, barely looking at her. "The ones with us on the flyboard... I had someone take those. On purpose."


    Mnie nodded at that," Hmm. I guessed that as much! I mean I am sure no one had so much free time that they would simply click our pictures."


    Adam blinked.


    "No no. I mean I''d hired a professional photographer to click our pictures when we were at theke. I meant to use them to show off to Spencer and goad him..."


    As Adam exined his entire n, Mnie could only let out a slow and steady breath. "Thanks for telling me. I appreciate the honesty. You can go now."


    His head jerked up and his eyes narrowed. "Wait... that''s it?"


    After everything he had confessed, all she could say do was thank him? And ask him to leave?


    "That''s it." Mnie''s gaze hardened. "You think I''m supposed to thank you for telling me you used me? You think because you confessed, it''s all good now?"


    "No, I—" Adam started, but she cut him off.


    "Next time," she said coldly, "if you''re nning to use me, at least have the decency to warn me first."


    "Mnie, I—"


    Adam nodded. Okay. She was angry. That was good. Anger was good. But he didn''t like the way she was looking at him. Like he was some kind of an insect.


    Before he could say anything more, Mnie cut him off, "We started off as partners for mutual benefits. Please remember that. If we''re going to keep working together, you tell me what you''re nning. No lies, no sneaking around. Got it?"


    Adam scowled then. What did she mean by that?


    "Good." Mnie nodded toward the door. "Now please go."


    The door had barely clicked shut behind him when Mnie felt herposure slip and she let out a breath. Was it just a couple of hours ago that she had epted that they could probably be friends. Her breath caught, and before she could stop herself, tears were streaming down her face.


    When was she going to learn? She had let her guard down—again. Somehow, she had let herself believe that Adam, of all people, could be her friend. That beneath his smug smile and easy charm, there was something genuine.


    She had forgotten what kind of man he really was—a man who yed games with people''s lives, a man who had orchestrated her so-called ck of marriage'' and then patiently waited three years, gathering intelligence on Spencer and about her so that he could slip into her life seamlessly and take Spencer''s ce.


    He might look carefree and easygoing, but there was a sharpness to him—a calcted edge that she''d been too blind to see before. No. She had seen it but considering the fact that he had revealed Spencer''s betrayal, she had thought him better than Spencer.


    What a fool she was. They were both brothers, how different could they be?


    The truth settled like a stone in her stomach. The fact was she knew nothing about Adam Collins. Nothing at all. And if tonight, he had not revealed everything then she would never even have known that he had done something like this. Even though he imed that he''d not pulled her onto that flyboard for show and all that was genuine, her memory of the day had been tarnished...


    With a sigh, Mnie returned to bed andy down. There was no point in thinking all this. She should just go on as she had initially nned. Ignore Adam and his antics. Work on building up LuxeArt and then three yearster, separate and go on her own way away from these people who would use someone without a care.