Page 66 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

I don’t flinch. “That’s so.”

For a moment, we just stare at each other, the room practically buzzing with tension.

“I’ll never get around this, Silas! I swear, if you don’t call it off, I’ll destroy you.”

I hold his gaze. “I’m going to give you some time to think about this. We can talk when you’ve cooled down.”

Then Harvey lets out a growl of frustration, his fists clenched at his sides. “You better get out of my house before I do something we both regret.”

I don’t need to be told twice. I take Leah’s hand and turn toward the door. Harvey’s curses follow us all the way out, but I don’t look back. I can hear Lizzie trying to pacify him as we leave.

As we step into the cool air outside, I take a deep breath, letting the tension drain from my shoulders. Leah’s hand is still in mine, her grip tight. She’s silent, lost in her own thoughts. I exhale, long and hard. The one thing I’ve been avoiding has finally happened.

Now, I have to prepare for whatever comes next.

Chapter twenty-three

Leah

I expected the scenewith Dad to be a total disaster, so I don't know why I'm still surprised.

I sigh as I plop down on our couch, running my fingers through my hair and trying not to scream. Penny glances over from the kitchen, where she’s fiddling with the espresso machine, all blonde curls and curiosity.

“You know I missed you, right?”

“You’re home alone today?” I glance towards her bedroom. “Or is there some naked stranger in there?”

She clicks her tongue. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Uh-huh.” I squeeze my eyes shut.

“So . . . how’d it go?” she asks, eyes twinkling like this is some juicy reality TV drama and not the epic disaster of my life. “Did he take it well?”

“Are you serious?”

“What?”

I snort. “Take it well? Penny, it was a shitshow. Dad basically threatened to ruin Silas if we don’t call the whole thing off.” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “He was yelling like we’d stabbed him in the back.”

“I don’t know why men do that.”

“Do what?”

“Get mad when their friends get involved with their relative.”

“Lizzie—you know Lizzie?”

“Who’s Lizzie?” Penny stands above me.

“She’s my dad’s new girlfriend. She was there, too, and tried to play peacekeeper, but he wasn’t having it. He’s convinced Silas is using me, and he’s out for blood.”

Penny slides onto the couch beside me, her legs crossed under her in a yoga pose she does without thinking. She hands me a steaming cup of coffee, her version of comfort. “I mean, even ablind man could see that this fake engagement thing would get messy. But did he really, like, threaten Silas? Like, for real?”

I nod, sipping the coffee and wincing as it burns my tongue. “Yep. He was furious.”

“Shit.”

“Told Silas he’d never forgive him for using me as a pawn in this game of . . . whatever the hell this is.”

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