Page 70 of Filthy Rich Bosses

I glance at Grayson, my heart skipping a beat at his unwavering support for me.

He turns to Douglas, who reappears from the hallway as if summoned. “Douglas, change the security codes tonight. Remove Juniper from the access list and get a locksmith here first thing in the morning. I don’t want her able to step foot on this property again.”

“Of course, sir,” Douglas replies smoothly, his calm demeanor a balm after the whirlwind of events.

I finally exhale, the tension in my chest loosening as I glance around the room. Cole catches my eye and gives me a reassuring smile, while Chase moves closer, his arm brushing against mine in quiet solidarity.

Grayson’s gaze lingers on me for a moment before he steps forward, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. “Are you alright?” he asks softly, his voice holding a rare tenderness.

I nod, though my voice wavers slightly. “Yeah, I think so. Just...a lot to process.”

“We’ll handle it,” he assures me, his tone steady and confident.

For the first time since this whole mess began, I feel a glimmer of hope. The storm might not be over, but at least now, we’re standing on solid ground.

The house finally begins to settle as the police escort Juniper and Morgan off the premises. The guys handle the rest of the aftermath downstairs while I retreat to my room, feeling like a storm survivor stumbling into the eerie calm that follows a hurricane.

When I open the door, it feels...different.

Douglas, true to his word, has had all my belongings returned, but the space is devoid of warmth. The walls are blank, the shelves bare, and the scattered personal touches that once made it mine are conspicuously absent.

I wander in, sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed. The sheer enormity of everything that just happened presses down on me. My hands find the soft fabric of the comforter, and I cling to it like a lifeline, letting out a shaky breath.

A soft knock breaks the silence.

Grayson steps in, his presence instantly filling the space. He’s discarded his suit jacket and tie, the top buttons of his shirtundone, leaving him looking both disheveled and devastatingly handsome.

“Mind if I join you?” he asks, his voice quieter than usual, almost tentative.

I nod, and he closes the door behind him before crossing the room. He sits beside me, close enough that our shoulders brush. For a moment, neither of us speaks.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened tonight,” he finally says, his voice low and filled with regret. “You didn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess. How are you holding up?"

I turn to face him, suddenly aware of how close we're standing. "I'm...I don't know. It's been a wild night."

His eyes soften. "That's an understatement if I ever heard one."

"I still can't believe Juniper tried to...well, you know."

His jaw tightens. "I should have seen it coming. I let her get too comfortable, too close."

I reach up, placing my hand over his on my shoulder. "Hey, you couldn't have known. None of us did."

Grayson's eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see a flicker of vulnerability in those piercing blue depths. "Still, I should have protected you better."

"You did protect me," I insist. "You all did."

He presses closer, and suddenly the air between us feels charged. "Tessa, I..."

My heart races as Grayson leans in, his lips brushing against mine. The kiss is soft at first, almost hesitant, but then it deepens. I melt into him, my hands finding their way to his chest.

When we finally break apart, both slightly breathless, Grayson rests his forehead against mine. "I want you to stay," he murmurs.

"Stay?" I echo, my mind still fuzzy from the kiss.

“We’ll talk tomorrow,” he murmurs.

“Tomorrow,” I echo, a small smile tugging at my lips.

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