Page 53 of The Enemies With Benefits Deal

“I did.” I sit taller, tilting my head slightly in a silent challenge. If he wants to keep attacking me personally, he can, but it’s not going to change the truth. “I told Leo that I would be willing to stay on for a year. He said that he would have to give it some consideration and talk to the board about their budget.”

“I don’t believe for a second that you didn’t ask for the CEO position in the same breath.” Grayson shakes his head. “Not only did you go behind my backagainto submit a proposal to Dad, but he said that there were several candidates for the CEO position.”

“And what makes you think I’m one of them?” My voice rises an octave. “Did Leo tell you that I was one of the candidates, or are you spiraling out of control because you’re threatened by me?”

“I’m not threatened by you.”

And there’s the answer.

He thinks that after everything, I’m going to hurt him.

I can see it clear on his face now that I know what to look for. He wants to push me away and punish me. The eagerness to believe the story that he’s concocted in his head makes one thing clear.

As much as I thought something could work between the two of us — that we could be happy together — he’s never going to see me as anything other than the woman who poses a threat.

He doesn’t see the person I’ve become.

Back in college, he certainly never saw the person I was.

Doing this with him again is impossible. It’s never going to be right between the two of us.

I stand up, pulling together every ounce of self-respect I have. “I have done everything in my power to help you revive this company. I did it because I wanted to help you after I screwed you over in college. I cared about you.”

“Well, it’s a shame, but unfortunately, I believe your time here is going to end shortly.”

His words are a sharp slice to the back of my knees, cutting me where I stand and leaving me bleeding out on the ground.

“You know, that’s the first time I think you might have been right about something.” I head for the door then pause, body tense as I turn to look at him over my shoulder.

There’s a large part of me that hopes he’s going to apologize. He’s going to tell me that this has all been a sick joke. That helet his fears get the best of him, but he’s sorry. That he’s going to work harder to move past everything that happened years ago instead of holding onto the anger.

If he did, I know that I would forgive him in an instant.

Instead, he looks down at the papers in front of him.

I breathe through my nose, blood rushing to my ears. As I turn the doorknob, I know that this is really the end.

“Have a nice life, Grayson.”

CHAPTER 19

GRAYSON

It’s been two days since Jade essentially told me to go screw myself and walked out of my office.

She didn’t draw it out, either. She gathered the few things she had with her that day, and then she left.

As I sigh and look across at her empty office, Lara appears in the doorway with the files I requested, looking more disappointed in me than she ever has before. It stings, but not as much as the knowledge that I ruined the best thing in my life.

And I did it all because I was terrified that Dad was going to pick Jade over me.

“You look miserable.” Lara strides into the office and tosses the files down on my desk. “Thinking about Jade, I’m guessing? Wishing you could take it back?”

I shake my head. “What needed to happen happened. I couldn’t afford to have her sneaking around making decisions about the future of my company.”

“It isn’t your company.” Lara’s tone is soft, but the words are harsh.

I glare at her. “I’ve worked hard for this. You know I have. I couldn’t let her worm her way into the CEO position. Not when she kept lying to me and sneaking around.”

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