Page 91 of Beautiful Betrayal

I’ve done everything I can to block out Ri holding me at gunpoint and then dying right in front of me. But it’s not his death haunting me now, it’s the evil in that man that still lives on.

Chapter fifty-nine

Mia

Nerves I don’t want to feel jump around in my belly as we load up in the black Escalade with us in the back, Adrian behind the wheel and Blake in the passenger seat. Grayson and I are side by side, his leg pressed to my leg, his hand on my knee, just beneath my skirt. His hand is warm, strong, possessive, and after fearing I’d never feel his touch again, wonderful. What’s not wonderful is the prison of press and past history that seek to control this day, but the sooner we’re past this awkward stuff, the better.

The drive is short, and good Lord, when we turn the corner to our destination street, the building that houses the offices of Bennett Enterprises is swarming with reporters. Adrian pulls us to a side entrance where Grayson exits and helps me out, and to my shock, we enter the building without much trouble, and with relief, we head upstairs in a service elevator. The space is small to share with three large, testosterone-loaded men, and Grayson is quick to pull me in front of him and hold me close. Tension radiates off of him and it’s then that I realize just how much pressure he’s under. He’s literally got an empire on hisshoulders, the FBI breathing down his throat, and TMZ and the gossip rags won’t even allow him to just be secure with us. I need to be the person who eases his stress, not adds to it.

Adrian exits the car first and Grayson and I follow with Blake on our heels. We’re now in a hallway that is a short walk to the main elevator banks. Grayson slides his arm over my shoulders. “You nervous?” he murmurs near my ear.

“I’m good,” I promise, but the truth is I’m not sure he is and that has me determined to be his lighthouse in stormy waters, or at least a boat, that won’t sink and keeps him from drowning.

I halt and give Grayson a look. He eyes Blake over my head. “We need a minute.”

Blake and Adrian move ahead of us, which means that obviously, they feel we’re now secure. I want to believe that’s true, but Ri has involved other people in his hate for Grayson, bad people, that it’s hard to know if we can let our guards down and when. “We’re good, Grayson. You don’t have to worry about me, or gossip, or Ri’s attacks through other people. Go to work and do what you do, focus on the challenge which is not us.”

He catches my hip and walks me to him. “Where is this coming from, Mia?”

“I know you, Grayson. I can almost feel the weight on your shoulders pressing on my own. Ri isn’t done attacking you and there are people out there who would hurt you just to hurt you. Because you’re rich and good-looking. I want to make you stronger—”

“You do, baby. You abso-fucking-lutely do.”

He says that but it’s not completely true, not right this moment, but I’m going to fix that. I have to fix that. I flatten my hand on his chest, the silk of his tie, and the thunder of his heart under my palm. “I screwed up, Grayson. You’re the love of my life. I know you’re mine. I know I’m yours.Youneed to know, too, and know nothing touches us ever again. Set us aside, walkin there, and work that Bennett magic and get this over with. Find the bad eggs, get them out, and let’s move on.”

He studies me for several long beats, and then kisses me hard on the lips, ending that kiss with my lipstick on his mouth. I laugh and wipe his mouth. “It’s not your shade.”

He winks and links my arm with his arm and as we start walking, the bond we share, present and strong, and I can almost feel the weight on his shoulder ease just a little bit. He’s lighter now, and yet there’s a razor-sharp edge to him as well. He’s ready to play ball and win. And any nerves I’d had about my return here fade. Being here means being with him, passionately engaged in his life, his company, and, no—our life. This is where I belong.

We round the corner to the elevators and Grayson motions Blake forward. Adrian stays behind by the elevators. Not long afterward, I’m swarmed with warm welcomes, hugs, and lots of familiar faces. I’m instantly back home. Oh yes, indeed, I belong here. I should never have left, but I will not let regret dictate the future. I’m here to stay.

We eventually make it into the executive offices that house only a dozen people out of the thousand-plus of Bennett employees in the building, and we head to Grayson’s office. It’s there that I’m greeted by his secretary Nancy, who’s fortyish, with black-rimmed glasses, and quite lovely in all ways.

“Mia!” She shoots up from her seat and rushes around her desk.

I’m pulled into a hug, and she whispers in my ear. “Screw TMZ.”

I laugh and ease back to smile at her. “I’m not upset by that. We both know it’s not true and—” I show her my ring.

She squeals and eyes Grayson. “When?”

“We’re working on the details, but I’d do it today if we could,” he assures her.

“No eloping,” Nancy scolds. “You two have waited too long for this and I want to plan the wedding of the century.” She eyes Grayson. “Don’t let this mess dictate how you get married. Of course, TMZ is calling you a manwhore now, and they’ll be trying to chopper over your wedding later. They are such whores themselves.”

Grayson’s displeasure with the topic washes over his features and his jaw sets hard. I can almost feel him bristling with the control he doesn’t own right now but wants back. His eyes glint hard and I watch determination fill his stare. He doesn’t just want it back. He’s about to take it back.

Blake rejoins us at that moment—we’d lost him back in the lobby, and he’s not alone. The good-looking man with him, who has tattoos peeking from under his suit jacket, and intense blue eyes, is Eric, his best friend. My friend, too.

“Welcome back, Mia,” he greets, and to my surprise, he pulls me into a hug—Eric is not a hugger—and whispers in my ear. “He wasn’t whole without you.”

“Nor was I,” I say, feeling a bit choked up, because Eric doesn’t just say things to say things. Eric isn’t a fluffer or a “feel-good” kind of guy, but he’s just managed to make me feel quite good. That is until he releases me and Blake motions to Grayson’s door.

“We need to talk,” Blake says, and now he’s the intense one, and that doesn’t read like good news.

Chapter sixty

Grayson

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