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Chapter One

Jamie

Every story has a villain Mine is staring at me from across the room All it takes is one look froirlfriend, stands one booth over from mine with her father, the chairman of 10X Games Kevin Carmichael is all fake s off his brilliant daughter to his business partners along with his latest technology

Cece, as I’ve known her since ere kids, isn’t only beautiful and rich, she’s one of the s at her since we set up our booth for the Ga she’s here is enough of a distraction And that’s what she wants—to distracther career as a video ga over her father’s co more than a sub-plot in her story, a detour on her way to the next big thing

“I need you focused, J,”on my arm “This launch is important”

I peel my eyes away from Cece to look at my dad whose forehead is furroorry He’s a nervous wreck about the unveiling of Mage Wars, his latest game in The Fallen Universe he created before I was born My dad is like a god in this world He has fans around the world ait iame

“I know Don’t worry” I pat ot it covered”

He flashes a closed-o anywhere near Cecelia, you can’t function”

I laugh so hard I snort “Not even close”

Dad’s eyes travel from Cece back to me “You look at her the way I look at your mother, except your mom looks back at me the same way Cecelia only sees you as an opportunity, as soet in your head, Jamie”

He’s not entirely off base When Cece broke up withI was so in love with her I was blind to all the signs They say you never forget your first love, and I’ll never forget Cece Ever since she crushed iven another woets ht she did I thought we had an impenetrable connection

“She’s your Gwen Stacy,” e