Page 36 of Filthy Rich Bosses

"Tessa?" Grayson asks, his voice carefully neutral. "Why?"

I shrug, trying to keep my tone light despite the knot forming in my stomach. "Why not? She's part of our lives now, whether we like it or not. Might as well embrace it."

“Temporarily,” Greyson grumbles.

"Come on, guys," I plead, letting a bit of my frustration seep through. "When was the last time we just hung out, the three of us? No work, no drama, just...fun?"

A heavy silence falls over the room. I watch as Grayson and Cole share another look, something unspoken passing between them. Finally, Grayson sighs.

"Fine," he concedes. "What did you have in mind?"

I grin, bouncing to my feet. "It's a surprise. Just be ready for anything tomorrow morning."

“I’ll go if spitfire doesn’t.”

“She’s coming,” I snap. “And so are you.”

As I saunter out of the conference room, I can't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. Tomorrow's going to be interesting, that's for sure.

We need this. They might see me as spoiled and lazy, but I’m the glue. Without me, these two would have lost themselves years ago. It’s why I moved in with Grayson after Sarah died. And it’s why they’re agreeing to this even when I know they don’t want to.

We need this. And I’m making it happen.

The next morning, I'm practically vibrating with excitement as I pull the Rover around the driveway. The sun's barely peeking over the horizon, casting a warm glow on the sleek black SUV. I honk twice, grinning as I see Grayson emerge from the house, looking impeccable as always in his tailored slacks and button-down.

"You're chipper," he grumbles, sliding into the passenger seat.

I wink at him. "It's gonna be a great day, Gray. You'll see."

Cole comes out next, slightly more rumpled but no less grumpy. Tessa's last, and I can't help but notice how she hesitates before climbing in, her eyes darting between the three of us.

"Morning, sunshine," I chirp, meeting her gaze in the rearview mirror.

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile. "This better be good, Chase."

As we drive, the tension in the car is palpable. I try to lighten the mood with some of my patented Chase charm, but even I can feel it falling flat. Finally, we pull up to the airport, and I watch with amusement as confusion ripples through the group.

Grayson frowns, leaning forward. "Chase, what are we doing here? I didn't ready the jet."

"You have a jet?" Tessa's voice is a mix of disbelief and something else...maybe a touch of awe?

I chuckle, turning off the engine. "We're not taking the jet, guys. Come on, adventure awaits!"

As we climb out of the car, I can't help but feel a flutter of nervousness. I'm taking a big risk here, pushing them all out of their comfort zones. But as I look at their faces—Grayson's careful mask of indifference, Cole's poorly hidden curiosity, and Tessa's wary excitement—I know it's worth it. These people mean more to me than they realize, and it's time we started acting like the family we could be.

That includes Tessa. And they need to get on board with that.

We round the corner of the building, and there it is—a massive sign for "Skydive Thrill Seekers" looming over us. I wave my hands with a flourish and a “ta-da!” The reaction is immediate and exactly as I expected.

"Absolutely not," Grayson says, his voice flat.

Cole shakes his head vigorously. "No way in hell, Chase."

Tessa's eyes are wide, a mix of fear and excitement dancing in them. "Are you insane?"

I can't help but grin, spreading my arms wide. "Come on, guys! Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Safely on the ground," Cole mutters.

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