Grace (The ‘Hello’ series)

26. Chapter 26

twenty-six

W hispers climb on my skin, tightening their hold on me as foul words come from Victoria. I’m useless and stupid and have to be led with a firm hand, how I never deserved Sebastian and that he’s the single reason I got my place at his father’s company.

Her words cut deep as they hold some truth. I would never be here if it weren’t for Bash. I would never have met and fallen for his dad, my boss, if it weren’t for Bash. I don’t want to give him any credit for how my life has turned out… but I have to as he showed me what I don’t want in a relationship, how he made me feel the exact emotions I hope I never experience again, especially from the one I care about most.

I’m not worthless, cheap, and stupid.

But still…Daniel avoids me the whole night. I understand why, so it should be fine, but it isn’t. He won’t even look at me, and it somehow makes me feel dirty.

No one really stays near me for long. It’s that easy for a rumor to ruin someone. Maybe everyone’s expecting Daniel to fire me because I’m Sebastian’s ex. That’s what Stacy kept saying.

No one cares that I sneaked out, left, and went home.

When I get home, Ashley promises this all is just a misunderstanding and she’s sure that if Daniel is worth anything at all, he’ll step in and reassure me.

It doesn’t make me feel any better. I never got a text, not after the party wrapped up or this morning when I headed to the office.

Everything in the office feels so weird. There’s an undercurrent of expectation, either mine or everyone else’s in the office that makes me want to hide behind my desk all day. More important than hiding, though, is avoiding Daniel. I run errands, check in with other teams to make sure everything is okay, and focus entirely on my computer.

Mr. Brooks—because he has to stay Mr. Brooks at the office—is wrapped up in his own phone calls and meetings that I’m not privy to. He says it’s all legal stuff that shouldn’t concern me.

Which just leaves me time to think.

He didn’t stand up for me against his ex-wife, not really. Sure, he said I’m a good worker. That’s it. Am I just being na?ve like Melissa said? I’m not the first girl he’s been with at work, and I’m not holding it against him, but if he’s just using me because he knows he can toss me to the side later… if he’s just saying what I want to hear so he can keep enjoying the benefits…

After all, it’s not like he’s taken me out on a date. Everything between us is sexual other than one date. One . And that still ended in sex. I’m stupid, too ‘innocent’. He made me orgasm and I read into it.

That’s what it has to be. I thought more was happening, but Daniel has always been clear about only wanting this play between us. I press my hand to my forehead. It’s just… a learning moment. I’ll start setting boundaries like I should have done from the beginning. Like not doing anything sexual at work.

Maybe if I draw that line, Daniel will be done with me or he’ll actually ask me on a date and we can see if more is even possible with his ex being around, the fact that I’m his son’s ex, that he’s my boss. Jeez, when did things get so complicated?

So now, I have spent the whole day trying to put distance between us. When he calls me ‘darling’, I go to lunch or ask how I should reply to an email. I ignore the confusion and hesitation on his face every time I avoid the obvious sign that he wants my attention for a different reason.

Even with that face, the expression that makes me want to explain everything, I manage to keep distance between us until the end of the day. The second my computer clock switches to five o’clock, I start to pack up, ready to leave this all behind me and give myself time to put my thoughts in order.

Daniel

As always, Victoria managed to mess something up in my life. She has crawled her way into Grace’s head, creating this canyon between us since she won’t even look at me.

It’s my fault, I know that. I realize I should’ve called her last night. But with my ex-wife closing in, I couldn’t let our secret come out like that. I had to protect her from the drama. Because first, we need to know what we are and what we want. I know what I want, but does she feel and think the same?

I have to find out, and then we have to figure out how to handle my son… and ex-wife. It’s not that she has any leverage on me. At least, not anymore. But my son, I wonder if he would ever forgive me. Would he hate me? Loathe me? Or does he already feel that way?

There’s only one way to find out if this thing between me and Grace is the last straw that tears my already broken family apart.

My thumbs hover over my screen, reading the text I have in place with the simple statement.

We need to talk.

I don’t dwell too long before I hit Send .

But before I can talk to Sebastian, I have to talk to Grace. If she lets me.

I almost miss her as she hurriedly packs her bags and makes a beeline to the door. My pace is quick, my strides big, and just before her fingers grab the handle, I beat her to it.

“It’s five,” she says easily, but the small red dots marking her skin behind her ear don’t go unnoticed. Her chest rises and falls so fast, I’m sure if I press my palm to her chest, her heart would beat rapidly against my hand.

“I’m well aware of the time. I’m also well aware that you heard everything Victoria said yesterday. I can’t make up for her comments, but…” I trail off, and she slowly stares up at me. My shoulders drop, and I swallow before speaking. “I’m hoping you’ll still allow me to take you out to dinner, darling.”

She blinks, her brows tugging together. “Out?”

I can’t help the slight tug on my lips. “Out, as in a restaurant.”

Her plump lips part and close. “Oh, um… like a date?”

“Not like a date. An actual date, darling. All I need is your yes,” I say, gently reaching for a loose strand of hair and tucking it behind her ear.

“But why?” she breathes.

“I want you, Grace. I don’t care what my ex-wife says. Her opinion and Sebastian’s opinion don’t define me and don’t impact what I feel about you,” I say as my hand slips behind her neck. “I’ll prove that tonight.”

“Okay,” she whispers.

“Perfect.”