Page 41 of Now and Forever
This is your goddamn opportunity but all I see you doing is fumbling the ball with Carter fucking Serrano of all people.
Golden winced at Gaige's words. Annoyed, she turned over, burying her head in her pillow. She couldn't believe that was what Gaige thought after seeing that picture. His words wouldn't stop echoing in her mind, gnawing at her thoughts until she eventually drifted off to sleep.
For the second time that morning, the ring of her phone woke her up. Thankfully it was light out this time, she thought with a groan as she searched the tangle of sheets for her phone. Finally finding it, Golden's heart rate picked up as she noticed Grayson's icon.
"Hello?" She winced at the rough sound of her morning voice.
"Golden," Grayson's smooth voice began. "Don't come into the office today."
Like frost creeping up a window pane, dread filled her chest as she stood up from the bed. Glancing at her phone screen she read the time. It was six in the morning, she had class at nine and at two she normally came into the office.
"Oh okay," she managed to say in a small voice.
"But I do need you for something else today, so please open your door."
Golden could hear the edge of a smile in his voice and rushed to the front door despite her hair being tied up in a scarf and the mismatched pajama short set she was wearing. Opening the door, she beamed a smile of relief at Grayson.
Instantly her eyes drank him in as he stepped inside. He was wearing black slacks, a black fitted polo shirt, and black Italian loafers that were worth twice as much as her entire house. On one hand, he looked like a model with his classical good looks and whiskey gold hair gleaming in the sunlight but on the other hand, she could see every line of his powerful physique in his tailored clothes and it gave him a dangerous edge. He wasn't just some soft billionaire, he was a billionaire that could kick the ever-loving shit out of someone. The thought made Golden want to giggle, but she managed to suppress it.
"Just ignore me," Golden said, waving to her blue head scarf and wrinkled night clothes. "Just give me a second to brush my teeth and…" she gestured to the living room for him to wait as she walked to her bedroom but her words died on her tongue as Grayson followed her inside the room.
Grayson shook his head, his searing gaze tracing over her figure. "Sweetheart, you could wear anything and you would still be beautiful."
Struck by his words, Golden stood there basking in the compliment until she caught sight of her laundry basket full of underwear peeking out of the closet.
"Thank you," she mumbled shyly while firmly shutting the door to the closet. "Let me at least brush my teeth first and you can tell me what you need me to do today."
A few minutes later she was back. Having run some product through her curls and brushed her teeth she felt at least halfway presentable.
"You're limping." Grayson's eyes narrowed as he stared at her bandaged foot.
Her first instinct was to brush off the injury as no big deal but she thought about her conversation with Gaige earlier that morning.
"Yeah, I stepped on a shard of glass at the beach yesterday," she admitted. "But don't worry, I went to the clinic and got it bandaged up. It's just a little sore." She studied his expression; she couldn't read his thoughts. He just stared back at her as if waiting for her to continue. Did he know about Carter's involvement? Would he even care? But no sooner did the thought complete itself than she knew the answer, Grayson would care. Deciding to go with honesty, Golden took a fortifying breath. "And just so you know, my friend Carter from high school, well technically he was one of Gaige's friends, just happened to be around yesterday and helped me."
"That explains the photo," He looked toward her bed.
Golden's eyes followed his staring at her messy unmade bed. Photo? Wait, was he talking about her photo or Carter's? Did he follow her online?! Did he follow Carter, too?
Not sure what to say she shifted on her feet. "I didn't know you followed me online."
Grayson's eyes cut to her. There was a hard edge to them. "What other choice did I have when someone had me blocked for the last two years."
Ashamed, she looked away.
Stepping forward, Grayson reached out and cupped her cheek, tilting her head up gently until she had no choice but to look at him again. "I want you to call me. Anytime you need something I want to be the one you call."
"It just happened so suddenly," she exclaimed, willing him to understand. "Besides, I wouldn't want to bother you."
Grayson brought his other hand up to her face until he had her face gently bracketed in his hands. Looking down at her, his expression grew serious. "I want to know everything that happens to you. I want every part of your day. Every part of your life. Do you understand?"
Everything went mute around her and her heartrate seemed to slow down. It wasn't a question or quite a command. It was an unspoken edict waiting for her blessing ready to bind her to him once she agreed. With anyone else it would've scared her but with him it felt like a fraction of her fantasy was coming true.
Golden licked her lips nervously and Grayson watched like a bird of prey as she answered. "Yes."
He nodded and stepped back. "I came here to inform you that we need to take another trip."
Excitement shot through her at his words and she practically bounced on the balls of her feet. "Oooh where to?"
