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Novel Catalog
Chapter 23
“Why are you here?” Ivor frowned, his confusion clear as he looked at Bonnie, who had just stepped into the room.
Ged, standing beside him, added, “You have the wrong room.”
Bonnie’s eyes flickered as she quickly stepped back outside and double-checked the room number.
“Heath, you said the room number was 007, right?” she called out, slightly puzzled.
Heath, just as confused, nodded. “Yeah, this should be it.”
Bonnie opened the door again and walked back inside.
“Why are you back?” Ged asked, completely baffled now.
Bonnie didn’t miss a beat. “You guys have the wrong room. We’re supposed to meet someone in Room 007.”
Ged’s eyebrows shot up, but his voice was confident. “Hey, I booked the room, okay? You must’ve made the mistake.”
Bonnie raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you sure?”
Ged quickly pulled up the booking information on his phone and showed it to them. “See for yourself!”
Bonnie looked from the screen to Ivor, then to Ged, as the realization hit her. “Which one of you is the Knight?”
Ivor and Ged exchanged a glance, both staring at Bonnie and the good-looking man beside her in astonishment. They hadn’t expected this.
“You’re here for the game?” Ivor asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.
Bonnie gave him a small nod. “Yup.” She paused and looked at both men again, before asking, “So which one of you is the Knight?”
Ivor stood up, his gaze finally locking on the chessboard, then shifting back to Bonnie. It was clear now.
He took a seat beside the table, as if inviting her to play. Bonnie raised an eyebrow, not hiding her surprise as she sat down across from him.
Ivor blinked, his disbelief hard to conceal. “You’re the Shepherd?”
Bonnie looked at him with an almost bored expression. “My family name is Shepard. Isn’t it obvious?”
Ivor’s jaw tightened. He bolted to his feet, the air between them thick with tension. “What the hell?” He was still processing the fact that she—this woman—was the Shepherd.
Ged, on the other hand, couldn’t keep it in. His mouth fell open in shock. “You’re the Shepherd? Oh my God! This can’t be happening!” He scratched his head multiple times as if he could somehow make sense of it. “I thought… I thought she was just some random guest at the party!” He was genuinely flustered now.
Ivor didn’t let his surprise show as much, but his eyes narrowed with curiosity. “Don’t you want to play chess with me?” he asked, finally managing to regain some composure. “I’ve been waiting for this day too. Sit down so we can begin.”
Bonnie didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she flipped a coin, catching it expertly in her hand before covering it with her palm. “Heads or tails?” she asked, her voice calm.
Ivor hesitated but sat back down, leaning slightly forward. “Heads,” he replied, his voice steady but his mind racing.
Bonnie revealed the coin. “You make the first move.”
Ivor’s eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, still processing everything that had just happened. But the game was set. And in a chess game between experienced players, even a single wrong move could lead to defeat.
The atmosphere in the room shifted, charged with the thrill of the game and the silent challenge between them. Bonnie’s calm demeanor suggested she was used to pressure, but Ivor was equally determined to win.
The game was about to begin, and this time, it wasn’t just about strategy. It was about proving something much more.