Grace (The ‘Hello’ series)

4. Chapter 4

four

“ G race, five minutes,” Mr. Brooks says, and I glance at Stacy’s seat again. Another day that it’s empty. I almost suck my bottom lip, but I actually put on lipstick today, a warm brown-pinkish color that Ashley said would suit me.

I nod, quickly adding some notes on my pad.

His eyes sharpen on me. “Words, Grace.”

“Yes, s—”

He holds up his hands, my words break off, and he shakes his head. “Please, Grace, no ‘sir’.”

I blink. “I won’t again,” I say as I wonder why he doesn’t want me to call him that.

Mr. Brooks has me sit in on a meeting with him, but I still can’t scrub my ‘research’ out of my mind. I watched porn last night, trying to figure out what the excitement of size differences is and why it’s affecting me.

It was exciting to see how easily the men could take control. How determined they were to please their partner and earn an orgasm. The praise had washed over me, made me breathless and hot all over.

“Are you warm?”

I glance up at Mr. Brooks and wonder if I said it out loud. He looks over my face with interest and concern. “You’re flushed, Grace. I can adjust the temperature.”

“No, you don’t have to do that.” I pause as his brow lifts and my blush intensifies. “Okay, maybe a little.”

He grins at me as he takes care of the temperature, then refocuses the meeting. I realize then that everyone stopped because he spoke to me. The thought wiggles deeper in my mind. I shake my head and focus on taking notes. I write down a few questions when I notice some things about the program being pitched are overlooked or glossed over.

By the time we’re done, I feel fine. My mind is where it’s supposed to be, and I’m sure just about everyone in the room has forgotten me. I follow Mr. Brooks to his office, and he puts out his hand.

I hesitate. “I, um… I didn’t just take notes.”

He stares at me. “Yes?”

“I noticed—and this could be out of line, so I’m sorry—but I noticed that the specifics about client privacy, as well as the security features, were glossed over. They didn’t say exactly what data would be taken or tracked while using the app, nor did they say how they were going to be able to afford customer service,” I say softly, handing over my note pad.

His drawn brows soften as he underlines a few things, then he smirks. “Were you bored during the meeting, Grace?”

His words almost sound like a tease as his voice drops.

“Why would I be?” I ask.

He chuckles. “You drew flowers and stars.”

“Oh.” I blush all over again. “They were just repeating themselves, and since they’d already said the exact same thing three times, I started doodling. I assumed they just weren’t going to be giving answers.”

Mr. Brooks leans back slightly. “Good.”

I blink up at him. “I notice when people talk in circles, that’s all,” I murmur, then glance at his computer. Mr. Brooks arches an eyebrow, a smile still playing on his lips, and I clear my throat. “Is the computer working better after I took care of some things yesterday?”

“Yes, it is,” he says.

I don’t know how to end this conversation or whether I’m going to have to stay and be in this awkward moment. “Um, do you need anything else?”

“Grace. I don’t know or want to know why Stacy was treating you the way she was, but that won’t be the case anymore.”

My whole body trembles. “Are you firing me?”

“No,” he says, then props forward. “I’m promoting you. Well, sort of.”

I stare at him for a long while, not sure whether he’s joking, teasing me, or something else. Not that I’ve ever seen Mr. Brooks tease anyone. I’ve rarely seen him smile. Today is a weird day. I play with my hands and peek at him from under my lashes and a few escaped locks of red hair.

“A p–pr–promotion?”

“I’ve been having some reservations when it comes to Stacy, and the last week and change has proved I’m right. She’s distracted, she’s coasting through, and she’s gotten… greedy.” He says the last word with so much venom that I find myself standing straighter.

“She’s just taken two sick days,” I murmur. “I thought sick days were allowed.”

Mr. Brooks checks his watch and walks to a window overlooking the main office. “Come here, Grace.”

I swallow and move beside him, feeling his arm brush mine. He nods forward. “She’s not sick. She’s abusing company policy. Three… two… one.”

She rushes in as if she’s just late from lunch, but Mr. Brooks tilts toward me. “Look in the elevator, not at her.”

And I do glance back at the elevator. Sebastian stands there, smirking, a lipstick print on his neck. He adjusts his tie, grins wider, then presses a button. I swallow with difficulty as I notice his shirt isn’t buttoned correctly and his belt is still undone.

“Perhaps he brought her back from a doctor’s appointment,” I whisper.

“I’ve seen them do this multiple times over the last two months. Anytime she’s late, she has an excuse, but she’s always rumpled. I believe she thinks she’s impossible to replace,” Mr. Brooks says, his voice still low and threatening. “And with my son, nonetheless.”

Two months . The words echo in my head, and my stomach tightens. He’s been cheating on me for at least two months, unafraid to show it off in this office. So, did he break up with me before I could find out? Did he end things because he didn’t want me to find out? Was my refusing to have sex with him the final straw?

And why would he care if he’s getting it from someone else?

My eyes water, and I sniffle. “Two months?”

“It explains why Stacy has been so… rude to you,” Mr. Brooks murmurs. “I can’t have jealousy and distractions affecting my business.”

“But…” I whisper.

“Since you have been doing her work, you should get the position. It comes with a raise and additional PTO. Please let me know in advance if you plan on using it. Just to be clear, you don’t have access to it for six weeks,” he informs as if my whole brain isn’t broken.

My eyes prick with hot tears until one makes an escape. “Two months.”

“Grace?”

“I thought…” I shake my head and turn around. Mr. Brooks gently rubs my shoulder. “I… I think I need to go on my break.”

“Take your time. You have an hour break now with your new position. I’ll be putting the paperwork through today,” he says.

“How…?” I shake my head. “I’ll get myself in check.”

“You’re human, Grace.” Mr. Brooks softens his tone, his fingers hooking under my chin, tilting my head slightly up as he says his next words. “You deserve better than my son cheating on you and better than being talked down to when you’re doing wonderfully. I won’t have you working under someone who doesn’t appreciate you for what you offer and who you are.”

I blink a few times and take a slow breath as the hurt fades and that heat I recognize swirls inside me. “Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Brooks. I appreciate the… the chance to show what I’m capable of. Would you like anything for lunch?” I say, and his touch drops.

His other hand brushes mine, and a cold card nudges between my fingers. He bends down, and his lips tease my ear next. His voice is low, husky, warm. “I’d like you to show me your favorite restaurant and to remember that you deserve better, Grace. Sebastian doesn’t deserve your tears. You’re capable of plenty. I look forward to seeing myself proven correct.”

My skin tingles at his words, goosebumps trailing along it. “Okay,” I muster.

He gently wipes under each of my eyes. “Don’t give Stacy the satisfaction of seeing you upset. Since I’m asking you to pick up lunch, this won’t count as your lunch break. Calm down, process, and then you can take your lunch after you return with ours . The pin on my card is 9667. No price limit.”

Why the hell is he being so nice to me?

He strokes my cheek again, gazes into my eyes, then disengages as if nothing has happened or changed—as if he didn’t completely shake my world.