Page 59 of Filthy Rich Bosses

My mind races with a jumble of questions. Why would Tessa leave? What happened while we were gone? The guilt gnaws at me—we should have been there. Why do I care? I don’t. I shouldn’t.

But I want her so fucking bad.

Chapter 26

Grayson

Istare out the floor-to-ceiling windows of my corner office, unseeing. The city sprawls before me, a maze of concrete and glass, but my attention is fixed on the simple gold band encircling my left ring finger. I twist it, feeling the smooth metal slide against my skin.

"Damn it," I mutter. The kiss replays in my mind for the thousandth time—her soft lips, her sweet scent, the warmth of her body pressed against mine. I close my eyes, willing the memory away, but it clings stubbornly.

Four weeks. It's been four weeks since she walked into my life, and I can't shake it. Can't shake her.

I don’t want her to leave. It’s too soon.

"This is insane," I say to the empty room, my voice echoing slightly. "Get it together, Grayson."

I spin my chair back to face my desk, littered with contracts and financial reports. Work. That's what I need. Work has always been my anchor, my distraction. But as I reach for a pen, my eyes catch on the framed photo of Sarah.

My chest tightens. "I'm sorry," I whisper, touching the glass. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore."

As I straighten my tie and smooth my hair, I can't help but glance at my wedding ring again. It feels heavier than usual, a weight I'm not sure I'm ready to bear—or to let go of.

"Focus," I tell myself firmly. "You have a company to run. Feelings can wait."

But even as I say it, I know it's a lie. The kiss, her smile, the way she looks at me—it's all there, simmering just beneath the surface. And I'm terrified of what might happen if I let it boil over.

"One kiss," I mutter, shaking my head. "One damn kiss, and I'm falling apart like some lovesick teenager."

I'd bolted like a little bitch, leaving her standing there, confusion etched across her beautiful face. This whole situation is fucked.

She doesn’t need me. Doesn’t want me and the baggage I bring. She has Chase. And Cole.

The thought that she’s been with them both should bother me, right? I should be jealous, angry even. But instead, I feel...curious? Intrigued?

"What the hell is wrong with me?" I wonder aloud, spinning my chair to face the window.

The city sprawls out before me, but all I can see is her. With Chase. With Cole. On the patio. The images my mind conjures are surprisingly vivid, and shockingly arousing.

As the thought of Tessa with my two best friends consumes me, I feel a stirring deep within me. I try to push it away, but the image lingers in my mind, taunting me.

What if I had stayed and joined them on the patio? What if I hadn’t just watched?

The idea both terrifies and excites me. It’s a side of myself that I didn’t know existed. A side that wants to explore and indulge in my deepest desires.

But Tessa is off limits. No matter what Chase says.

I tell myself that it’s for her own good, but deep down I know it's because I'm too afraid of what might happen if we give into our attraction.

“No. Four weeks is too soon. It’s too soon.”

But even as I say it, my hand moves to my wedding band. I twist it, feeling the smooth metal against my skin. Then, before I can talk myself out of it, I slip it off.

The ring sits on my desk, gleaming accusingly in the afternoon sunlight. I stare at it, my heart pounding.

"What are you doing, Grayson?" I whisper, but I already know the answer. I'm opening a door I'm not sure I'm ready to walk through.

A soft knock interrupts my spiraling thoughts. Before I can respond, the door swings open, and Juniper glides in, her auburn hair catching the light. She's practically glowing, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.

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