Page 26 of Grace

I shrug. “I’m not even sure if I have a drink,” I joke, even though it’s the truth. I always behaved, never stepped out of line or did something I might regret. But that wasn’t a life. I kept myself in this box, this cage. And perhaps it isn’t so terrible to bang on the walls and stretch out a bit.

Perhaps it isn’t bad that I get to enjoy the high of trying something new, riding on the back of a motorcycle, flirting with men, and drinking with a tattooed man twice my age, dressed in leather. Perhaps Sebastian was right to break up with me. Hell, I should have done it months ago, a year ago! If being withouthim gives me this kind of freedom… well, I can’t wait to keep enjoying it, even in little ways.

After all, there are worse things than pushing some boundaries and blurring some lines. And I’m sure, without question, that there are worse things than having a crush on my boss, even if he’s my ex’s dad.

thirteen

My sleep is so dense, so easy, so refreshing that the soft buzzing beside me does almost nothing until I hear Ashley’s voice.

“Grace, please turn off your phone!” she yells through the apartment, and I pat my hand on my nightstand, searching for my phone.

I hitAcceptand groan softly.

Whoever’s calling is too early. I rest my phone against my ear and barely resist the urge to groan into the phone like a zombie.

“You are late. That’s not how I expect you to behave when it comes to work, Grace.” Daniel’s voice is commanding and sharp.

I blink myself awake, open my eyes, and look at the time. Holy shit. “Oh, no. No. No.”

“Here. Now,” he orders. “I don’t care if you’re here in your pajamas.”

I peek down at my oversized shirt and panties.

“No, I do. Get dressed and get here,” he says.

I’ve never changed faster in my life, gliding into a loose-fitted dress that lingers above my knees. But as it grazes over my hip, I hiss and stare down. A purple bruise stares back at me and my brows knit. What happened…? Oh, right…

Hazy memories fill me as I recall my tumble. A stupid, embarrassing spill when I tried to get off Ben’s bike in front of my apartment. Oh, God, Ben.

I shake my head and slide into my heels as I hurry into the bathroom, splash some cold water on my face, and quickly brush my teeth.

My heels click on the ground as I run toward the front door. Ashley groans from the couch, and I have to blink twice as I see Marko lying on the floor next to her.

“Don’t ask,” she mumbles.

“I won’t,” I say as I try to grab my bag, but it slips through my fingers. “Damn it,” I curse and lean back to try again and clutch it tightly in my hand as I hurry out of the apartment. The world around me is a blur. My heart won’t slow and my palms turn sweaty. It isn’t until I’m parked at the office that I come back to my senses, at least enough to catch my breath.

With the car turned off, I run my fingers through my fuzzy red hair and make an attempt to tie it as neatly as possible in a high ponytail. A few strands escape my touch and frame my face. My heart races in my chest, and I close my eyes to take a deep breath.

This is it. He’s going to yell at me, scream how worthless I am, prove that if I’m not perfect, I’m nothing at all. I just know it.

With one last breath, I get out of my car, lock it, and rush into the building.

By the time I get to our floor, everyone is leaving the conference room.

My shoulders sink, and I nibble on the inside of my cheek as I head to the conference room as Melissa gives me a pitying look. She walks forward. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I just… I completely forgot about the meeting,” I say honestly.

“I have a feeling a certain boss is going to be unhappy with you,” she says before looking over her shoulder. “He’s been in a mood all day. Good luck. I hope you’re not fired.”

Stacy shoots me a glare as she walks by, her hip crashing against mine as she sneers at me. “Stupid girl.”

I stumble and clasp the edge of my desk. My hand moves to my hip as I hold back the whimper. I suck in my groan and look up, meeting Daniel’s gaze. He watches me, then jerks his chin toward his office.

“Somebody’s in trouble,” Ms. Castain hisses, and my jaw tightens.

Pushing myself off the desk, I run my hands over my dress, smoothing it slightly as I walk into Daniel’s office under his intense, expectant glower. I don’t need any more than that to hurry into his office and walk past him.

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