Page 30 of Filthy Rich Bosses

I nod, then turn to Juniper. "Thank you. Please keep thinking about that gift. Something meaningful."

As Juniper leaves, I can't help but notice the sharp click of her heels against the floor. It's a stark contrast to Tessa's practical flats, always ready for action. I realize I'm smiling at the thought.

Cole's expression wipes the smile from my face. He closes the door behind him, and the air in the room seems to thicken.

"What is it?" I ask, my stomach tightening with sudden apprehension.

Cole runs a hand through his hair, hesitating. "It's about Tessa," he finally says.

My heart rate picks up. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine, but..." Cole takes a deep breath. "This morning, she and Chase went on some rescue mission."

I feel my jaw clench. "What kind of mission?"

"I guess she works with some dog rescue. They called her about a hoarding issue. Chase said it was disgusting and dangerous," Cole says, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. "It got heated with the property owners. Chase had to physically restrain one of the guys."

"Jesus Christ," I mutter, standing up abruptly. My chair screeches against the floor. "What the hell was she thinking?"

I'm barely listening now, rage building inside me like a volcano about to erupt. "Cancel my meetings for the rest of the day," I snap, grabbing my jacket.

"Grayson, maybe you should cool off first—"

"I said cancel them," I growl, storming past him.

“That’s not my job!” he calls after me. Some part of me is aware of that, that he’s my partner and not my secretary. But I’m too pissed off to care at the moment.

As I drive home, my knuckles white on the steering wheel, all I can think about is Tessa's reckless behavior. Doesn't she understand the danger? The risks of doing something like that? I can't shake the image of her facing down some thug, her small frame dwarfed by potential violence.

By the time I reach the house, I'm seething. I slam the car door, my footsteps heavy as I march inside, ready to give Tessa a piece of my mind. She needs to understand. She needs to be more careful. I can't lose her too.

That thought gives me pause. But then I think about what Cole said and I’m angry all over again.

I storm through the house, my anger propelling me forward. "Tessa!" I call out, my voice echoing off the walls. No answer. Where the hell is she?

As I reach the back of the house, I catch a glimpse of movement through the glass doors leading to the pool area. My breath catches in my throat.

Tessa's there, but not as I expected. She's in the pool, her lithe body cutting through the water with graceful strokes. The afternoon sun glints off the droplets on her skin, making her seem to shimmer. My mouth goes dry.

I step onto the patio, transfixed. Tessa reaches the edge of the pool and pulls herself out, water cascading down her body. She has on a black bikini that barely covers her body. Good God, she’s gorgeous. She looks up, startled to see me.

"Grayson? What are you doing home so early?"

I try to speak, but my voice fails me. Tessa's eyes narrow, sensing something is off.

"Is everything okay?" she asks, reaching for a towel.

Finally, I find my voice. "I...I heard about what happened this morning. With Chase."

Tessa's expression hardens. "Oh. That."

"Yeah, that," I say, my earlier anger resurfacing. "What were you thinking, Tessa? You could've been hurt!"

She steps closer, her eyes flashing. "I was thinking about saving those dogs, Grayson. Someone had to do something."

The fire in her eyes, the passion in her voice—it's intoxicating. I'm caught between wanting to shake some sense into her and wanting to pull her close. The air between us crackles with tension.

"You can't just throw yourself into danger like that," I say, my voice softer now.

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