Chapter 23 Grace
Chapter twenty-three
Grace
This couldn’t be happening.
Ben was standing beside the railing holding the most pathetic bunch of flowers I’d seen in a long time. Looking like I kicked his puppy.
“Ben? What the fuck are you doing here?”
The words were out of my mouth before I had a chance to think.
“That’s Ben?” Cole asked beside me as he took my hand in his, holding on as if his life depended on it. Or maybe it was Ben’s life that depended on Cole holding me back.
“You weren’t answering my calls.” Ben shrugged, shifting his weight from side to side and looking awkward.
He must’ve been sweating his balls off in that suit.
I was wearing a pair of linen shorts and a tank, and I was still hot.
So, standing there in his fancy pants three-piece suit that probably cost more than today’s meal for half the town, he had to be melting.
But his comfort wasn’t my problem. His presence on the other hand …
“How did you even find me?”
“The B&B is your emergency contact on your HR file. I booked a room …”
I shot a look at my sisters which had them exchanging confused glances and looking sheepish. I’d deal with them later. First, I had to sort this mess out.
“Where’s your bag?” I demanded. This had to be a joke. It just had to be. Ben couldn’t be here.
“In the car. I wasn’t sure you’d let me in once you knew I was here,” he admitted looking a bit pathetic.
“First smart thing you’ve done,” I muttered under my breath. “I wouldn’t have.”
“Come on Grace…”
“Don’t!” I warned.
“Please? I just want to talk to you for a minute.
I got the feeling he wasn’t going to walk away until he’d said what he’d come to say and I was getting tired of having him calling or texting.
I wanted to move on and I needed him to leave me alone.
I knew there was only one way that was going to happen.
“One minute, then you get back in your car and leave,” I told him.
Ben gulped and the Adam’s apple in his throat bobbed. “If that’s what you want…”
“It’s what I want,” I confirmed.
I went to stand, but Cole held tight. “Give me a second,” I told him.
He hesitated.
“I’ll be fine,” I attempted to assure him but even I wasn’t convinced.
Cole rose from his chair and kissed me deeply. I wasn’t an idiot. There was nothing romantic about his kiss. This kiss was nothing more than Cole staking his claim. Not that I was complaining. The man could kiss, and I felt my panties flood as his tongue dueled with mine.
Eventually, he let me up for air. “Hurry back.”
“Promise,” I confirmed, reaching up and touching my kiss-swollen lips.
With everyone’s eyes on me, I made my way down the stairs to where Ben was waiting nervously. When he handed me the flowers, I tossed them over the balcony to Gabriella before taking Ben by the elbow and leading him around the front and away from prying eyes.
“Right, now we don’t have the whole town watching, what the fuck are you doing here?” I demanded angrily.
A few weeks ago, I would’ve never imagined speaking to him like this. Ben was not only my boss, but he was someone I respected both personally and professionally. Now, though, my rose-colored glasses were off and I could see how misguided I’d been. How naive. How quick I’d been to believe his lies.
“I needed to talk to you.”
His confidence was rattled. This wasn’t like him. Ben was the sort of guy who was so sure of himself. He would walk into the room and command its attention with a click of his fingers or a look.
“Well, start talking. I’m kinda in the middle of something.”
“I need to say I’m sorry.”
“Great. You’ve said it. It changes nothing. Goodbye,” I replied bitchily, turning to walk away.
When Ben grabbed my arm, halting me, I froze. He’d never manhandled me before and I was fucked if I was going to let him now.
The look I shot him had him releasing his grip without a word.
“Come on, Grace. Hear me out.”
“Why, Ben? Why should I? You fucked me over. You promised me you’d protect me then when I needed you, you were nowhere to be found. Those people you employ tossed me aside like I was disposable. Do you know how that felt?”
“I’m sorry, Grace. There was a lot going on you didn’t know about,” he started to defend and justify but I didn’t want to hear his excuses.
“Ben. I don't care. I don’t. Shit was going on. Great. Not my problem. Hasn’t been since they escorted me from the building. Do you have any idea how humiliating that was? I didn’t deserve that, Ben,” I assured him.
“You’re right. You didn’t. And when I found out about it …”
“It was too late.”
“I really am sorry, Grace. None of this went the way I’d intended.”
“Yeah, well, none of it went the way I’d intended either but whatever. It is what it is. Now, if that’s everything, I need to get back to my party,” I dismissed him. It was funny, a party I didn’t want to be at in the first place was now my get-out-of-jail-free card.
Ben didn’t say anything. He just looked at me like he’d failed and from where I was standing, he had. He’d lost the best employee he’d ever had, and he didn’t even realize it. But that was his loss. I needed to focus on myself and my future.
“Drive safe, Ben,” I offered as I headed back to the party. I wasn’t completely heartless, and after getting that off my chest, I started to feel a bit better about the whole thing.
“I need you back,” he called out behind me, and my steps faltered.
“What?” I asked, spinning around in disbelief.
“I need you to come back. I have a job …”
“Stop. Ben, just stop! I don’t want to hear it.”
“Come on, Grace. Don’t be so stubborn. At least hear me out,” he begged, moving toward me.
“No, Ben. I’m not going to hear you out, but I am going to give you something. I’m going to give you the truth.”
“The truth?” Ben made it sound like a dirty word, but nothing could’ve prepared him for how dirty it really was.
“Here’s the truth, Ben, and you may want to sit down for it.
That company you love. The one you think is the biggest and best. It’s toxic.
It’s full of people who will stab each other and you in the back just to get what they want.
Lola, don’t trust her as far as you could throw her.
Her understanding of the truth, of what’s right, of how to treat people, let’s just say if she’s legally allowed in the industry in two years it will be a miracle.
And Imogen—she’s had so many bullying complaints against her it’s only a matter of time before she takes on the wrong person.
Don’t even get me started on your business partners.
” I’d gathered steam and now I couldn’t stop.
“You want to know where all the rumors and gossip about you and your wife are coming from? Look inside, Ben. The moment you turn your back, they’re sharpening the knives.
And you might think I’m telling you this because I’m bitter, but honestly, Ben, I don’t give a fuck.
There’s no amount of money you could offer me to get me to come back.
Yes, when they marched me out the door, snickering behind my back, I was hurt, angry, and embarrassed.
But now, now I’m glad I’m out. I might not have a clue what I’m going to do or where I’m going to end up, but working in that environment, with those people, yeah you can stick that fair up your ass. ”
Ben shook his head. He was stunned, but at the same time, I didn’t think he was. He certainly didn’t like hearing what I was saying, but I think deep down he knew I wasn’t bullshitting to him either. What was the point? It wasn’t like he had anything I wanted, and we both knew it.
“Look, Ben,” I softened, “am I sorry everything went down like it did? Absolutely. I trusted you. I thought you had my back, but when I turned around you’d abandoned me and left me to the hyenas.
But I’m better for it. Stronger for it. And not having to look at Lola’s lying face every day, that’s worth everything to me. ”
“I don’t know what to say,” Ben mumbled, and I believed him.
“There’s only one thing to say, Ben. Wish me well and say goodbye,” I told him.
“There’s no changing your mind is there?” He tried one last time, and I smiled. Ben wouldn’t be who he was if he didn’t try.
“Not a chance. But I’m okay. Better than okay actually. I’m good,” I assured him, and for the first time I realized I actually believed that.
“Well then, Grace, I wish you all the very best in whatever lies ahead of you. I know you’ll be a great asset to whomever snaps you up. And if there’s anything I can do, write you a recommendation, or make some calls, please just ask,” he offered sincerely.
“I will.” We both knew I was lying but it made it an easier pill to swallow. “Goodbye, Ben. Thanks for coming. Sorry you wasted the drive.”
“Making things right with you would never be a waste, Grace. And you’ve given me a lot to think about on the drive back.”
I chuckled. “I’m sure I have.”
“Well, I better get on the road. Thanks for … well, being you, Grace. Someone somewhere is going to be very lucky to have you.”
“I think so,” I replied cockily as Ben stuck out his hand.
The moment I set my palm in his, Ben shook it professionally and I knew I’d never see or hear from him again. At one time, that would’ve been a painful realization, but now it just felt right. Like it was finally over and I was finally free to move on.
Ben dropped my hand, waved goodbye, and headed for his fancy car parked awkwardly at the end of the drive.
I stood there, with my arms wrapped around me, my mind and conscience clear, and watched until he backed out and his taillights disappeared down the road.
Now there was nothing in my way, nothing holding me back.
No unfinished business or lingering doubts.
Everything was clear ahead. Now it was time to decide and take control of my future, and I knew exactly who I wanted in it.