Page 21 of The Innovator

Overanalyzing was never good, but I had to do that so I didn’t miss important details.

An hour later, I was showered, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, and sitting with the girls at Sweet Bubbles. I got a milk tea with jelly bits.

“Grayson needs a break from work, so I’m throwing him a surprise birthday party. You’re all invited.” Audri sipped her Thai iced tea. “It’s not a big thing, just close friends.”

“He used to have people over all the time,” Kiera commented as she used her straw to poke at the sweet boba balls at the bottom of her drink.

“He used to do a lot of things.” Audri sighed. “Mom and I are worried he’s working himself to death.”

“Have you talked to him about that?” Michelle asked.

I absorbed every word about him, letting it marinate in my brain. What had changed him?

“Yup. We spoke to him several times, but he always dismissed it. He claims it’s just work. But I know something’s wrong.”

The man who aroused me with a wink of his dimple didn’t appear like he was struggling with anything. Of all people, I should know that others often disguised their true selves. Some hid with makeup and clothing, while others masked the truth with a beaming smile that told the world all was well when in reality, they were going through hell.

Hearing about his internal struggle added another intriguing layer to him. Maybe there was more to him than his good looks, intelligence, and creativity. Yes, I googled him and browsed the buildings he’d designed all over the world. I liked his architectural style, ranging from elegant skyscrapers and modern villas to innovative structures that appeared geometric or even futuristic.

He was a man with a unique sense of style, and I was a woman who appreciated a distinctive flair. Maybe that was it—maybe our common creative thread was the reason behind my attraction to him. My previous boyfriends were entrepreneurs, lawyers, or doctors. I’d never dated someone in the creative field. But Grayson wasn’t just an architect, he was a successful businessman as well. So that added texture to his façade.

What kind of monster are you dealing with, Grayson?

“Men don’t like to admit they have issues,” I said.

“That’s for sure,” Kiera said.

“Maybe he just needs time.” Michelle shrugged.

Audri let out a heavy sigh. “I’m afraid there’s stuff lurking beneath the surface, and if he doesn’t get rid of it, it could fester and develop into something worse.”

Those words hit me hard. I’d ignored my childhood trauma for so long that it often crippled me. I had thought the closet incident would disappear on its own, but I was wrong. It was too late to do anything now. I was an adult, so I could deal with my fear better. But I understood what Audri was saying.

A part of me wanted to help Grayson, but I didn’t think he was ready to accept help. The first step in healing had to be made by the patient—the person had to want it. I didn’t want my healing back then because I didn’t know I needed it.

Three people knew about my trauma. The person who shoved me into the closet and locked the door, the person who taunted me from outside the door, and me.

“Maybe the party will help him relax,” I said, unsure why I felt sad for him. “Do you need help with anything?”

Though he annoyed me, it didn’t mean he didn’t deserve a wonderful birthday party.

The door to the café swung open and a bubbling sound boomed in the store. A gaggle of people walked in, and my heart hammered in fear at the sight of the man behind the group. Why was Rafael’s bodyguard here in Providence? Was he here on vacation? Bodyguards took vacations too.

I pretended I didn’t see him and listened to Kiera’s latest encounter with a German fashion model she’d met.

“There’s a guy staring at you, Natalie,” Kiera said. “Three o'clock by the wall with the fake Van Gogh painting.”

I glanced in that direction even though I knew they were referring to Adonis, an olive-skinned man who probably worked out every second of his life to maintain his bulky physique.

I couldn’t let him spoil my disguise. I’d tell my friends my real identity on my terms. Had Rafael sent Adonis here? Why?

Had something happened to my mom or House of LaRue? Fear knotted my stomach. If something had gone wrong in Paris, Mom would’ve alerted me. Her assistant would have reached out as well.

“Oh, yes, I know him. A former acquaintance. I’ll be right back.” I wandered over to his table and sat down. “Adonis, what are you doing here?”

Gray eyes glinted. “To bring you back to Rafael.”

I snorted at the ridiculous notion. “For what? He and I are over. The engagement ended a year ago.”

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