The English Billionaire

Chapter 21

Emma's POV

We ate in almost silence, there were a few people talking but the majority of people didn't know anyone in the room. Brett had sat in front of me but had not said a word.

Slowly the room emptied out, just as all of my confidence disappeared when a lady began rounding up the ten finalists.

We were herded towads the middle of the lunch room then the principal of the school began talking to us.

"You will go in to the room one at a time and answer whatever they ask you, then you will come back out and not discuss whatever went on in the room with any other contestant. Do you understand?"

We all nodded then sat down at the table as we were directed and one of the students was chosen to go in first.

"What do you think we'll get asked?" Someone whispered.

"Probably a bunch of hard questions." Someone else responded.

"Or they'll take our blood and run tests on it and see if we're healthy enough." Someone else said.

"I heard Forest is doing this contest to get a bunch of people to turn into zombies or something," still another person replied which made everyone else start spouting off the theories they had read online or heard from other people about Forest and the contest.

Then the contestant who had gone in first came out and another was chosen to go in. The principal placed the students who had gone in at a different table, to keep them from talking to the rest of us probably.

The in-and-out of the contestants was much faster than I thought they were going to be and the only information that we could gather was that whatever they were asked had thoroughly stumped them. This made me even more worried.

Then suddenly it was Brett's turn. He got up and sauntered in to the room and I was told that I would be next. My heart thundered in my chest. I was so nervous I thought I would throw up.

When Brett came out of the room, he still looked smug which was very different than the faces of the other children when they had exited the room. I was even more scared at that. I stood and began to walk to the door of the room, ringing my hands as they opened the door for me.

I walked in and was utterly surprised at the two faces that greeted me.

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Forest's POV
A few moments earlier

There were only two more contestants left after the smug boy had left.

Each answer to our question had been okay-- not fantastic, not brilliant, but at the same time, not stupid. Chris ran a hand through his hair and shot me a look. I took a deep breath.

"Two more." I said, "Have any favorites so far?"

"Maybe," Chris said, "But none stand out yet."

I nodded in agreement then schooled my face into a more pensive look as the door opened again and a nervous looking girl walked in.

The principal of the school announced her, "This is Emma."

"Hello, Emma," Chris greeted her, "Please sit."

Emma sat quickly, biting her lip, her eyes were searching the room for something safe to look at. I grinned at that and her eyes flashed to me for a second and I could see she bit her lip harder as her eyes moved quickly away from mine and landed on Chris' whose seemed to be safer for her to look at.

"We have just one question for you," I said, and her eyes fell on mine again but I turned to look at Chris who was studying the girl, "would you like the honors?"

Chris looked away from Emma and nodded, "If you wish." Emma turned to him, looking a little confused now. "The question is 'Why?' You may answer however you like."

Emma frowned, I grinned, and Chris just met her gaze as we waited for her answer.

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Emma's POV

Are you freaking kidding me.