Page 51 of The Enemies With Benefits Deal

By the time I get to the last email, I’m ready to get up and face whatever mood Grayson is in.

Standing up, I smooth down my skirt and step out of my office, stopping at Lara’s desk as she rushes back into the office with a bagel in her hand.

She drops down to her desk. “What’s going on? You look like you’re ready to go to war.”

“I might be.” I smile and take half of the bagel she offers me. “Grayson marched into my office and demanded that I meet him in his. Any idea what this is about?”

Lara shrugs and takes a bite of her bagel. “His father might be bearing down on him again, telling him that he needs to get his life together.”

“That happen a lot?”

Lara gives me a world-weary look. “Mhmm.”

I nod and finish the bagel slice, savoring the taste of smoked salmon and cream cheese. “It’s probably just about the app. We got some notes back from the design team the other day and our replies are due tomorrow.”

Lara glances over her shoulder as Grayson continues to glare at me. “Good luck. I wouldn’t want to deal with him right now if I was you.”

Part of me hopes it’s another meeting that’s going to be filled with tension, ending with me bent over the desk or slammed up against the wall like our normal meetings.

We spoke for a little last night on the phone, going over details for the app, but it isn’t the same as spending time together.

All week, I’ve been craving some alone time with him, and whatever the circumstances are, I’m finally going to get it. Heat pools between my legs at the thought, my heart skipping a beat like I’m a teenager with a crush on him again.

Maybe tonight I can ask him to get dinner with me and we can talk about the future.

I’ve been waiting for a good time to tell him that I spoke to Leo about staying on with the company a little longer. Tonight could be a good night.

First, I have to get through whatever meeting he wants to have.

After taking a deep breath, I walk into the office and shut the door behind me. “Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

Grayson crosses his arms. “There was about twenty minutes ago.”

“Well, you were the one who walked into my office without so much as a hello and then demanded that I come talk to you. I was in the middle of something.”

His teeth grind together, red splotches appearing on his neck. “You just stood out there and ate a bagel with Lara.”

“And you’ve been sitting here and glaring at me while drinking your coffee.” I keep my tone even, not wanting to fight with him even though I know he’s trying to push my buttons.

He’s doing a decent job at it too, but then again, he’s always been good at it.

As he stands and plants his hands on his desk, leaning over it and looking at me like I’m in trouble in the principal’s office, I see the man I knew twelve years ago.

It’s written all over his face. He’s angry at me for something, but I don’t know what.

I stride across the office to his desk, standing tall. “Why did you call me in here, Grayson?”

His nostrils flare before he sits back down, his shoulders slumping. “I didn’t want to be the one to have to tell you this, but Dad asked me to.”

“All right.” I sit down across from him, draping one leg over the other. Something feels off about this entire conversation. The hair on my arms stands, little bumps forming.

Grayson looks me in the eyes, expression unwavering. “Dad has said that your contract renewal is dependent on whether or not you get the CEO position.”

I take a moment to watch the corner of his mouth as he speaks, but there’s no slight curl to it.

He isn’t making this up.

The talks with his father were supposed to be confidential. Nothing about the CEO position had been mentioned during them either. I just told Leo that I would be willing to continue collaborating with them through the first year of the relaunch to ensure that it was as successful as possible.

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