Page 27 of Sold to My Best Friend's Dad

She started out with a crush on Grayson, and now it was far more than that. Grayson had also asked her to move in, which had been a whole new experience for her. Packing up her meagre belongings and taking them to Grayson’s place was surreal. He even told her she could do whatever she wanted with the house to make it her own.

The other little surprise she had gotten was a job offer from his company. She’d been a little hesitant at first, but Grayson had sat her down in his office, and he’d conducted an interview, like he would with any other employee.

Clara had asked him if the only reason he was offering her a job was because of their relationship. She didn’t want to take any chances away from anyone else, if they were much better at the work than her.

Grayson surprised her even more. A couple of her professors had reached out to multiple companies on her behalf, asking them for a potential internship, or a chance at employment. They had even presented them with some of the ideas she had expressed in her thesis, as well as those she worked on through class as part of her studies.

He’d taken her hands and then cupped her cheeks. “I’m not the only company that is interested in you, Clara. You have an amazing talent, and I know my company will thrive with you as part of it. I want to keep you close, you know I do, but I also want to help you. I fear others will break you, they’ll use you, and keep you in place just to milk you for all you’re worth. I can’t have anyone do that to you. I won’t allow it. I know the assholes you’ll be facing.”

“People are going to talk, Grayson.”

“Do I look like I give a fuck? Yes, they are going to talk, but that’s the point. You can prove your worth to the company in a matter of months. Let them talk. I promise you, if I thought there was someone else better at this job, I wouldn’t be giving it to you.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “But I know you’re the best, and I know I can help you. Let me help you.”

And so, she had started at his company. He hadn’t given her an office or a high-ranking position. She had started at the bottom. The head of her department had been a little pissed at her hiring, until she opened her mouth and began to help him with a particularly difficult project. After a few weeks of working with him, he changed toward her, exactly like Grayson said he would. There were still some members of the company who didn’t like her, and they said nasty stuff behind her back, but she was able to deal with all of that.

However, as she walked up to April’s apartment door, this seemed a little more … scary. She’d rather face all of Grayson’s employees than her best friend.

Grayson wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. She was tempted to pull away, and to break it to April slowly, but he was having none of it.

“If she throws a tantrum, we’ll deal with it.” He kissed her cheek.

His lips were still touching her cheek when the door opened, and there was April. Clara didn’t have to say anything, and neither did Grayson. Any confidence she had fizzled away. April’s mouth opened and closed as she looked from her to her father, then back again.

They must have only been on the doorstep for a couple of minutes, not even that, but it had already felt like a lifetime. Clara’s heart started to speed up and she felt a little sick to her stomach.

“Well, it’s about time,” April said, and then proceeded to throw her arms around the two of them and let out a little squeal.

This was not what Clara expected.

Her best friend let go of Grayson, and then pulled her into a hug. After that hug, April wagged a finger into her father’s face. “You better not hurt my bestie.” She turned toward her. “And you better not hurt my father. I won’t have any of it. I’ll have to hunt you both down because the whole stress thing isn’t good for the skin. It will be much better for me if you love each other.”

Clara held April close. “I love you.”

She’d been so afraid of April hating her. It had kept her up night after night.

“You thought I was going to protest, right?” April asked.

“Clara has been nervous about telling you,” Grayson said.

April giggled. “Please, I knew something was going on with Dad long before now. He is never mean to anyone, well, unless they annoyed him with work. Besides, I saw the way he’d stare at your ass and your tits.”

“April!”

She threw her hands up in the air. “What? You can’t help it. You’re a hottie, not that you see it. But you make him happy, and I know he’ll make you happy.”

****

Six Months Later

“You’re calm.”

Grayson smiled and reached for his woman’s hand, locking their fingers together. Clara got nervous about every little detail, and he didn’t want her to be nervous. They would handle anything.

“Of course I’m calm. Listen to the soft soothing notes of the classical music. And it smells like lavender.”

“And we’re waiting for the results of a blood test, Grayson.”

“We’ve already taken multiple tests, baby.” He pressed his lips against her cheek.

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