Page 74 of In A Mood For Mr. Wrong

I shake my head with a laugh. “Because as much as they drive usinsane, they’re actuallyuseful.”

Cassian places a hand over his heart. “Evans, I’mtouched.”

Isabella grins. “Don’t worry, Cassian. One day, you’ll find someone who loves you despite yourdeeplyinsufferable personality.”

Cassian smirks. “Oh, sweetheart. I already have. It’syou.”

Isabella rolls her eyes. “I walked right into that, didn’t I?”

Grayson sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Can wepleaseget back to the plan before I start regretting every decision I’ve ever made?”

I grin, leaning toward him. “You’d never regretme.”

His gaze flicks to mine, something dark and amused sparking behind those ocean-blue eyes. “Oh, Evans,” he murmurs. “You’re theonlydecision I’m certain of.”

And just like that, I remember exactlywhywe’re going to win. Because no matter what Eleanor throws at us, we are stronger together.

50

GRAYSON

The second Isabella’s interview goes live, everything shifts. I’m sitting in my office with Margot, Olivia, Cassian, and, unfortunately, Isabella when Olivia’s phone buzzes so violently it nearly launches itself off the desk. She glances at the screen, reads whatever update she just got, and lets out a low whistle.

“Well,” she says, adjusting her glasses, “that escalatedquickly.”

Margot, who has been glued to her own phone, refreshes the news feed. Her blue eyes widen. “Oh,damn.”

I frown. “What?”

Instead of answering, she turns the screen toward me. At the top of every major media outlet is a glaring headline: “Hollywood Starlet Exposes Eleanor King: The Ruthless Woman Behind the Corporate Takeover.”Beneath it, a picture of Isabella, perfectly poised, red lips parted as if she’s in the middle of delivering a cutting remark, her expression a mix of feigned innocence and amusement.

I glance at her, unimpressed. “You reallylovedrama, don’t you?”

Isabella sips her iced coffee, entirely unbothered. “Of course I do. That’s why peoplelikeme.”

Cassian, lounging lazily in the chair across from me, grins. “I must say, Monroe, you do lookparticularlyscandalous in that photo.”

Isabella tosses her hair. “I know.”

Margot skims the article, her expression shifting between amusement and admiration. “Okay, Ihateto admit it, but this is actuallybrilliantlydone.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Explain.”

Margot pulls up another excerpt. “‘Eleanor King presents herself as the savior ofPerfectly Matched, but those who have worked with her know better. She thrives on manipulation, on backroom deals, on destroying anyone who stands in her way.’” Margot pauses, a satisfied smirk playing at her lips. “Andthispart is particularly good…‘I’ve seen firsthand what happens when Eleanor doesn’t get what she wants. She retaliates, she punishes, sheerases people. And now, she’s trying to do the same thing to Grayson King.’”

Cassian lets out a low whistle. “Damn. That’s someShakespeareanvillainy right there.”

Isabella inspects her nails. “Thank you. Idohave a way with words.”

I shake my head, leaning back in my chair. “You just casually destroyed a woman’s public image beforebreakfast.”

She shrugs. “What can I say? It’s a gift.”

Cassian smirks, watching her a little too closely. “And what adangerouslittle gift it is.”

Isabella turns, narrowing her eyes at him. “Why do you sound impressed?”

Cassian grins lazily. “Oh, Iamimpressed. You’re far more devious than I gave you credit for.”

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