Page 48 of Blood Ties
“Ohmygod!” I exclaimed catching the time. “Grayson expected me home over an hour ago.” I franticly reached for my bag. I paused looking at Sebastian who was calmly staring at me. “What?”
He chuckled then shook away his expression. “Nothing. If you want, I can get you there pretty quickly.”
“How? With your special angel powers?” I teased.
“Something like that.”
I didn’t know what he meant. I assumed he meant flying. It didn’t matter. Explaining to Grayson that I was late because I spent the day with Sebastian would be bad enough without having Sebastian fly me in.
“No thanks. I think I’ll stick to the human transportation.” I explained.
He shrugged. “Have it your way.”
I stood and Sebastian stood with me. “Thank you for lunch and well dinner, I guess.”
“The pleasure was mine, Gaby. Maybe we should do it again.” He didn’t ask, he more just stated. I didn’t want to explain how that wasn’t a good idea so I just gave him a tight lipped smile before walking out the door. I didn’t turn back. I didn’t need to. I could feel his eyes on me as I left.
When I got home, the apartment was surprisingly dark and quiet. It was strange. I had expected Grayson to be home waiting for me, but there was no sign of him. Since it was already late, I decided a hot shower would help me get ready for bed. And it did. Once I was finished, I had just sat down on the couch when Grayson came in.
“Gaby, I’m so sorry I’m late. I’m working on this new contract… I hope you ate without me. I hate the idea of you hungry because I was late.” He seemed flustered, which wasn’t Grayson. I studied him for a moment before telling him, I ate. “Good. I’m glad. I’m going to take a quick shower.” He gave me a hard peck before disappearing into the bedroom.
I heard the shower start and I began going over how I would explain to Grayson my having lunch with Sebastian. I didn’t have anything decided when the shower cut off. A few minutes later, Grayson walked back into the room.
“Have you fed?” He inquired. I shook my head and he busied himself in the kitchen. I stood to follow him. I leaned against the counter as I watched Grayson pour the contents of the blood bag into a sauce pan.
“Grayson…”
“Gaby…” We spoke at the same time. I closed my mouth giving him the go ahead to speak first. He sighed looking down at the ground. After a few moments of silence, he spoke. “Would you come have lunch with me tomorrow? There’s something at the office I need to show you.” Something about his statement seemed to trouble him so much, but I had no idea why.
“Okay,” I drew out.
He seemed visibly relieved by my response and yet more anxious. He finished prepping the blood before handing me my mug.
“Shawn called me at the office earlier.” With that one sentence, my stomach sank. “You didn’t have lunch with him?” I listened for some accusation in his voice, but there was none.
“No. As I was leaving Damien’s office, I ran into someone and had lunch with them instead.”
“Well, that’s good. I’m glad that you didn’t eat lunch alone since he had a date with Clive.” He tipped back his glass, finishing it before rinsing it out in the sink. “I’ve got a long day tomorrow. I’m off to bed. Care to join me?” He held out his hand to me. I smiled and took it, figuring I’d tell him about my lunch with Sebastian later.
CHAPTER THRITEEN
The following day I found myself at Alexander Holdings Incorporated. The elevator doors opened onto the familiar floor where I was greeted by Grayson’s secretary.
“Gaby, it’s so good to see you. I’ll let him know you’re here.” I nodded and took a seat. “You know, I think it’s so amazing how you’re not even jealous.”
I didn’t know what she meant by that. “Excuse me?” I was confounded by her statement.
“Oh, you know. I don’t think I’d be nearly as comfortable as you, if I was in your situation. I guess it just takes confidence,” she chuckled lightly.
I still had no idea what she was talking about. Maybe the fact I was unemployed? I decided to play along to see if she’d give me answers. “Well, you know it wasn’t easy.”
“I’m sure. How could it be easy for your boyfriend to be working with his ex?”
It felt like someone punched me in the gut.His ex?I tried not to display my reaction. “Like I said, it wasn’t,” I forced a smile.
“But you seem to be handling it well. Oh, and the fact that you were okay with how late he was last night. I have to say I was amazed you weren’t ringing the phone off the hook. Then again if you were okay with him showing up late to the function you had the other night because he was having a business dinner with her, I shouldn’t be surprised. Now having lunch with the two of them? It’s all incredibly mature.”
Grayson chose that moment to walk out of his office. I stood turning my sights on him. One look at me and he could see the storm brewing that I was struggling to contain in front of his secretary.
