Page 55 of Filthy Rich Bosses

I pull into the driveway, surprised to see Juniper's sleek sports car parked out front. Is Grayson here? My stomach does an uncomfortable flip as I walk in and find her perched on the edge of the living room sofa, phone in hand.

"Oh, Tessa," she says, glancing up at me with a tight smile. "I didn't realize you'd be back so soon."

I force myself to return the smile, even as suspicion gnaws at me. "Just had a quick errand to run. Is, uh, Grayson around?"

Juniper shakes her head, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "No, he’s in meetings all day. I had some business to attend to."

I can't help but wonder for the millionth time what exactly is going on between Juniper and Grayson. The way she's always here, always so comfortable in his space...it shouldn't bother me, but it does.

"Right," I say, unable to shake the feeling that there's more to her presence than she's letting on. "Well, don't let me interrupt."

“Actually, the business is with you.”

“With me?”

Juniper stands, her auburn hair swinging as she strides towards me, a manila envelope clutched in her manicured hands. "I have some paperwork for you," she says, her tone clipped.

My stomach drops. "Paperwork?"

"Your severance package," she clarifies, extending the envelope. "And a reminder about your contract end date."

I take the envelope, my fingers trembling slightly. "Severance? I didn't realize—"

"It's all there in black and white," Juniper interrupts, her eyes sharp behind her thick-rimmed glasses. "Including the stipulation that you need to vacate the premises no later than ten a.m. on your final contract day."

The words hit me like a slap. "Excuse me?"

Juniper's lips thin. "I'm sure you understood this was a temporary arrangement, Tessa."

Anger flares in my chest, hot and fierce. "Where's Grayson? Shouldn't he be the one telling me this?"

"Mr. Harringtonis a very busy man," Juniper says, her tone maddeningly patronizing. "He asked me to handle this matter."

I clench my fists, fury and hurt warring inside me. "So he couldn't even bother to tell me himself? That's bullshit."

Juniper's eyebrows rise. "I'd advise against using that kind of language—"

"Save it," I snap, my voice trembling. "You can tell Grayson that if he wants to kick me out, he can damn well look me in the eye and do it himself."

I storm out of the room, my heart pounding and hands shaking. The envelope crumples in my grip as I stomp up the stairs to my temporary bedroom. Slamming the door behind me, I collapse onto the bed, my mind reeling.

I knew. I knew this was coming, that this was all temporary. But to handle it like that? Especially after he’d asked me to stay on longer?

"Screw this," I mutter, fumbling for my phone. I scroll through my recents until I find the number for that sketchy apartment I viewed. My finger hovers over the call button for a moment as doubt creeps in. Do I really want to live in that dump?

My jaw clenches. I hit the call button.

"Yeah, hello?" a gruff voice answers after two rings.

"Hi, this is Tessa Morrow," I say, my voice stronger than I feel. "I viewed an apartment with you earlier today?"

"Oh yeah, the hot little number with the attitude," he chuckles. I cringe but press on.

"I'll take it," I blurt out. "The apartment, I mean. Is it still available?"

There's a pause, and I can almost hear the sleazy grin in his voice. "For you? Absolutely, sweetheart. When do you want to move in?"

"As soon as possible," I reply, ignoring another knock at my door. "Tomorrow morning?"

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