4. Grayson
4
GRAYSON
I should’ve known Margot was up to something the moment I got her text message in response to my playful accusation that she was already scheming to sabotage me.
Wouldn’t you like to know? Translation:Yes, I am plotting your demise, and no, you won’t see it coming. I lean back in my chair, feet propped up on my desk, phone still in my hand as I stare at her message. The thing about Margot? She never does anything halfway. If she’s already setting a trap, it means she’s planned three steps ahead, and I probably won’t realize what hit me until it’s too late. I should be worried.Instead, I’m excited.Ilovea challenge, and Margot? She’s the best one I’ve ever had. Still, I need to figure out what she’s up to before she pulls the rug out from under me. I glance at my schedule for the day, skimming past the usual meetings and consultation requests. And then I see it, a last-minute appointment, added byher.
Elliot Pierce. My feet hit the floor with a thud.No. Freaking. Way. I bark out a laugh, running a hand through my hair. I knew Margot would throw a curveball, butElliot Pierce?The most impossible matchmaking case in the history of Perfectly Matched ? The man who once told his date that relationships are "an outdated social construct designed to promote inefficient emotional dependencies"?ThatElliot Pierce?
Oh, she’s good.
I shoot her a text: Nice try, Evans.
Seconds later, my phone buzzes: Don’t be late, King. Wouldn’t want to disappoint our client.
I shake my head, chuckling. Alright, fine. She wants to play dirty? Game on. I grab my suit jacket and head out the door, already crafting my plan of attack. Elliot Pierce may be the toughest client we’ve ever had, but he hasn’t metmeyet. And if Margot thinks this is the move that’s going to take me down, she’s about to be sorely disappointed. Because I don’t lose. Especially not to her.
By the time I pull into Perfectly Matched’s sleek downtown office, my mind is already racing through strategies. Elliot is a lost cause if you try to sell him on romance. Margot knows that. Hell, everyone knows that. Which means she’s betting on me hitting a dead end before I even start. But the thing about people like Elliot? They think they’re too smart for love. They think they can logic their way out of human connection. And that’s where they’re wrong.
I stride into the office and spot Margot in the hallway, leaning against the doorframe of the conference room like she’s already won. She’s dressed in her signature power move, form-fitting blazer, perfect heels, hair sleek and shiny like she stepped out of a magazine cover. Her arms are crossed, and there’s a victorious gleam in her eyes that makes me want to wipe it right off her face.
"You look smug," I tell her, stopping a foot away. "You sure you want to celebrate this early?"
She tilts her head, all fake innocence. "Oh, I’m just excited to see how you work your magic, King. Let’s see if that legendary charm of yours can outwit a man who once compared dating to ‘unnecessary software updates.’"
I smirk. "You really think this is going to throw me?"
She shrugs, stepping aside and motioning toward the door. "Go on in. Don’t keep him waiting."
With one last glance at her, memorizing that little smirk, because I fully intend to wipe it away soon, I push open the door. Elliot Pierce is already seated, his posture perfectly straight, his expression bored as he glances at his watch. He’s dressed in a tailored charcoal-gray suit, crisp white shirt, and a deep navy tie that looks like it was chosen more for efficiency than style. His dark hair is neatly combed back, not a strand out of place, and his watch, an expensive but understated piece, gleams under the conference room lights. Everything about him screams precision, from the way his hands rest symmetrically on the table to the way his icy blue eyes assess me like I’m an algorithm he’s already decided is flawed. "You’re late."
I grin, dropping into the chair across from him. "Technically, I’m right on time. You just seem like the kind of guy who runs ten minutes ahead of schedule."
His gaze flickers with mild interest before he leans back. "I assume you’ve been briefed on my stance. I don’t do relationships."
I nod. "Yeah, I got that memo. Also heard about the conference call you scheduledduringa first date. Bold move."
His expression doesn’t change. "The deal I was negotiating was worth over twenty million. I fail to see how a dinner reservation should take priority."
I bite back a laugh. "Fair. But see, here’s the thing, I’m not here to sell you on love. I’m here to prove you wrong.
Elliot blinks. "Excuse me?"
I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. "You think relationships are distractions. That they make people inefficient. But what if I told you the right match wouldn’t slow you down at all? What if therightpartner made you better, more successful, more focused?"
His jaw tightens. "Highly unlikely."
I flash a grin. "That’s what we’re here to test. You don’t believe in love? Fine. Let’s approach this like an experiment. One month. One match. If I can’t find someone who makes your lifebetter, you walk away, no strings attached."
Elliot studies me for a long moment, then exhales. "This is a waste of time."
"Maybe. But I bet you hate losing even more than wasting time."
A flicker of amusement crosses his face, so brief I almost miss it. But then he nods once. "Fine. One month. One match. Impress me."
I relax into my chair, flashing him a confident grin. "Oh, I intend to."
I already know exactly where to start and Margot has no idea what’s coming next. Game on.