From Boss to Boo

17. Amara

17

The morning after my return from Tokyo, I stride into the office with a renewed sense of purpose, my head held high and my heart full of love for the incredible man who has stolen my heart. Damn the jet-lag and the 8 am conference call, these days I don’t even feel tired, I’m running on the power of love.

"Good morning, Lisa!" I chirp as I breeze past her desk, a broad smile stretched across my face.

She looks up, her eyes widening at my unusually chipper demeanor. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Little Miss Sunshine. What's got you grinning like the cat that ate the canary?"

I shrug, unable to contain my joy. "Oh, you know. Just feeling extra motivated to tackle the day and make some major strides on the Henderson account."

She narrows her eyes, a sly smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Uh-huh. And this sudden burst of enthusiasm wouldn't have anything to do with a certain handsome boss of ours, now would it?"

I feel my cheeks heat, but I meet her knowing gaze head-on. "Maybe. But can you blame me? Grayson is...he's everything. And I just want to make him proud, you know?"

She softens, reaching out to give my hand a squeeze. "Oh, honey. That man is already so proud of you, it's written all over his face every time he looks at you. But I get it. Go on and show 'em what you're made of, boss lady."

With a wink and a renewed spring in my step, I head into my office, ready to conquer the world and prove myself worthy of the incredible love Grayson and I share.

The morning flies by in a blur of conference calls, strategy sessions, and metric analysis. I'm so engrossed in my work that I almost don't notice my cell phone buzzing with an incoming call from an unknown number.

Frowning, I pick up, my standard professional greeting at the ready. "This is Amara, how may I assist you?"

"Amara. I'm so glad I could reach you." The voice on the other end is feminine, with a hint of a cultured accent. Something about it sends a shiver down my spine, though I can't quite place why.

"I'm sorry, who is this?" I ask, my grip tightening on the phone.

"Oh, do forgive me. This is Sophia… Sophia Ashford. Grayson's Sophie."

I nearly drop the receiver, my heart plummeting to my feet at the mention of her name. What could she possibly want with me? And why now, when Grayson and I are finally in such a blissful, secure place?

"Ah. I see," I manage, struggling to keep my voice even. "And to what do I owe the...pleasure of this call?"

She laughs, a tinkling sound that grates on my nerves. "Straight to the point. I can see why Grayson likes you."

I grit my teeth, in no mood for her games. "Is there something I can help you with? As I'm sure you can imagine, I have a rather full schedule to attend to."

"Of course, of course. I won't take up too much of your time. I was just hoping we could meet for coffee sometime this week? There are some things I'd like to discuss with you...woman to woman."

Every instinct in my body is screaming at me to refuse, to tell this woman to take a hike and leave my relationship alone. But some morbidly curious part of me, the part that has always wondered about Grayson's past and the women who came before me, finds itself agreeing before I can think better of it.

"Fine. I suppose I could carve out some time tomorrow afternoon. Shall we say...two o'clock at the Cafe Lumiere on Main Street?"

"Perfect. I look forward to our chat. Until tomorrow, then." And with that, she's gone, leaving me to stare at the phone in my hand and wonder what the hell I've just gotten myself into.

I spend the rest of the day in a distracted haze, my earlier enthusiasm dampened by the looming specter of tomorrow's meeting. What could Grayson's glamorous ex possibly want to discuss with me? What hidden agenda might she have up her designer sleeve?

By the time I drag myself home that evening, I'm a bundle of nerves.

"You're awfully quiet tonight, babe," my best friend Sarah remarks as we indulge in our weekly girls' night ritual of takeout Chinese and trashy reality TV. "What's going on in that overactive brain of yours?"

I hesitate, my chopsticks hovering over the container of kung pao chicken. Should I confide in Sarah about Sophia's cryptic invitation? Or would that be a form of betrayal, airing Grayson's past without his knowledge?

In the end, my desperate need for counsel wins out over my reservations. "Grayson's ex-girlfriend called me today," I blurt out, my eyes fixed on the colorful array of takeout containers littering my coffee table. "She wants to meet with me tomorrow afternoon to...talk."

Sarah's eyes go wide, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' of shock. "Hold up. THE ex-girlfriend? The one who made his life a living hell before you came along?"

I nod miserably, my appetite suddenly deserting me. "She wouldn't say what it was about, just that she had some things she wanted to discuss with me, 'woman to woman.' What do you think that means? What could she possibly want with me now?"

Sarah sets down her container of lo mein, her expression turning pensive. "Well, it could be any number of things, really. Maybe she wants to warn you off, try to stake some kind of claim on Grayson. Or maybe she's sniffed out your growing success at Winthrop Industries and wants to leech off your rising star."

I blanch at the thought, my stomach churning with dread. "You don't think...you don't think she's trying to win Grayson back, do you? That she sees me as some kind of obstacle to be removed?"

Sarah reaches out, gripping my hand tightly in hers. "Oh, Amara. No. No, of course not. That man is unbelievably in love with you.” She squeezes my hand reassuringly and continues, "There's no way in hell some two-bit ex from his past is going to swoop in and steal him away. Not when he looks at you like you hung the damn moon and stars."

I manage a weak smile, trying to let her words soothe the anxious butterflies swarming in my gut. "I know, I know. I'm probably being ridiculous. It's just...what if seeing her stirs up old feelings for Grayson? What if it makes him realize that I'm not enough, that I'll never measure up to the glamorous women of his past?"

"Okay, I'm going to stop you right there," Sarah says firmly, her eyes flashing with fierce protectiveness. "You, Amara Jeffries, are a goddamn catch. You're brilliant, you're driven, you're gorgeous inside and out. Any man would be lucky to have you, and Grayson knows it."

She leans forward, her expression softening. "Don't let this hussy get in your head, babe. She's ancient history. Grayson chose you, and he continues to choose you every single day. That's what matters."

I feel my shoulders relax fractionally, the tight knot of anxiety in my chest loosening at her words. "You're right. I know you're right. I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else. She is gorgeous. You should have seen her. And rich and cultured."

“But she’s not you. Who’s he with?”

“M-me.”

Sarah grins, reaching for her abandoned lo mein. "Damn straight. Now, let's stop wasting precious braincells on this thirsty ex and get back to the important business of judging the hell out of these Real Housewives."

I laugh, feeling lighter than I have all day. "Deal. And Sar? Thanks. For always knowing just what to say to talk me off the ledge."

"Anytime, babe. Anytime. That's what best friends are for."

The next day, I take extra care with my appearance before heading to Cafe Lumiere, determined to project an air of unflappable confidence and poise. I refuse to let Sophia see even a flicker of the insecurity that had plagued me the night before.

I spot her immediately upon entering the chic little coffee shop, her sleek blonde hair and designer ensemble standing out among the sea of caffeine-starved college students and bohemian artists. She wears her snow white cashmere sweater with a kind of regalia that can’t be taught, she was clearly born into it.

"Amara, darling. So good of you to make time for me," she purrs as I approach, air-kissing my cheek with a familiarity that sets my teeth on edge.

"Sophia," I reply coolly, sliding into the seat across from her. "I must admit, your call yesterday caught me quite off guard. To what do I owe this...unexpected invitation?"

She smiles, a slow, cat-like thing that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Always so direct. I can see why Grayson finds you...refreshing."

I bristle at the thinly veiled condescension in her tone but force myself to remain calm and collected. "Yes, well. As I said, I do have quite a busy schedule to attend to. So if we could cut to the chase..."

She takes a dainty sip of her latte, clearly enjoying the power play. "Of course. I won't beat around the bush, Amara. I asked you here today because I wanted to discuss Grayson. And more specifically...my intentions towards him."

My heart stutters in my chest, but I keep my expression carefully neutral. I can’t let this apex predator sense any weakness in me. "I see. And what exactly are those intentions?"

She sets down her cup, leaning forward with a conspiratorial air. "I want him back, Amara. Plain and simple. Or rather, I will have him back. Grayson and I...we have a history. A connection that never truly died, even after all these years. We belong together. I know it, our families know it, you are really the only roadblock in the way."

I feel like I've been sucker-punched, the air rushing from my lungs in a dizzying whoosh. But still, I cling to my composure, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.

"I see," I say again, my voice impressively steady. "And does Grayson know about these...intentions of yours? Have you shared this little revelation with him?"

She waves a dismissive hand, her perfectly manicured nails glinting in the sunlight streaming through the cafe windows. "All in good time, darling. I wanted to speak with you first. Woman to woman, as I said. He’s left every woman ever since for me."

I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. "Alright then. Woman to woman. What is it that you want from me? My blessing? My permission to pursue a man who is very much in a committed relationship with someone else?"

She has the audacity to laugh, a trilling sound that sets my nerves even further on edge. "Oh, Amara. You truly are adorable. No, I'm not asking for your permission. Frankly, I don't need it. Just giving you a chance to save face. To pull out. You’re not getting through me, and you’re certainly not getting through mother. He’s mine. Plain and simple."

Her eyes harden, all pretense of friendliness falling away. "I'm simply informing you of my plans. Giving you a chance to gracefully step aside before things get...messy. Because make no mistake, darling. I will have Grayson back. Just like I always do, quite frankly, you’re out of your league and you know it. Outclassed in every way, and again, it’s not on you. That’s not your fault. Sweetie. Poor thing, the foolish man shouldn’t have roped you into this, but he had to find out, so you see. It can’t be helped."

I gape at her, momentarily stunned by the sheer nerve of this woman. But then, a calm settles over me. An unshakable certainty born of the love and trust Grayson and I have built together.

"I'm afraid you're mistaken," I say quietly, my voice laced with steely resolve. "Grayson is not some prize to be won or a pawn to be manipulated. He's a man who has made his choice - and that choice is me."

I rise to my feet, gathering my purse and fixing her with a look of pure, unbridled determination. "I'll give you this one chance to back off gracefully. Whatever you may have shared with Grayson in the past, that's where it belongs - firmly in the rearview. He's with me now. I'm his future. And no amount of scheming or delusional entitlement on your part is going to change that."

Her eyes flash with rage, her pretty face twisting into an ugly sneer. "You naive little fool. You think you can hold onto a man like Grayson? With your entry-level ambitions? Please. You won’t last another week."

I shake my head, a mixture of pity and disgust welling up inside me. "You know what? I actually feel sorry for you. To be so trapped in the past, so obsessed with a relationship that died long ago...it's sad. I hope one day you can find the strength to move on and build something real for yourself. Something beyond these twisted little power games."

“Is that what he tells you? Adorable.”

With that, I turn on my heel and stride out of the cafe, my head held high and my resolve unwavering. I know, deep in my bones, that no force on this earth could tear Grayson and me apart. Not even the machinations of a vindictive ex with delusions of grandeur.

As I slide behind the wheel of my car, I make a decision. I won't tell Grayson about this little meeting - not yet, anyway. I refuse to let her toxic presence cast a shadow over our joyful reunion.

But still, the things she said, it makes me wonder. Are we strong enough to weather her storm?