27. Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Griffin
What was supposed to be an easy night at home with pastina turned into multiple days holed up in my apartment, loving on each other and soaking up the alone time.
But I could only hold Tobias off for so long… and now duty calls.
Kaitlyn is lounging comfortably in my living room, reading a book with Marilyn, while I lead Tobias down the hall to my office. I try to get him to move quickly so as not to disturb her, but he eyes her familiarity with her surroundings, then he regards me.
“I was beginning to think she’d murdered you or something,” he says quietly as I’m finally closing the door behind him.
“Oh, fuck off. You know her better than that.”
“Okay then, has she become your sex slave? I mean seriously.”
“Say that shit again and we’re going to have more than words. Understood?” He’s my best friend, but talking about her like that crosses a line.
Tobias puts his hands up in a moment of defense. “Jesus. I was kidding. What’s gotten into you?”
“I am trying to enjoy just a few days at home without bullshit. Isn’t that okay? I mean, should I have cleared it with you first?”
“Fuck, mate. I thought this was about bowing at Father Shaw’s feet, not lounging about like you’re on holiday.”
“He can kiss my ass. I don’t care anymore.”
“Your brazen attitude tells me one of two things. One, you are going to finally tell the old fart to fuck off, or two, you’re really enjoying this ruse thing you have going and want to milk it for all it’s worth.”
“Milk it? No, that’s not what is happening at all.” I sink to my chair and tap my desk. “Things have changed.”
“Yeah, I can tell. She’s clearly making herself at home. That’s not something I thought I’d ever see here.” He walks across the room and sits on the small, leather sofa by the window. “When you told me you’d fallen for her, part of me didn’t believe you. Griffin Shaw plays as hard as he works, or whatever the rags say… but now? Fuck, mate, are you going to turn Norman Rockwell?”
“Is it not possible I’ve found someone I genuinely connect with and want to see how it goes without everyone thinking I’ve lost my mind?”
“I just never thought I’d see the day, that’s all.”
“What, because my father is an asshole and doesn’t know how to treat a partner, let alone his family, I can’t possibly know how?”
“Calm down, for fuck’s sake. Why are you so touchy about this? There’s nothing that can go wrong now. It’s no longer fake, it’s real. The company will be yours. Done deal.”
“Well,” I slide forward, “it’s going to be mine in any event. While we were staying with my mother, she and Kaitlyn really bonded. Kait couldn’t lie to her. It was very telling of her personality and character to advocate so hard. We told her everything. Literally everything.”
“Christ Almighty. Bianca must have been out for blood.”
“It was a little frightening, if I’m honest. All she did was pace, drink red wine, and knit.”
Tobias’s normally very dark skin loses about three shades as his eyes grow wide. “She was knitting?”
“Like a mad woman. I think she made nearly two full blankets while we were there less than twenty-four hours.”
“Mate, your pops is straight fucked.”
I can’t stop laughing, because he’s right. Mum only knits when she’s plotting something.
We spend the next hour or so pouring over upcoming meetings and finalizing all of the red tape we’ll need to cut through before Kaitlyn starts work.
I’m about to walk Tobias to the door and go check in on my girl when my phone lights up with a call from my father.
“We said his name too many times and summoned him like Beetlejuice,” Tobias jokes.
I roll my eyes and answer the call, “Yes, Father?”
“Are you aware the woman you’re seeing has a brother-in-law who nearly murdered a woman?”
“I’m sorry. Excuse me?”
“Can’t you do anything right? You should have had a full dossier on the little slut before you ever stuck your dick in her.”
“Take. That. Back. Right. Now. Or…” I growl with an octave so deep in my chest Tobias sits up straight.
“Or you’ll what, boy? I get you’re protecting your property, but get your head out of the clouds. You need to cut your losses. This is worse for the company than you being a manwhore.”
“We are done here.” I disconnect the call and toss my phone across the room to shatter against my built-in bookcase. I place my hands on my desktop so they have something to do other than tear this entire room to shreds.
“What did he say?” Tobias whispers.
As I’m about to answer, I hear a timid knock at the door. “Griffin? Is everything okay?”
I’m forced to take several deep breaths as Tobias gets up to answer the door. When he pulls it open, I lift my head to see my blond angel standing in the doorway, equal parts scared and concerned. “I think this is where I take my leave. Griff, you can fill me in tomorrow. Take things easy.” I watch him place a comforting hand on Kaitlyn’s shoulder as he passes by her.
“What is it?” she asks.
“I think we need to talk.”
Her eyes follow Tobias down the hallway before she turns back to me. “That wasn’t normal. What’s going on?”
I can feel my insides burning like hot lava. I want to breathe fire to let it go, but I don’t want any of it to hurt Kaitlyn. The fact I have to even dig deeper into this is like glass in my eyes. “My father called. Let’s just say it was less than pleasant.”
“Um, okay. It’s not like either one of us expected sunshine and rainbows. Look. The only way I can help you is if you’re honest with me.”
“Are you sure you want that? My shattered phone on the floor over there should give you an indication of how bad it is. He was quite vile and made statements I’m still boiling over.”
“Yes. I want to know. Tell me.”
I take in a breath that fills my lungs before I let it all go. “He called you a little slut and I should have investigated you before we…. had relations. I can’t say what he said. I won’t.”
Some of the color leaves my beauty’s face before she walks toward me. Her eyes glance down at my now destroyed phone before she takes my hand. “I mean, I guess I didn’t expect any less. It still sucks. I don’t think your phone should have suffered for it.”
“That’s not all.”
“Then tell me the rest.”
I squeeze her hand tightly. I want to feel connected to her when I utter my next words. “He asked if I wanted to be with someone whose brother-in-law was labeled an attempted murderer.”
I watch all of the color drain away from her already pale skin. “Why would he ask something like that?”
“I want to know the same. I haven’t asked you much about Jason, but the press has clearly gotten their hands on something. We need to get in front of it.”
She leans down and puts her face in her hands for a moment then sits up, inhaling a sharp breath. “About a year and a half ago, my sister worked for a truly horrible woman named Vivian. That’s how she met Jason. He was hired to be private security. Long story short, Vivian went crazy and held Jason’s mother hostage. Jason and Gillian intervened and he ended up shooting her. He had to. It was self-defense and he was protecting his mom and my sister.” She pulls all of her hair over one shoulder. She always does that when she’s anxious. “Why would anyone even care or know about that?”
“I’ve been under the microscope of the media my entire life, Kaitlyn. They’re sleuths to the tenth degree. They find everything and spin it to make it all seem worse than it is, especially when they dislike someone.”
“They dislike me? They don’t even know me, and they aren’t just attacking me now. It’s my family.”
“I’m sorry. It’s something I’ll have to help you through somehow. You may have a microphone shoved in your face and have to answer for this. We need to get you to a place where you don’t look like you’re going to be blown down like a feather. I will defend your family. I promise you that.”
Kaitlyn
Griffin is looking at me with such confidence and concern. It’s so confusing and the idea of people calling into question people I love, just because they want to be in every part of my boyfriend’s life, is ludicrous. I don’t know. “I hate this celebrity status thing. The media in the U.S. sucks, but this is a whole other level.”
“What do you want to do? Is this intrusiveness a deal breaker?”
I know what he’s asking without asking. Is our entire relationship in the spotlight more important than what it feels like to be us. “No. No, Griffin. It’s not a deal-breaker. It just makes things more difficult for the long term since I never thought there’d be a long term until a little more than a week ago.”
He closes the distance between us and wraps me up in his arms. They are so strong and make me feel safer than I have in my whole life. I breathe in the scent of him. It’s masculine, oaky, and a little sweet with the faintest hint of mint. It’s intoxicating.
“I can’t make it go away, but I can shield you as best I can.”
“Was your father angry? Is he going to accept me? Accept this? Did this mess everything up?”
“I don’t think so, but we should go speak with him. I think it’s time.”
I push back just enough to look up at him. “I just got really anxious when you said that.”
He cups my cheek and brushes his thumb along my lips. “Don’t be. Fuck my father. I don’t care what he thinks anymore.”
I sigh. “Griffin, that’s not what I want either. We started this so you could have what you deserve. Let’s finish it that way too. We need to care what he thinks for just a bit longer.”
“I’d prefer we just stay here locked away and only coming out when we need to.”
“Some would consider that running away.”
“If they knew you like I do, they’d never question it.” Griffin wraps his fingers around my hips and gently lifts me to his desktop. “I just want to spend every waking moment making you smile.”
“I know one way you could do that.” I push a pile of folders on the corner of his desk to the floor.
“Are you teasing me with your body?” he asks.
“I don’t know. Is it working?”
Griffin leans in as close as he can without touching me. I can feel his gentle inhale and exhale across my skin. “What do you think?”