Page 92 of When Hearts Ignite

“I got my job here on merit, just like everyone in this room. The reason Mr. Kingsley respects me is because I work hard. I come in before any of you show up, and I’m one of the last to leave. I offer insights that are useful for the team. And I want to remind you, since you conveniently forgot, I’m a consultant here, not an employee. Even if I’m with Mr. Kingsley, I’m not breaking any rules or violating any ethics. And frankly, it’s none of your business. And it’s because women like you exist, the rest of us have a bad reputation for being gossipmongers and overly emotional messes who can’t be trusted to rise to the top. You set us back a few decades, not me.”

I release her arm and grab my papers off the printer and move to turn around.

Then came the slap.

My eyes narrow at the email on my computer, my blood boiling at the contents.

Kingsley,

You made an enemy of me at The Orchid, and I never forget a slight. I heard the slut is working for you now. Before, I thought TransAmerica would be a great company to add to my portfolio, perhaps even to keep it intact. But now, I’m going to enjoy tearing it apart piece by piece, and watching your old man shrivel into nothing. You choked the breath out of me. Now it’s time for me to return the favor.

And one day, you’ll end up with nothing.

And stop tailing my team like a bunch of dogs. It’s pathetic.

Voss

My upper lip twitches in fury as I clutch the mouse on my computer in a death grip. I sent him a very reluctant message last week, wanting to broker a deal to stop this madness. An olive branch, even though he’s the last person to deserve one.

I should have known a pig like him would be scum all the way through. Calling him a pig is an insult to the animal itself. But what gets my vision red is seeing him call Grace a slut. It makes me want to find the man himself and finish the job I started on casino night. I won’t experience an ounce of regret when I see his eyes rolling back in his head.

Huffing out a ragged breath, I take a sip of water from the cup on my desk, anything to keep me from throwing my computer on the floor.

Riiiing.

My cell phone blares loudly, and I swipe the screen to answer without additional thought.

“Steven, you need to stop frolicking with that woman.”

Mother.

Rubbing my temples with my thumb and index fingers, I close my eyes and listen to more of her screaming. “That woman is Grace, and I’m not frolicking with her. She’s my girlfriend.”

My eyes flicker open as I realize girlfriend doesn’t seem the right term to call someone who’s so important to me, someone I need to keep myself afloat in swirling waters. She’s the one person I’m sure of at the current moment with everything else going up in flames. My heart, something I thought was long missing from my body, pounds in confirmation, my lips curving into a smile as I think of our text messages from minutes ago, before Voss’s email promptly soured my mood.

“Listen, Steven. You can’t be with her. You just can’t. Anyone but her. You’ll damage the Kingsley name. It’s just a fling, son. Break it off and we’ll pretend nothing happened.”

My hands clench the pen on my desk, the knuckles white as a burning sensation radiates from my chest.

I stand up and roar, “What the fuck are you talking about, Mother? I have no time for this bullshit. Grace is mine and there’s nothing you can do or say to change my mind.”

“I’m flying to New York tonight to talk some sense into you. Steven, don’t you dare—”

I hang up the phone, the lava churning in my veins threatening to erupt from this screeching nonsense from Mother, coupled with Voss’s unhinged tirade. Pacing in front of my desk, I rake my hand through my hair, breathing in a deep inhale of the eucalyptus scented air that used to bring me some semblance of calmness.

But it’s not enough now. I want to go to Grace, to say fuck it to office optics, and pull her into my arms. I’ll be able to find peace there. The pressure in my chest will lessen and settle. She’ll chase away the demons and monsters in my mind as she always does.

My pulse is loud in my ears as I think about my angel with beautiful eyes and sparkling intelligence. The only person who truly understands me.

I need to find her. I’ll apologize to her later, but I need to find her right now, and at least hold her in my arms for a minute so I can breathe.

With only the thoughts of her in my harried mind, I stride to the office door and wrench it open, only to come face to face with Hayley, who is furrowing her brows in what looks to be alarm and concern.

“Yes?” My voice is clipped and terse. I know I sound impatient, but I could barely bring myself to care as I stride toward Grace’s spot in the bullpen. My forehead pinches as I notice the empty cubicles.

She’s not there.

Hayley walks briskly next to me, her voice urgent. “Mr. Kingsley. There’s a commotion in the copy room.”

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