Page 78 of Knocked Up by My Fake Fiancé
"Have you been avoiding me, Grayson?" she asks, giving me that quiet half-smile I used to love. She's dressed in an understated but classy suit, her brunette hair clipped neatly at her nape.
I expect a surge of anger at seeing her. Or maybe some leftover heartbreak.
But what I feel is the same thing I felt when I heard she was at the gala—mild annoyance.
That's it. Nothing more.
"What do you want?" I ask, waving Carissa away with a nod. My assistant closes the door softly behind her.
"Really?" Marina says. "Is that all you have to say to me?"
"Well, considering you're the third meeting today I didn't ask for and didn't want…"
She looks surprised, though I don't know why she should. Did she expect me to welcome her with open arms?
Her back straightens, and she clasps her hands in front of her.
"I came to talk to you about George," she says. "We've been having problems in our relationship and he's?—"
"Do I look like your relationship counselor?"
Shame flickers across her face. "I know. I know you don't care because of what I did—because I broke your heart. I'm so sorry, Grayson?—"
"I'm not heartbroken," I assure her. "I just don't care. Listen, Marina, can you get to the point? I really have a lot of work to do."
She laughs—a short, bitter sound. "Of course. Work always comes first with you, doesn't it? That's your first love, after all. You'll never love any woman as much as you love those folders."
I stare at her, wondering if she's lost her mind. Why is she here? Why now? What the fuck is this about?
She opens her mouth again, but before she can say a word, the door to my office blows open?—
—and Jenna is standing there.
And she looks pissed as hell.
CHAPTER 23
Jenna
Idon't know what possesses me to wear the new heels and show up at Grayson's office unannounced, carrying a late lunch takeout.
Maybe it's because of how drained his voice sounded on the phone. Not tired exactly—more stressed, irritated, and fed up.
I couldn't get the image of him sitting at his desk, unhappy, out of my head all afternoon. Just to clear my mind, I thought I might show up and see for myself if he was all right.
And I decided to wear the heels while I was at it.
I told myself I was only checking on him because I was worried, the way any normal human being would worry about someone they live with.
I especially didn't want him coming home in a bad mood.
It was self-preservation, really. Because if he came home angry, I'd end up angry too—although I guess I could just ignore him and we'd both be fine.
But that's all bullshit. The truth is, I am worried about him, especially after hearing from Steph that their father was introducing George today as joint interim CEO alongside Grayson.
"Can you believe it?" Steph said over the phone. "After everything, he's giving George something Grayson's worked his ass off for, and George, the idiot, is just going to accept it, even though he knows he'd be a terrible CEO. I don't know who put this ridiculous idea into Father's head."
I don't know either, and frankly, I don't particularly care. I'm just worried about how Grayson's taking it—and furious at his father for putting him through this bullshit after everything he's achieved.
