CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Rosetta's Pov

"You wouldn't believe it," I said on the call as I treated my wounds again. The chlorine in the pool caused itching in my asking and I deepened my bruises by scratching them off.

"Oh, I hate to be you right now," Jessie said. I had told her about Asher and told her my plans for him. She started with the news that Zayn was coming to find me at her house and she had told him that I didn't live with her and that I'd sorted for a better life.

I guess Zayn could not completely contain the idea that he had let me go.

"This Asher man is a monster. Please stay away from him, till you emerge as one of the winners of these competitions, and… don't let him kill you before the heist is over"

"He has a lot of plans for that, but I wouldn't let him…ah," I groaned when the methylated spirit touched my wound. 

The loud clock ring filled the entire house. "I'll call you later, Jessie. We have been summoned." I hung up the call. 

We all gathered in the announcement room. It was two hours after the swimming evaluation. I was in my element, wanting to be alone, but I still took the front seat wanting the spotlight also.

After Doom had commended my effort, I had gotten more stares from people who barely knew me and worse from those who already knew me. I wanted the attention, that was the first step to having my authority aura.

I guess it was very clear now that I wouldn't be going home today and somehow it scared these men and they were having sidewalks about how capable I might be.

"Asher locking her up didn't work" I heard someone beside me say. My fist balled with anger. I knew it was him, it could only be him.

He was the one I wanted to compete with in this plan, or better still the only one I wanted to take down and he felt the same way about me too.

He would do anything to take me down and he wasn't relenting. He had caused me deep injuries just to render me useless, but that was very little compared to what I had in store for him when we got out of here.

As I tilted my head sideways, I felt his burning stare on me, I could see curiosity and hate, and I fancied that he thought of me the same way. How could you kill my parents and still end up being after me years later to take me down?

I needed Asher to fear me. I need everyone actually to fear me because when my Mafia group is approved, no one will be able to stop me. I would take Asher down first, shooting him with my hands the way he did my father, next was Zayn, with my hands too, I would show him the same amount of torture he had shown me during my stay at his place.

His piercing gaze was interrupted by Doom's voice. 

"I guess we are all excited about this session," he said. Some grumbled while others cheered.

As Doom and the other group gathered in the announcement room, tension filled the air.  The week's disqualifications were about to be revealed, and everyone was eager to know who would be leaving.

The announcer's voice echoed through the room, listing off the names of those who had been disqualified. I and Asher exchanged a familiar glance, but our names were not called.

"Alex Thompson, you have been disqualified for violating the rules," the announcer said.

My eyes widened in surprise as I saw one of the men who had bullied me earlier this morning walk out of the room, his head hung in shame.

"Yes!" I whispered to myself, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

Right now, I needed Kyler to tell me something like "You stood up for yourself, and it paid off."

I was just glad I didn't back down.

Doom continued, "Remember, contestants, the rules are in place for a reason. Let's keep the competition fair and respectful."

The announcer went on to call more names. A lot more people were disqualified than I expected and it did remind me that this was tougher than I thought.

What was the prize? Billions of dollars when the heist is successful - which, no doubt would be. A promotion in the Mafia rank that set you in places where ordinary men could not be. 

I needed all of it for myself. I needed authority and finance. 'This was worth it' I reminded myself.

After the announcer had rounded up. Doom had specifically asked that all those disqualified could go get their things and leave. It was that quick.

Alex passed me with a gruff expression, almost pushing me off my chair, but the little stamina in me held me onto the chair.

I wanted every man in here pissed about their failure in such a way before they left.

Doom stood at the front of the room, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Tomorrow's games are going to be a little different. We're introducing partner challenges, and you'll all need to work together to succeed."

I felt a headache the moment he mentioned that. Everyone hated me here, so group work was almost a no-no.

Doom began to read out the pairings. My heart sank as I heard my name, followed by a name I had been hoping to avoid.

"Rosetta and Asher, you're paired together," Doom announced, his eyes glinting with amusement. He loved the rivalry, he enjoyed the chaos.

Anger washed over me. Asher? Of all the people, I had to be paired with him? I couldn't believe it.

My eyes met Asher's from across the room, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. Asher's expression was neutral, but I could sense a hint of smugness behind his eyes. I, on the other hand, was fuming.

This was not going to be easy.