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"My, rinned atwould have stopped Xavier last time he was in this position"

"Last tih I already knehat Stephan was going to say

"Yes, when he was here with Violeta" Stephan said her name distastefully "Why, that was the most drama we’d ever had at one of these balls"

"Why was that?" I asked, not able to look at Xavier

"It’s not reallyface "I assume that it still hurts"

"Hurts?" Xavier looked amused "No, it doesn’t hurt"

"I suppose it’s " Stephan nodded "I know if my date fucked my cousin at an event I’d taken her to and let everyone watch, I’d be pretty sore ed "I don’t fault her"

"Hopefully it doesn’t happen again this year," Stephan said casually "That would really burn"

"I’m not worried" Xavier’s voice was harsh and he leaned forward and grabbed Stephan’s shirt and whispered harshly, "There’d better be no ga with Lola Everyone had better stick to the rules or heads are going to roll"

"I always stick to the rules" Stephan shook him off and smiled "I’m not Casper I don’t need to break the about?"

"Xavier hasn’t told you about the test?" Stephan sounded surprised, but I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was faking it He was a good actor, though I could al through Almost, but not quite The simple fact was that he had no reason to care about me He didn’t know oing full force He was trying to woo me hard I just didn’t really understand why Was this really just a lanced at Xavier and he pulled out his phone instead of answering me "Call Anna and talk to her," he said "Then come back and tell me if you want to stay"

"What’s the test, Xavier?" I asked him, but he remained stoic

"It’s a test of passion and desire," Stephan said "It’s a test of lust and want"

"Oh?" My eyes searched Xavier’s, but still he didn’t speak

"It’s a test to see if Xavier is really the man to turn up your fires" Stephan’s eyes burned into mine "Or perhaps he was just the man you met first Perhaps you are more suited to someone else Perhaps your sexual journey will take a different turn" He licked his lips deliberately as he spoke and I turned away hurriedly and walked a few yards away toand I was so scared that Anna wasn’t going to answer

"Hello," she said sleepily and I almost fainted in relief because I was so happy to hear her voice

"Anna, it’s me, Lola"

"Lola," she almost screamed "Where are you?"