Page 67 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

Penny raises her eyebrows. “Using you? Did you remind him that you’re a grown woman who can make her own decisions?”

“Oh, believe me, I tried. It didn’t matter. In his mind, I’m still his helpless little girl, and Silas is the big bad wolf swooping in to steal me away. He even said something aboutSilas ruining me.Can you believe that?”

Penny whistles low, shaking her head. “That’s some serious drama.”

“Tell me about it.”

“So, what’s the plan? I mean, this fake engagement thing was supposed to be a temporary fix, but it’s clearly spiraling out of control.”

“Right?”

“I mean, it’s all everyone can talk about online. And I know you, you can’t stand your dirty business outside.”

Penny’s right: there are very few things I hate more than being in the spotlight. My business is just out there for everyone to dissect and give their opinions on, and I hate,hateit. Why did Emma have to take that damn picture?!

“You’re chewing on the inside of your cheek, Leah.”

I release the tender skin between my teeth. “I can’t believe I’m the news now.”

“I mean, you got engaged to a reclusive, mysterious billionaire, Leah.” She blows her coffee. “This was always going to happen.”

Penny’s right again. What exactly was I expecting? There was always a chance that this got out. It was always a matter of time, and I should have been better prepared.

“Leah, you’re chewing the . . . forget it. Look, maybe it’s time to—”

“Break it off?” I cut her off, already knowing what she was going to say. “Penny, I can’t. Not now. It’s too late for that.” I clinked the cup on the coffee table, leaning my head back on the couch. “Breaking it off would be letting my father win. And no, I’m not going to give him that satisfaction or let him think he can control me.”

“So, this is about your father?” She straightens her crop top by its sides.

“Not just Dad.” I frown. “There’s Caleb. How do I explain to him that everything he thinks is real isn’t? That we’ve been lying to him?”

Penny bites her lip. “I get that, but Leah, this is getting complicated. Emotionally complicated. You’re dealing with your dad, your fake fiancé, his teenage son. And you’re not exactly unaffected here.”

“Unaffected?” I feign ignorance.

“You told the man you loved him, Leah.” She shakes her head in disbelief. “While he was balls deep inside you!”

“Don’t be gross.”

“I’m just saying what happened.”

I groan. “You don’t get it. Silas flew me to Paris for ice cream, Penny. Paris. Forice cream.Who does that?”

Penny’s eyes go wide. “Holy shit. Paris? You didn’t tell me that. That’s a big move.”

I nod, letting the memory wash over me, the way the cold air bit at our faces as we strolled along the seine, laughing at the absurdity of it all. And then, it hadn’t felt absurd when we gotback to the hotel, stopped laughing, and his hands were on me, and the world blurred.

“Okay, I get why you slept with the guy.” Penny laughs.

“I mean, it wasn’t just that, Penny. I just . . . I don’t know. I don’t know what I feel,” I admit quietly, like the word itself might break the fragile reality I’m holding onto. “But being with him that night? It felt real, Penny. Like,real, real.But now he’s acting all distant again. And I don’t know if it’s because of me or . . .”

“Or what?”

“Or because of his trauma from his brother’s death?” I finish.

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

“It’s got everything to do with him,” I whisper, chewing on my bottom lip. “He’s still carrying that around. Ezra died in that earthquake, and it’s like Silas built this wall around himself to cope. He’s closing himself off, and I don’t know if I can break through that. Hell, he thinks I don’t know, but he always has nightmares about it. He whispers his brother’s name in his sleep like he’s being haunted by his ghost in his dreams.”

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