Page 65 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

“That’s not good.”

“Not at all.” Leah nods.

The tension thickens as Harvey storms into the room, his face red with veins bulging in his neck. I approach him as he bounds towards us. The second he reaches me, he goes off.

“How fucking dare you, Silas?” he shouts, his voice booming off the walls. He’s wearing a sharp suit, but it looks like he threw it on in a hurry. “You’re trying to steal my daughter from me?”

I glance at Leah, who looks more furious than scared. But Lizzie, standing behind Harvey, looks like she’s witnessing some soap opera. “Harvey,” I try again, keeping my voice steady, “Look, I’m not trying to steal anyone.”

Lizzie pipes up, “Harvey, maybe—”

“Shut the fuck up, Lizzie!” he snaps, not even looking at her. She recoils but stays where she is, nervously twisting the ends of her hair.

I expected this, but damn, Harvey is more pissed than I thought.

I stay calm, letting him vent. He needs to get it out of his system. “Harvey, listen—”

“No!” Harvey shouts, cutting me off. “I don’t want to hear it! You’re using my daughter as your fake fiancée, and you didn’tthink to tell me? I mean, you lied to my fucking face! What kind of man are you?”

I can’t lie. I’m notexactlyproud of myself here.

I glance at Leah, who’s standing stiffly by my side, her arms crossed. “I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react like this,” I say, keeping my voice level. “And, let me remind you. Leah’s an adult. This is her decision as much as mine.”

Harvey’s eyes narrow. “Bullshit. I want this engagement dissolved immediately.”

Leah chuckles, and Harvey turns his gaze on her. “Beth would be ashamed of you.”

Uh-oh.

Leah steps forward, squaring her shoulders. “You keep Mom out of this!” She wags a finger, her hand shaking. “You keep her name out of your fucking mouth, Dad!”

“How could you do this to me, Leah?” Harvey’s eyes darken, his lips trembling. “He’s my age! You’re with someone your father’s age, and it’s even worse because it’s fake! Where is your dignity?”

Leah directs the finger at Lizzie, who looks behind herself to see who’s being referred to. “Are you seriously lecturing me about dignity?” She laughs mirthlessly. “You, Dad? If I had a mirror, I’d hold it up for you to see.”

“I want this called off!”

“Dad, I owe you nothing,” she says firmly. “Also, what I have with Silas isn’t entirely fake.” She steps back to stand by my side.

“This is r-real? Bullshit!” Harvey repeats, his voice dripping with disdain. “I refuse to believe that.”

Leah crosses her arms. “I really don’t care, Dad. Believe whatever you want. Silas kept it from you out of respect for your feelings. But I actually never cared what you thought.”

Her words hang in the air like a challenge, and I can see Harvey’s face turning a deeper shade of red. He looks between us, his jaw clenched so tight I think his teeth might crack.

“Look, let's all calm down, alright?” I take a step toward my old friend. “This is something we can sit down and discuss.”

But Harvey isn’t having any of it. “I don’t give a shit about sitting down, Silas. That option elapsed when you started fucking my daughter behind my back!”

“Jesus, Harvey.”

“You think I’m just gonna sit back and let you walk all over me? You’re going to regret this, Silas. I promise you.”

Leah’s standing tall beside me, her gaze unwavering. But I can see the slight tremble in her hands. I don’t know if it’s from anger or nerves.

I step closer, lowering my voice. “You’re my best friend, Harvey. I respect you. I love you like a brother, but don’t make the mistake of threatening me.”

Harvey takes a step forward, his chest puffed out like he’s ready to fight. “Is that so?”

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