Page 63 of Scoring Grey

“The conservatory is the other way.”

“We’re leaving.”

She stops. “But what about Mr. Bronson? What about your career?”

“I’m not doing it, Eloise. I thought I could, but I can’t. I won’t pretend you’re nothing when you’re my everything.”

Those crystal blue orbs connect with mine, and she says, “Then don’t.”

I pull her flush against my front. “They’re going to want a story.” I don’t care if we give them shit, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pushing now. I know what I’m asking of her. I’m asking her to choose me and not just behind closed doors. I’m asking her to give up our anonymity. I’m asking for proclamations. I’m asking for everything. The question is, will she take it? Am I her everything?

“Then we’ll give them one.”

I tip her chin up. “And which one is that?”

“Ours,” she murmurs, and I fuse my mouth to hers before she can say anything more.

My pounding heart matches every beat of hers as my lips press against hers long and hard in a claiming kiss that makes me forget everything I was terrified of losing. Right now, holding her soft body in my arms and feeling her mouth mirror my hunger, I know I bent the definition of faith to my will. She’s finally mine again, the way she was always meant to be. Now all that’s left is to make it so in every way, starting with showing that room full of people and the woman who dared to help the devil I used to call Dad what’s real.

I reluctantly release her lips. “Pit stop, and then we’re out of here.”

She smiles and reaches for my mouth with her thumb. “You have lipstick?—”

“Leave it.” I peck her red lips. “I want everyone to see where my lips have been and who they belong to.”

I reverse course and pull her behind me as we return to the conservatory. When I push open the door, all eyes are on us as the main course has now been served. Roe is the first person I see, and he smiles before bringing a napkin to his mouth to hide his smirk. Coach Beck’s eyebrows rise before he leans back in his chair, and I see understanding; he’s not mad. He knows she’s more than just a girl. She’s the mother of my child, the owner of my heart. This move might not be the path of least resistance, but it’s the one that puts my family first, and that can never be wrong. I walk toward the head of the table where I was seated beside Blair. I don’t bother sparing her a glance. I know she sees the lipstick I’m wearing and the girl whose fingers are laced through mine as I pull her behind me. I never wanted to play this game with her, and she’ll feel my wrath soon enough. If I looked at her now, I know I’d lose it, and right now, I’m not trying to be disrespectful of Mr. Bronson or this charity that means more to me than most know. I’m simply done hiding.

“Balfour, what’s going on?” Mr. Bronson asks, his eyes scouring my face before flicking to Eloise.

“I can’t give you the story you wanted. It’s fake news. I don’t know who leaked that picture of Blair and me to the press, but Blair Wyndham and I are not a couple. We’ve never been anything and never will be because I already have a girl. Eloise has been and always will be the only woman for me. She is my past, present, and future. I’ll accept whatever discipline you see fit, but I won’t be your puppet to sell tickets.”

“I see.” He wipes the corner of his mouth with his napkin. “And what of the article that releases tomorrow?”

“It won’t be published.”

“I already sent it to press.” Blair’s voice comes out in a shrill that sounds like nails on a chalkboard, and I grind my teeth to keep my response in check.

“Perk of dating a Beck. Her family owns the lion’s share of all the top publications, and anyone wanting a seat at the table knows better than to cross a Beck when a stop print has been issued from the top.”

Eloise squeezes my hand, and I shoot her a glance that says I’ll tell you later. She may have been gone for two days, but I knew whatever gossip Blair would write would be slander that I’d never allow to see the day of light. I texted Iverson for help to get it squashed.

“Need I remind you, Mr. Bronson, you asked for this,” Blair says through clenched teeth.

“You could always share the lie and own your ruse,” Dash interjects with a cocked eyebrow as he sips his drink, dimming my desire to punch him for the stunt he pulled earlier, putting his hands on my girl. Fake or not, I didn’t like it, but his comment now squashes any lingering doubts that he and Eloise have never been anything more than friends.

Mr. Bronson rolls his eyes, clearly annoyed with the disruption to his lunch, before pinning them back on Blair. “I know what I requested, Miss Wyndham, but that was before I knew I had a better story.” His eyes flick to mine.

“A story that will be released on our time,” I add firmly.

“We can discuss this in more detail in private,” Mr. Bronson agrees.

“You owe me a story,” Blair boldly challenges him.

“Isn’t your job to create stories. Make another one,” Mr. Bronson says, unworried by her threats. He’s a wealthy man with deep pockets and infinite connections, something I’m sure Blair is well aware of, so the fact that she’s challenging him is somewhat perplexing. He could ruin her with one phone call, leaving me to wonder if she doesn’t have something on him as well.

I hear Eloise’s phone vibrate and glance over in time to see the number on the screen. Adler is calling. “We have a personal matter to attend to,” I announce as I place my hand on Eloise’s back and guide her toward the exit, only stopping when I get to the door. “And in case I wasn’t clear, any articles written about Eloise or me without our consent will be viewed as libel. I won’t hesitate to use the full extent of the law and my resources to shut it down.” Without another word, we leave. The rage inside of me is slightly subdued. I got the girl, and I will not allow my past to take any more from me. It will die, and if it doesn’t. I will kill it.

“Mom, I was at the store today with Grandpa and saw a picture of Dad with someone else on the front of a magazine. I thought you went to Canada to bring him home so we could be a family,” Adler says as Eloise sits on the edge of the bed and speaks with him on FaceTime.

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