Queen's Stalemate: Strategy

Ethan is my boyfriend and I am pregnant with his baby…I declare my love for him and he turned me down…but he does not know yet that I am with child… then I was kidnapped by a crime syndicate boss, Connor, who would not let me go unless Ethan pays back his money… but he's different from the stories I had heard… he offers me a way out… to play chess and win for my freedom… but there's a little hitch…. I may be falling in love with him!

I stare at the chess board for a while but stall a little because I could feel Connor's eyes on me. It seems he likes to watch me, making me a little self conscious. I drag my king piece from f7 to e7. My strategy is to pull him in, make him think that my queen piece is open for capture and then move in to take his. But then a grandmaster player would figure that out easily.

I mentally gasp as my chess move gives me insight in comparison to my position. I smile a little and shake my head.

"Talk to me." Connor's deep voice fills the quiet room. We stare into each other's eyes.

"That's what you did." I said softly. "You moved in when Ethan least expected it to capture me. What a checkmate."

His lips curl up a little in a smile. "Don't pull the same move now. It won't be a smart one." I sigh. He seems to have figured out my move and is already a step ahead.

He takes his king piece and places it on h7. I see an opportunity to capture one of his pawns.

"White knight captures black pawn at d6," I say excitedly as I take out one of his pawns. Connor grins, displaying his dimple.

He makes a similar move with his eyes on me. "Well played, Eleanor. Black king captures your white pawn at h6."

I study the chessboard for a minute to plan my next move. I see I am close to checkmating him but the only knight left on his side of the board is still in my way. I move my queen to h4. "Check," I warned proudly, grinning. But I feel something akin to sadness, like this game should not end.

Connor nods and claps, clearly impressed. I smile and watch as he moves his king to e3 silently. He glances up at me.

Another mental gasp. I look at him then at the board. There are no more legal moves available for either of us.

"Stalemate," he says quietly and leans back in his chair. Neither of us won. I chew at my lower lip and notice his intense stare on me. I am sure I must be blushing.

Ethan and I never played this way. Are my feelings that obvious that I am enjoying this game with him? "If you were not already Ethan's, I would make you mine," Connor says softly.

My heart skips a beat. I bite back a gasp at this revelation.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Previously posted on my blog}