Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 133321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 667(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 667(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Now my lashes lower, the pain of losing Grayson is acid in my throat. “Let’s sit,” Grayson says, motioning to the table, and we all listen because he’s the one in charge, and not because this is his house. Because no matter how powerful the people in the room, Grayson owns the room itself, he’s in control and I’ve always found this incredibly alluring. What I didn’t do, was fear where that would lead me or what that power over me meant until he burned me. I cannot allow him to burn me again.
I walk to the table and sit down, noting the rain has now stopped, the only storm left is that between myself and Grayson. Eric sits to my right, Davis across from me, but there is only one person that consumes me. Grayson sits to my left and when we look at each other, no one else exists, a million unspoken words and so much anger between us.
Eric clears his throat. “I’ll update Davis. Grayson, Mia ran through the situation with me. To make a long story short, Mia was at the DA’s office for an interview.”
“An interview?” Davis asks. “Why the fuck would you interview with the DA?”
“Irrelevant,” Eric states. “She overheard a plan to take down Grayson.”
“Grayson doesn’t break the law,” Davis states. “This is ridiculous.”
“It’s a set-up,” I say. “I saw one of the detective’s cards on Ri’s desk. I think he’s behind it all and that means he’s doing what he has to in order to ensure Grayson looks guilty.”
Grayson looks at Eric. “Where are we weak enough to allow this to happen?”
“You have employees worldwide, Grayson,” he says. “Anyone could be paid off to plant false information, or to even go so far as to break the law. I told you. We should have dealt with Ri years ago.”
“He had Mia,” Grayson says. “I didn’t think he’d act beyond that, but obviously, that’s changed.”
“I know a guy at the DA’s office,” Davis says. “I’ll make a call. It’ll cost us, but he’ll get us what we need to know. If he confirms there’s a problem, we’re at war and we need a good criminal attorney advising us. I’m corporate and I’m good, but I want an expert.”
“I’m criminal law,” Grayson says. “I can handle it. I don’t want anyone involved that could leak this.”
“You haven’t actively practiced in years,” Eric argues. “And you’re too close to this personally. I agree with Davis. We’ll need an expert to help you insulate yourself.”
“I’m a criminal lawyer,” I say. “I’m actively practicing and I’m good at my job.”
“You’re too close to this, and to the enemy,” Davis says, his voice hard now.
“I haven’t lost a case,” I say, that topic hitting a nerve between Grayson and I that has me avoiding his stare. “And I haven’t resigned from Ri’s company. I can get close to him and—”
Grayson gives a bitter laugh. “That’s priceless, Mia. Really fucking priceless. You left me to fuck him and now you want to fuck him for me? Or fuck him because you aren’t fucking me anymore.” He stands up and without a word, walks into the house.
My emotions quake inside me and I can feel my hands shaking when I never shake, but this is Grayson. This is the man I still love and never stopped loving. I look between the two men he trusts the most. “I’m not with Ri. I have never been with Ri. I swear to you both.”
“He’s the one who needs to hear it,” Eric says. “Not us.”
He’s right.
I stand up and follow Grayson, shutting the sliding glass door as I enter the living room.
I find him behind the island, his hand on the counter, head dipped low, my regret I’d declared gnawing at me. I’m not a person that lashes back. I really didn’t lash back the way he thinks I lashed back, and for reasons he might not deserve, I really need him to know the truth. I don’t leave the island between us. I round the counter and I stand beside him, facing the counter, not him.
“I’ve never been with Ri. I know you think I was, but I haven’t been. He’s tried for years. Recently I was lonely. I was really lonely, Grayson. I saw a picture of you with a woman and I realized that you’d moved on and I hadn’t.”
“I didn’t fucking move on, Mia,” he says turning to face me. “I was trying to survive you fucking my enemy.”
I whirl around to face him as well. “I didn’t, though. I didn’t fuck Ri.” My voice lifts as I add, “Ever. After seeing you with her, I finally agreed to go out with him. I tried to do what you think I already did and I had to drink wine, lots of wine, to try and actually make it happen. I mean, why wouldn’t I? You and I—and you were—” I stop myself. “It doesn’t matter why. I had too much wine. I fell asleep on his couch and even after seeing you with that woman, I dreamed about you, and us, and I called out your name.”