Into You Series: The Complete Collection

41. Grace

CHAPTER 41

GRACE

I ’ve only been in the principal’s office twice in my life.

The first time was when I was seven and I fell during field day, hurting my knee. My mother took it all the way to the top, and I sat there as she grew red in the face explaining that kneepads should be required. I tried inserting that it was my own negligence that caused the fall, but she wasn’t having it.

Fun fact: my old elementary school now requires kneepads for all gym-related activities.

The second time was ten years later when I was seventeen. My friends and I cut class to work on our art project. Shocking, I know . The school’s on-campus security guard caught us roaming the halls and that just didn’t seem to sit well with him. We were sent home with a note to our parents. Cue red-faced mother all over again. Once again, my fault.

It only makes sense that my next experience in an office with serious consequences would be yet another ten years down the line. I’m twenty-seven and I was fighting with my boss who also happens to be my lover. Is that the correct word? Lover?

Ugh.

Just like those other times, I’m practically shaking in my chair, gripping the sides so hard I could bust the stuffing right out, hoping to God I don’t get expelled (well, fired, I guess), and knowing that this situation is entirely my fault.

Nia started by explaining the policy to us. It’s all kind of a blur because I kept trying to discreetly glance over at Cameron, who has not moved an inch during this entire process. I’m sure my looks keep giving me away, but he’s just as poised as ever. The power of the suit.

“Now, if you feel more comfortable speaking to me individually about what happened, then the topics will be kept between us,” Nia assures the both of us. “Confidential.”

I nod in response, but Cameron clears his throat.

“There’s no need.”

Nia’s eyes whip to him and I hope to God he’s not throwing in the towel.

He knows this job means the world to me. Us in a relationship? It would ruin our careers. ‘Of course that’s why Grace got the promotion,’ they’ll say, ‘She’s sleeping with the boss.’

“This is a very serious matter,” Nia says. “Please tell me you understand this.”

She’s almost pleading with him.

I’ve never seen Nia act beyond her HR fa?ade: her forced smiles, generally good-natured conversations in the breakroom, and no-nonsense rapport with Ian. But this seems different. She doesn’t want to be doing this. And I don’t either.

“I understand,” Cameron says. “And I’m quitting.”

“What?” I spit out.

“I’m quitting,” he repeats, pulling out his cellphone. “I don’t care for this position, Nia. You know it. I know it. Promoting me was a mistake. But Grace is absolutely brilliant. She deserves the promotion we’ve already discussed. So, I’m quitting.”

What the ever-loving crap is he doing?

I look from Nia to Cameron and back again. It doesn’t look like she’s buying his story or appreciating the lack of respect he’s showing her by pulling out a phone during such a serious meeting. He quickly types out a text before pocketing it again. I wonder if it’s to Abby.

Nia snorts her frustration.

“Cameron, we will need an investigation into what happened.”

“Nothing happened,” I blurt out, and then she’s giving me the same incredulous look.

“It’s okay if you’re uncomfortable talking about this, Grace.”

“I’m not uncomfortable,” I say, more defiantly than I have any right to. I straighten my posture and release my grip on the armchair. No more fear. Just confidence.

“I can leave right now,” Cameron says, rising, but Nia snaps her fingers at him and points to the seat.

“Sit down, Kaufman.”

He sits and crosses his legs. From the corner of my eye, I see the giraffe socks staring up at me. My stomach plunges and I’m filled with every emotion I’ve tried to suppress. I want to hug him and beg him not to do this.

“Now, I don’t know what’s going on and I don’t know what I just saw,” Nia says. “But what I do know is whatever you’re comfortable speaking about needs to be out in the open right now.”

Cameron has a plan. I don’t know what it is, but with the way he keeps pulling his phone out, texting, and then locking it back, I can tell he’s got something up his sleeve.

“I changed my mind,” I say. “I’m uncomfortable speaking about this.”

Cameron’s head swivels to me, and I see a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It melts me; I know I just read his mind.

On the flip side, Nia narrows her eyes. I’m reliving the same violent anxiety I got from the principal’s office ten years ago.

“You just said you weren’t uncomfortable,” she says, a hint of accusation in her voice. She’s polite enough to mask it well. It’s that HR training at work.

“Well, now she is,” Cameron says in my defense.

In that instant, as if by fate, Ian busts in the door.

“Everybody doing okay in here?” he asks. “I thought I smelled HR frustration.”

“Ian, are you freaking kidding me?”

If Nia had the capability to curse at work, I think she would have let one large profanity slip in that moment. But before Ian can answer, Cameron gets up, brushes off his pants and nods.

“Well, I’m glad we had this talk, Nia. Ian, walk me out?”

“Sure thing, man.”

Cameron stops for a beat and looks at me.

“I’m sorry, Holmes.”

I’m sorry for what? Our breakup? Leading you on? Possibly ruining your career? Loving you?

I bite my lip, and he leaves just as quick as Ian came bounding in. His pull makes me want to leave with him. The farther away he gets, the more my soul is left cold.

Nia gets up from her chair and stumbles to get around her desk.

“No, I need you to—Cameron!” she calls.

The heel of her shoe catches on a stack of binders in the corner and she trips. I’m just close enough to stand up and catch her by the waist. She feverishly stands back up, huffs, straightens her pencil skirt, and looks at me.

“They’re gone, aren’t they?”

I lean back to peer out of the cracked door where I faintly see Cameron swaggering through the glass front doors. Ian salutes Saria and waltzes out behind him. Even though I’m confused by the whole event, I have never been more attracted to a certain ex-boss, Cameron Kaufman.

“Yes, I think so,” I say. “Gone as can be.”

She buries her head in her hands. “Grace, is there anything you would like to discuss?”

“Nope,” I say.

Taking a cue from Cameron, I get up, nod my head, and exit the office.