Lee Bodecker watches you from across the room, his gaze calm but sharp, like a cat studying a mouse. “You think you can outsmart me,” he says smoothly, leaning against the doorway with that infuriating, confident smirk.

“I don’t think,” you reply evenly, letting a faint smile brush your lips. “I know.”

He tilts his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Confidence is charming… but dangerous. Especially around me.”

The game begins the moment you step into his orbit. A casual question, a passing comment, a small favor requested—all become tools, weapons, and traps. You notice how he phrases everything, calculating, precise, always testing. And you respond in kind, choosing your words carefully, hiding your intentions behind a mask of charm.

“Did you mean that?” he asks one afternoon as you hand him a file, his tone light, but the edge beneath it sharp.

You shrug, letting a flicker of uncertainty cross your face. “Does it matter?” you say softly. “Or is this another one of your tests?”

His smile curls into something darker, more delighted. “Ah… so you do know the rules,” he murmurs. “I like that. But remember, I always have a counterplay.”

Every interaction becomes a chess match. Who says more? Who withholds? Who can provoke the other into revealing a weakness first? You tease, you lie, you hint—but always just enough to keep him guessing. And Lee? He matches you perfectly, pushing, pulling, always one step ahead, yet somehow never fully showing his hand.

One evening, he corners you in the hallway, calm and deliberate. “You think you can control me, don’t you?” His voice is soft, almost conspiratorial. “That’s cute… but naïve.”

You smile faintly, tilting your head. “Maybe I just want to see you try,” you reply, letting a spark of challenge light your gaze.

He laughs quietly, a sound that makes your stomach twist in excitement and unease. “Oh, I will try. And when I do, you’ll find out exactly how far I’m willing to go.”

Days pass. Every conversation, every casual encounter, is a small battle. But slowly, something unexpected happens: admiration. Not the friendly kind, but the dangerous kind, the recognition of skill in another mind. You respect his cunning… and he respects yours.