39. Margot
39
MARGOT
I shouldn’t still feel the ghost of Grayson’s touch on my skin, not after everything. Not after the hurt, the anger, the betrayal still thick in the air between us. But as I walk out of his office, my heart pounding in my chest, I swear I can still feel the way his fingers brushed against my skin, the way his breath hitched before he pulled away. He almost kissed me, and I almost let him. God, what am I doing?
I press a hand to my chest, as if I can calm the chaos inside me, but it only makes it worse.
Because the truth is, I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to forget the fight and the betrayal. And yet, as I stand in the empty hallway, I realize something far more terrifying: I’m scared of losing him. The man who saw me before I saw myself. Who pushed me, infuriated me, and made me feel like I could actually do this, build something real and be something more. If I lose him now, not just the company, not just the future we dreamed of, buthim, I don’t know if I’ll recover and maybe that’s what scares me the most.
I shake my head, forcing myself to focus as I step into the main offices of Perfectly Matched . There is no time for lingering tension or stolen moments that don’t mean anything when the world around us is falling apart. Eleanor is still circling like a shark. The board is still waiting for me to make a decision, and if I don’t act soon, there won’t be anything left to fight for. I inhale deeply, adjusting my blazer as I stride toward Olivia’s desk. She is typing furiously, her dark-rimmed glasses perched at the edge of her nose, a phone tucked between her shoulder and ear.
“…no, I don’t care what spin they’re trying to push,” she snaps. “You tell the investors that Perfectly Matched is stronger than ever, and if they want the details, they can wait for our official statement.”
She glances up, clocking my presence, and immediately ends the call.
“Tell me you have something,” I say, crossing my arms.
Olivia sighs, rubbing her temples. “Eleanor is moving faster than we anticipated. She’s already lining up support from three major board members, and I have confirmation she’s setting up a private meeting withsomeonein the next twenty-four hours. We don’t know who yet, but my guess? It’s whoever she’s backing for CEO.”
My jaw tightens. “So we find out who it is and get to them first.”
Olivia nods. “That’s the goal. But we have another problem.”
Of course we do.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “What now?”
She hesitates, then glances toward the other end of the office, where a familiar blonde billionaire and his equally dramatic Hollywood counterpart are currently causing a scene in the middle of the lobby. Cassian and Isabella. Becauseobviouslytoday wasn’t chaotic enough.
I barely take two steps before Isabella throws her hands in the air, her voice echoing through the space.
“Are you actually suggesting,” she says, her tone dripping with disbelief, “that I, an internationalstar, should date someone boring? Someone normal?”
Cassian rolls his eyes. “Yes, Monroe. That’s the entire point of Perfectly Matched . Finding youa match.Not a headline. Not another PR stunt. Anactualrelationship.”
Isabella gasps like he just suggested she marry a tax accountant with a passion for stamp collecting. “That is literally the most offensive thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Cassian turns to me as I approach, clearly exasperated. “Make her listen to reason.”
I cross my arms, arching a brow. “Did you just ask me to help you with her?”
Isabella scoffs. “Excuse you, I am standing right here.”
Cassian sighs, dragging a hand down his face. “She rejected every single candidate we presented.Every single one.”
Isabella narrows her eyes. “That’s because they were dull. I have standards, Laurent.”
Cassian mutters something in French under his breath that I’m fairly certain is an insult.
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Okay. Let’s start over. Isabella, what exactly are you looking for?”
She brightens. “Oh, that’s easy. Someoneexciting.Someone who understands the spotlight. Someone who…” She pauses, flicking a glance at Cassian before smirking. “… knows how to keep up.”
Cassian stiffens, his jaw ticking. “Absolutely not.”
I frown. “What?”
Isabella shrugs, looking far too pleased with herself. “I’m just saying.Maybemy perfect match isn’t some dull businessman or quiet artist. Maybe it’s someone who challenges me. Someone who doesn’t bore me to death.”
Cassian stares at her, expression unreadable. “If you’re implying what Ithinkyou’re implying”.
She grins. “I’m just saying,maybemy match has been right in front of me this whole time.”
Cassian looks like he’s either about to explode or walk straight into oncoming traffic.
I sigh. “So what I’m hearing is that you’re rejectingeveryonejust to irritate Cassian.”
Isabella gasps. “That isnot…”
Cassian cuts in. “That isexactlywhat she’s doing.”
Isabella smirks. “Well. Maybe you should find me someonebetter, then.”
Cassian turns to me. “Fix this.”
I sigh. “Believe me, I’m trying.”
By the time I step back into Grayson’s office, I feel like I’ve been through battle. Between Eleanor, the board, and our two disaster clients, I’m running on pure adrenaline and the sheer willpower not to strangle anyone. Grayson is at his desk, flipping through a document, but the second I step inside, his gaze lifts. For a moment, it’s just the two of us, and for the first time in hours, the chaos fades. I shut the door behind me and lean against it, exhaling. “We have a problem.”
His lips quirk up slightly. “Just one?”
I roll my eyes, but the teasing feels natural.Familiar.
I sit across from him, my body humming with exhaustion. “Eleanor is planning something big. Olivia is still tracking down her next move, but if we don’t get ahead of her soon, she’s going to solidify her position.”
Grayson leans forward, his blue eyes sharp. “So what’s the plan?”
I hesitate. “I think… I think I need to take the CEO offer.”
His expression darkens instantly. “No.”
I grip the edge of the desk. “Grayson, if I don’t…”
“She’s manipulating you, Margot.” His voice is low, edged with frustration. “You take that job, and you think you’re keeping Perfectly Matched safe. But all you’re really doing is giving her more control. More leverage. And in the end, she’s still going to cut you out.”
I shake my head. “Then what do we do?”
He exhales sharply, then pushes his chair back and stands. For a long moment, we justlookat each other. Then, without warning, he moves. One second, I’m standing behind his desk. The next, my back is against the wall, and Grayson is in front of me, his hands braced on either side of my head. My breath catches. His voice is low, rough. “I don’t give a damn about the company if it means losing you.”
I swallow hard. “Grayson…”
His fingers brush against my jaw, tilting my chin up. His lips are so close to mine that I can feel the warmth of his breath.
“You’re mine, Margot,” he murmurs. “No matter how much you fight it.” And then, he kisses me. It’s not soft. It’s not gentle. It’s a collision, heat and desperation, tension snapping in an instant. I don’t think. I just kiss him back. For now, everything else can wait. He exhales sharply, the sound almost a growl, then shoves his chair back and rises in one fluid, determined motion. For a moment, time stretches, thick with everything unsaid, as we stare at each other across the desk. The air crackles. Then he moves.
One second, I’m standing frozen behind his desk. The next, my back hits the wall with a soft thud, and Grayson is there, towering over me, his hands planted firmly on either side of my head. I can barely breathe, not from fear but from the way he’s looking at me. Like I’m the only thing that matters.
I gasp into his mouth, but he’s already deepening the kiss, one hand sliding into my hair, the other gripping my waist like he can’t stand the idea of letting go. I don’t resist, I can’t. We move towards the sofa. My fingers clutch at his shirt, tugging him closer, and he groans into the kiss like he’s been waiting forever for this, maybe we both have. Right now, there’s no legacy, no company, just us, and I don’t want it to stop. Without warning, he grips my hips and drags me to the edge of the sofa, his eyes dark with intent.
“Keep your legs open,” he growls, voice rough with command.
My breath hitches, but I obey, the heat between my thighs pulsing with anticipation. He positions his cock at my entrance, and for one agonizing second, he holds still, just long enough for me to feel the full weight of his control. Then he thrusts into me, hard, deep, relentless. My gasp turns into a cry, the sudden fullness making my eyes water. He doesn’t pause, doesn’t soften. His grip tightens, fingers digging into my skin as he sets a punishing rhythm, each thrust forcing a moan from my lips.
“Take it,” he growls against my neck. “All of me.”
I can’t think, can’t speak, only feel. The way he fucks me is ruthless, claiming every inch like he’s branding it. My body trembles beneath him, every nerve lit up and aching, pleasure building fast and brutal. His pace quickens, wild now, untamed, like he’s chasing something he’s needed for far too long.
“I’m yours,” I choke out, dizzy with how good it feels.
And then I’m gone, falling apart around him, dragged over the edge with no mercy, no return.
He follows with a guttural groan, spilling into me as his body shudders, still holding me like he’ll never let go. He twitches and thrust until he has nothing left. He lowers himself over me, careful not to crush me, and I feel the slow drag of his mouth against my neck, softer now. Reverent. His heartbeat hammers against my chest, and I wonder if he can feel mine too. Because this… this wasn’t just sex, this was something else entirely.