Page 92 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

Dad gets off the chair and stretches his arms, and I hear joints cracking. He walks towards me and pushes his glasses into his thinning hair. There’s pity in his eyes, and I hate it. I hate how he looks at me like I’m a helpless child he has to take care of.

“H-he really chose that?”

Dad places a hand on my shoulder. “He did, yeah. He didn’t even have to think too long about it. I think he’s been searching for any means to resume production on his movie and—”

“Fuck.” My head feels heavier, and where Dad’s palm rests, I am already starting to sweat. “I have to talk to him. I have to look him in the eye and hear this from him. He—”

“Just ask him if the protests are over. Ask him and hear what he has to say for himself.”

I pull away from Dad and leave the compound without another word. As I drive away, the silence in the car is heavy and oppressive. All that’s echoing in my head is one question:

I saw this coming, so why did I stay?

Chapter thirty-two

Silas

Harvey’s offer left abad aftertaste I can’t wash. Cut Leah out of my life and go back to business as usual, or keep her and let Harvey turn my reputation into mulch. Two equally lousy options, all hinging on one absurd ultimatum.

I hate that I can’t stop thinking about it.

Because right now, I’m supposed to be enjoying this moment with Caleb. It’s not every day he’s willing to spend his Saturday evening playing Scrabble with his dad instead of doing whatever it is thirteen-year-olds do these days. I’m seated across from him in the living room of my penthouse, trying to focus, even if my mind keeps dragging me back to that call with Harvey.

“Hmmm.” I sigh.

The polished walnut coffee table between us gleams under the recessed lighting; each Scrabble tile spread out with military precision. Caleb looks deep in thought, eyeing the board, brown curls tumbling over his forehead as he chews his lip in concentration.

“Dad,” he says, a mischievous glint in his eyes, “are you going to play or just stare at the board all night? You know I already know the next word I will form, right?”

I blink, trying to shake off my thoughts. “I’ll have you know I’m strategically planning my next move.”

Caleb smirks, clearly unconvinced. “It’s just a game, Dad. And for the record, you’re totally gonna lose.” He reaches over, holding up his hand in a “you know it” gesture, one eyebrow cocked.

I arch a brow, determined to put up at least a decent fight. I glance at my letters and settle on “dilemma.”

How fitting.

I lay the tiles out, trying to ignore the irony staring back at me from the board. Caleb snorts, clearly enjoying the word choice a little too much. “Yeah, sounds about right. But I’m still gonna win,” he says, laughing as he starts plotting his next move.

I chuckle and shake my head, watching him with an odd mix of pride and a touch of guilt. These small moments are what I’vewanted with Caleb all along. Since Leah came back into my life, Caleb’s been different.

He smiles more, relates with me better, and doesn’t look angry at the world anymore.

But I can’t fully enjoy it. Not with Harvey’s ultimatum hanging over me like a thundercloud. How can I choose between the woman I love and my peace of mind? It feels like a losing game, no matter how I play it.

Caleb glances up, noticing my distraction. “Dad, you okay?”

“Just . . . thinking.” I offer a tight smile.

“About what?”

“Grown-up stuff.”

“I’m thirteen.”

“Thank you for proving my point.” I ruffle his hair.

He makes a face and whips his curls back to get them in place. “When’s Leah coming around?”

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