Page 86 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

“There’s a new issue of Spider-Man that just got released, and I don’t want to order it.”

I frown. “You want me to get it for you? I could pick it up by—”

“Can we go get it together at a comic store?” he spits it out like he fears rejection.

I smiled, touched that he had called me. “Yeah, of course. I’ll come get you.”

Penny waves me off as I leave the office, muttering something about still staying for the Wi-Fi. I head to Caleb’s school and pickhim up, and soon, we’re at a comic book store on the East Side, flipping through the latest issues.

For the first time today, I feelfine.I look out the windows of the scanty store, out into the street, and there are no protests, no paparazzi—just people going about their lives. No cameras pointed at me or angry faces yelling about mysituation.

“How was school? There’s been no more trouble, right?”

Caleb shakes his head without looking away from the comics he’s browsing. “Billy’s trying to be my friend. He offered me a cake today.”

“Did you eat it?”

He ignores me. Instead, Caleb looks at a shelf of graphic novels, his face serious. “Do you think villains are born bad? Or do they just become bad because of things that happened to them?”

I blink, caught off guard by the question and the change of topic. “Uh, I think, maybe a little bit of both? Why?”

He hesitates, his gaze fixed on a comic. “Is my dad a villain?”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My poor bloated gut. I can’t believe he’s even thinking that. My phone buzzes: Dad. I ignore it.

I kneel beside him. “No, Caleb. Your dad is not a villain. He’s a good man. People just, they like to twist things. And my dad? He’s a manipulative, bitter man who’s trying to ruin Silas’s life.”

Caleb looks up at me, his brown eyes searching mine. “Why’s your dad like that?”

I don’t get the chance to answer because my phone buzzes again—this time with a voicemail from my father. I let it go to voicemail, not ready to deal with whatever new scheme he was concocting.

“Sorry,” I say to Caleb, “I need to listen to this.” I retreat to the corner of the store and put the phone to my ear to listen to Dad’s message. His voice is stern, with a little quiver.

“Leah, you need to come home right now. It’s important. A matter of life and death.”

My heart skips a beat. What the hell does that mean?

Chapter thirty

Silas

I never thought I'dsee the day Harvey would call me before showing up at my office like we’re strangers. But here we are. I stare at the phone in my hand, his name flashing on the screen like a bad omen, before I finally pick it up.

“Harvey.”

I hear him talking to someone there before he finally answers me. "I’m downstairs," he says, his voice gruff.

“Why—"

"Calling before I come up. I don’t want to walk in on anything . . . awkward."

Awkward.

The man has a way of picking the right words to twist the knife. Not that Leah’s anywhere near here right now, she’s off with Caleb at some comic book store. I still don’t like the implication, but I hold my tongue. No use letting him see that he’s getting to me.

"Come on up," I reply, keeping my voice even. "I’m in my office."

I drop the phone and lean back in my chair, staring at the view from my office. Monarch Tower stands tall above the city, floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the breathtaking skyline. Usually, this view gives me a sense of control, like the world is at my feet. But today, it feels distant, cold.

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