Page 73 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

“It’s about honor!”

“Honor?” I laugh. “Honor, Dad? Really?”

“Silas is taking advantage of you!” He slams his hand on the table, spittle flying from his mouth as his mask of coolness disappears for a minute. “He’s a fucking piece of shit!”

“He isn’t taking advantage of me!” I cover my face with my hands and take breaths to settle myself. “Look, Dad, What I have with Silas—it’s real. And it’s none of your damn business, okay? So, just back off.”

“Real?” My father stands, walking around the desk, with that calm, calculated look he gets when he thinks he’s winning. “Leah, I know about the fake engagement.”

I blink.

He shrugs as if it’s nothing. “I gave Silas the idea, you know. I told him a fake engagement would smooth things over with the Caldwells. I just didn’t know he’d drag you into it. Fuck, I didn’t even know he knew you!”

My chest tightens. “It’s not fake anymore. W-We have real feelings for each other.”

A flicker of something crosses his face—disappointment? Disgust? He shakes his head. “You’re a fool, Leah. You can’t see it, can you? He’s playing you.”

“You don’t know anything about him!” My voice rises, breaking through the calm facade I’ve tried to maintain.

“I know enough,” he snaps back. “And you’re too blind to see it.”

“That’s bullshit,” I spit, taking a step closer, my fists clenched. “Silas saved my life, Dad. During the earthquake in Rome. When you—" My throat tightens. I don’t want to go there, don’t want to dredge up the fact that he wasn’t there when I needed him most—he’s never there. “He lost his brother saving me. He’s done more for me than you ever have.”

My father’s jaw tightens, the muscles in his face hardening like stone. “So, you’re with him because you owe him? That’s it? This whole thing, it’s some twisted reward?”

“No!” I shout, shaking my head. “I’m with him because I love him!”

He looks at me like I’ve just confessed to some crime. “I don’t want to hear that. I’ll never stop coming after you two until this is over because you’re making a mistake.”

I’m shaking now, vibrating with the need to scream, to throw something, just todosomething. But instead, I force myself to stay calm. I glance down at my phone—a text from Penny:

Girl, I have an idea that can help with this mess. Call me as soon as you can! Xoxo.

“Is that Silas?”

I look back up at my father, feeling the anger bubbling over. “You want us to start over, right, Dad? You and I; you want us to be a family again?”

He reaches a hand out and touches my cheek. “That’s all I want, Leah.”

“Good. If you can’t respect my decisions, then you can kiss any chance of a resolution goodbye.”

With that, I turn on my heel and slam the door behind me.

I don’t look back.

Chapter twenty-six

Silas

Money bleeds faster thanblood in this business.

That’s my first thought as I stand at the edge of the studio lot, staring at a sea of cardboard signs and angry faces. They’re holding up my production, and every minute lost is another fistful of dollars slipping through my fingers. The wind kicks up the scent of sweat, street food, and the distinct tang of garbage—a fitting perfume for this absolute shitshow.

"Silas!" Jean, the director, jogs over, looking like he’s aged ten years since I last saw him.

His hair is disheveled, and there’s a new stain on his once-pristine leather jacket. The poor bastard looks like he’s been through hell and dragged his wardrobe with him.

“They won’t let us shoot.” He huffs, motioning with his thumb toward the crowd. “Every time we start rolling, they throw trash onto the set.”

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