Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Grayson
I climbed out of bed and slipped into my clothes. A part of me wanted to stay, but I knew I needed to leave.
“Are you coming to the office tomorrow?” I asked her as I sat on the edge of the bed and slipped into my shoes.
“Yes. Mondays and Wednesdays like we agreed.”
We walked out into the living area, and I realized we hadn’t finished cleaning up.
“Shit. We didn’t finish cleaning up. I’ll help you before I leave.”
“No.” She placed her hand on my chest. “I can do it. There’s not that much.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind staying and helping.”
“I’m positive. Go, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I brought my lips to hers.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I spoke.
I walked down to the lobby and exited the building just as a cab pulled up to the curb.
“Are you available?” I asked the driver through the window.
“Sure. Get in. Where to?”
“829 Park Avenue.”
The moment I got home, I poured myself a bourbon and sat down at my piano. Holding the glass in one hand, I stroked the keys with the other. I’d sealed the deal tonight and had Harper right where I wanted her. I finished my drink and went upstairs to take a shower. The smell of her was all over me, and as much as I loved it, I couldn’t give any more thought about what had happened between us. I was only in this to get my company. Nothing more. I was sorry for what she went through with her fiancé, but she was pregnant now and getting what she always wanted.
I lay in bed and tossed and turned most of the night. I’d finally fallen asleep when the damn alarm went off. My eyes flew open, and I rolled over and turned it off. I needed to get up and get to the office before Harper did. After all, I told her I couldn’t stay the night with her because I needed to be in early. Climbing out of bed, I let out a long yawn and stepped into the cool shower hoping it would wake me up, and I had Damon make a detour to Starbucks so I could grab a coffee I desperately needed.
“I take it you didn’t sleep well,” he spoke.
“Not really.”
“Too much Harper Holland on the mind?”
“No. I’ll be right back,” I said as I climbed out and went inside.
Thankfully, there were only two people ahead of me. Looking over at the glass case, I spotted a cranberry muffin.
“Good morning. What can I get you?” the barista asked.
“A Grande Flat White with three shots of espresso, a Grande dark roast, and a cranberry muffin.”
“Name for the order?”
“Grayson.”
I pulled out my wallet, handed her some cash, and waited for my muffin and coffees. I grabbed the bag and drink carrier, climbed in the back of the Escalade, and handed Damon his coffee.
“Thank you, Grayson.”
“You’re welcome. Now tell me why you said what you did earlier about Harper.”
“Because you had dinner with her last night, and I’m assuming it went well.”
“It did. She’s an excellent cook.”
Damon wasn’t stupid. He’d known me for years and always had my back where my grandfather was concerned. He was the only person besides Julius I would trust with my life.
“She almost sounds perfect.” He smiled.
“Listen, Damon, you’ll be seeingHarper a lot. But I want you to remember that not everything will be as it seems.”
“What are you doing, Grayson?” he asked as his eyes darted at me through the rearview mirror.
“My grandfather gave me a year to find someone and fall in love, or else he’s signing the company over to someone else.”
“So, you’re using her?”
“In a sense, yes. And there’s something else you need to know. She’s pregnant. She used a sperm donor from the cryobank.”
“The one where Julius works at?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
“I don’t want or need your judgment. I need to do what’s best for me and my future. Harper just happened to fall in my lap at the right time.”
“There’s more to life than a high-powered company and money, Grayson.”
“Not for me, there isn’t.”
He pulled up to the curb of my building, and I climbed out.
“I’ll see you later, Damon,” I spoke as I shut the door and walked inside.
Stepping into my office, I turned on the light, set my briefcase down, and sat behind my desk. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I sent Harper a text message.
“Good morning. When you get here, come straight to my office.”
“Good morning. I’ll see you soon.”
I sighed as I turned my chair around and stared out into the busy morning streets of the city as I sipped my coffee.
“Morning, boss,” I heard Christine speak as she stepped inside.
“Morning.” I turned my chair around.
“Here are the reports you wanted first thing. I’m surprised you beat me here this morning.”
“I wanted to catch up on a few things. Thanks for the reports. Keep an eye out for Harper. I told her to come right to my office when she gets in.”
“Will do. Do you need anything else?”
“No. I’m good.”
I was looking over the reports when there was a light knock on my door.
“Come in.”
The door slowly opened, and when I looked up, I saw Harper walk in with a smile on her face and her hand behind her back.
“Good morning. You wanted to see me?” She grinned.
“Good morning.” I returned her smile as I got up from my seat and grabbed the Starbucks bag from my desk. “I got you something.” I held out the bag to her.
The smile on her face widened.
“I got you something too.” She held the exact same bag from Starbucks.
We took the bags from each other and opened them. Inside was a cranberry muffin.”
“I can’t believe you bought me a cranberry muffin.” Her face lit up like a kid on Christmas day.
“And I can’t believe you did the same for me.”
“I stopped at Starbucks on my way in and saw it. I had to buy it since you liked it when we shared one.”
“I did the same thing.” I smiled as I leaned in and kissed her soft lips. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And thank you. Is that why you wanted me to come here right when I got in?” she asked.
“Yes. I wanted to surprise you, and now we’re both surprised. How is the design coming?”
“It’s coming along. I have a couple of things left to do, and then the first draft will be ready for you to see.”
“Good. I can’t wait to see it. How about we meet at one o’clock?”
“I’ll put you in my calendar.” She smirked.
“And I’ll put you in mine.” I winked.
She walked out of my office, and just as I pulled the muffin out of the bag, my phone rang.
“Grayson Rhodes.”
“Grayson, it’s Conrad.”
Shit.
“Conrad, how are you?”
“Listen, I hear you’re having someone else design the high rise.”
“You’ve heard correctly.”
“What gives, Grayson? You know we do all your building designs.”
“I know. I hired a new employee, and I’m having her take a shot at it. She had some designs in the back of her portfolio that caught my attention, so I figured why not.”
“Does your grandfather know about this?”
“My grandfather is aware and doesn’t have an issue with it. Listen, Conrad. This is my company, and I decide who designs our buildings. If you’re not worried about losing our account, then you should be after this phone call. Nobody questions the decisions I make. Understand me?”
“I’ll be talking to your grandfather about this.”
“Go ahead and talk to him. We’re done here.”
I ended the call and threw my phone across my desk. I couldn’t wait until this company was fully mine. Because as soon as it was, Conrad and his company were fired.