Page 45 of Please, Stay

Voices floated down from the hallway. An unintelligible, angry shout preceded the group into the room.

“You’re about to.” Officer Kent stood and opened the door.

A group of three men and a woman entered the small holding room. A portly man that exuded authority walked right up to Grayson. His receding hairline made the shape of a horseshoe around his head. His aftershave reminded him of one of his foster dads. Was it Old Spice? He recognized the governor’s picture from the lobby.

Governor Wright cocked his head back to look up at Grayson with sharp, brown eyes. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. “Are you the man that struck a member of my staff?”

“Sir, there’s more to the story you need to hear.” Officer Kent stepped beside Grayson and the Governor. “Besides the fact I’m sure it’s all over the internet now, this is Grayson Moore.”

“The movie star?” The Governor blinked several times.

“Yes,” the officer said.

He crossed his arms over his extended gut. “Why did you hit a member of my staff?” His voice held more curiosity now than the blistering anger from before.

Officer Kent sucked in his breath and muttered what sounded like a prayer before walking back to his original position.

Lawrence Spencer, with his smug look, decided to join them. “Have you called the police yet to take him away?” he asked, his voice raspy. A dark bruise appeared across his throat. His white shirt was dotted with blood from the busted lip from hitting the floor.

Juliana stood and hid behind Grayson. She peeked out, gripping the back of his shirt. Was she really that scared? What had that man done to her?

He’d love another go at him. Her handprint still marked his reddening pasty-white cheek. At least Juliana got in a good shot.

“Ms. Campbell has informed me that she went to the coffee shop with Mr. Spencer.” Officer Kent slowly shook his head, as if still in disbelief that he had to repeat her story. “The only reason she went to the coffee house was that he promised her an interview with you.”

“What?” The Governor spun around and shot Lawrence a withering look.

Lawrence held his hands up. “She’s lying! She tried to convince me to let her see you. Said she wanted to talk about her small town and the highway expansion. She was all over me at the coffee shop before this guy started throwing me everywhere.”

“Do you want to rethink what you said?” Grayson’s entire body tightened as he bent down to get face-to-face with Lawrence. “Unless you go around slapping women, I’m guessing the slap I heard, right after she told you ‘no’ was her hitting you.” Grayson raised his hand.

Lawrence flinched.

Grayson poked his cheek on the handprint. Hard. “Or did you slap yourself?”

Lawrence smacked his hand away and took a big step back. “This whole story is a lie!”

Juliana stepped up to Lawrence. “It’s the truth. You said that the Governor was finishing up with the Mayor, and then he had a quick conference call with the bank, but he was free at eleven. You said I’d have the fifteen minutes he had free before the staff meeting.” She turned those dangerously innocent, green eyes to the Governor. “Does that sound like your schedule today?”

The Governor’s eyes widened to the point that Grayson pitied him to be caught so unaware.

Lawrence stepped closer to Juliana and stuck his finger half an inch away from her nose. “You’ll regret this, b—”

Grayson grabbed Lawrence’s wrist. He stepped in between his legs, twisting his hip and pulling his arm at the same time. Lawrence flew up over his shoulder and landed on his back at Grayson’s feet.

Moaning, Lawrence rolled to the side and pressed a hand against his lower back. The scumbag would realize how a woman should be treated and spoken to. He’d lured her away, assaulted her, and then threatened her. Grayson would risk the assault charge at this point. Juliana deserved better.

The Governor stood next to Grayson. Both stared down at Lawrence. “If she were my daughter, I’d hope someone would protect her like this.”

Grayson didn’t think Hugh would be appreciative of anything that’d happened today. Juliana’s face drained of what color was left. Grayson reached for her and walked her to a chair. Her hands were clammy. He dropped down to a crouch in front of her and pressed his hands around hers. They were chilled, too.

“You okay, Jules?” He kissed each trembling hand. “Come here.” He gathered her close, pressing a kiss against her temple.

“My dad…”

“Officer Kent, please have charges of sexual harassment brought up against Lawrence Spencer.” The Governor waited while Officer Kent escorted a still moaning, and now limping, Lawrence out of the room. Once gone, Governor Wright turned back to Juliana. “Now, dear, I want to sincerely apologize for my staff. We do not tolerate that type of behavior.”

She nodded, still looking down.

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