3. Grace
3
GRACE
I t’s clear that Theo doesn’t want me here, and I’m adamant that I don’t want to be here either. The last thing I want is to be in the presence of an opinionated, misogynistic pig.
He’s such a dick.
“I know that you like having your own space, we all do, but until I can hire a security team and get the alarm system installed at your house, you have to suck it up,” Devon says into the phone.
“How long will that take?”
“A few weeks. I have to do background checks on the applicants. I can’t do this quickly; it leaves too much room for mistakes.”
“I can’t stay here for a few weeks! Are you kidding me? This man is…is…he’s a…an angry asshole.”
“He’s not an asshole. I know he can come off that way in the beginning, but just give him some grace, okay?”
“I need to find you better friends,” I groan.
“Let’s get past this bump in the road, and then we’ll discuss that,” he laughs.
We hang up the phone a few minutes later. I blow out a long breath and close my eyes as I try to swallow all the emotions that are threatening to bubble over.
The pictures from my stalker really did a number on me. Theo’s house looks safe enough, but I thought the same thing about my own home. I lock my doors and windows every night.
How could that man have even gotten in?
I try to settle in, but it’s impossible when I feel like I’m constantly being watched and scrutinized.
The guest room is nice enough, though it’s impersonal, decorated with the same sterile, modern aesthetic as the rest of the house.
The bed is plush, the sheets ridiculously soft, but sleep eludes me. Even the quiet of the countryside, which should be peaceful, leaves me uneasy.
It’s too quiet. I’m waiting for a noise of any sort.
After a sleepless night, I head downstairs, trying to convince myself that I can at least make the best of this temporary situation. I could find a corner of the house that feels less hostile.
The kitchen, perhaps. I could make myself some coffee, sit down with my phone, and forget how I ended up here.
As I move through the house, I hear Theo talking to someone on the phone in the living room. His deep, gravelly voice carries, and even though I can’t make out the words, the tone is unmistakable: he’s irritated.
Oh, go figure. The big bad beast is mad. I don’t think he knows any other emotion.
I ignore him and head to the kitchen, intent on finding the coffee machine. But of course, in a house like this, nothing is simple.
I spend a good ten minutes opening cabinets and drawers, feeling more and more like an idiot. Just as I’m about to give up, Theo appears in the doorway.
“What are you doing?” His voice is sharp, and I can feel his gaze boring into me.
“I’m looking for the coffee,” I reply, trying to keep my tone neutral. “I couldn’t find it.”
He crosses his arms, leaning against the doorframe. “Maybe because you didn’t ask where it was.”
I bite back a retort, reminding myself that I’m in his house, but his attitude grates on me. “I didn’t think I needed to be supervised to make coffee.”
His eyes narrow. “You’re not being supervised. But this is my home. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t go rifling through everything like you own the place.”
I clench my jaw, trying to rein in my frustration. “I wasn’t rifling through anything. I was just looking for the damn coffee.”
We stare at each other, the silence crackling with tension. Finally, he pushes off the doorframe and strides over to one of the cabinets, pulling out a bag of coffee beans.
Without a word, he sets the bag on the counter and turns to leave.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
He doesn’t respond, just walks away, leaving me standing there with my fists clenched at my sides.
Would it kill him to be kind?
It’s as if every little thing I do annoys him. I don’t understand how someone can be so closed off, so unwilling to give even a shred of kindness.
But I suppose I’m not exactly known for being easy to get along with. I have my own walls, and I’ve had to put them up to survive in my world.
I pace the length of the guest room, my bare feet padding silently across the plush carpet. I’ve been cooped up in this house all day now, and it’s starting to feel like a prison.
Theo’s mansion may be luxurious, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling like the walls are closing in on me. Every corner of this place feels off-limits as if I’m trespassing just by breathing the same air.
I need to get out of this room. I need to move, to feel like I have some control over my life again.
With a determined sigh, I slip on a pair of sneakers and head out into the hallway. This estate is massive; from what little I’ve seen; it's like a fortress.
Marble floors, high ceilings, and more rooms than I can count—each one meticulously curated to reflect his cold, unapproachable personality.
But there must be a gym in a place like this, right?
I wander through the house, passing grand staircases and endless hallways before finally stumbling upon what I’m looking for.
The gym is tucked away in the far corner of the mansion, and when I open the door, I’m greeted by a space that looks more like a professional training facility than a home gym.
There are weight racks lining the walls, a full array of machines, treadmills, a boxing bag in one corner, and even a mirrored wall with a barre.
Of course, Theo has a state-of-the-art gym. I shouldn’t be surprised.
For a moment, I hesitate. But then the restless energy inside me wins out, and I walk in, pulling my hair back into a ponytail as I head straight for the weights.
I’m no stranger to working out, though this equipment is on a whole other level. I grab a pair of dumbbells and start with some basic exercises to burn off the frustration and tension that’s been building inside me since I got here.
I move through squats, lunges, and deadlifts, letting the familiar burn in my muscles take over. In a way, it’s comforting to focus on something physical, something I can control.
I’ve just finished a set of overhead presses when the door to the gym swings open. I glance up in the mirror and see Theo standing there, his face a mask of surprise and annoyance.
“What are you doing?” he asks, his voice clipped.
I wipe the sweat from my forehead and set the dumbbells down, meeting his eyes in the mirror. “What does it look like?”
His eyes dart around the room, lingering on the scattered weights and the disarray I’ve left behind. He steps inside, crossing his arms over his chest. “You didn’t rack the weights.”
I raise an eyebrow, turning to face him. “I was going to.”
“You should’ve done it immediately,” he replies, his tone harsh. “It’s a safety hazard leaving them like that. You need to clean up after yourself if you’re going to use my space.”
Your space.
There it is again, the constant reminder that I’m an intruder in his precious little world. I don’t know what it is about this man, but every word out of his mouth rubs me the wrong way.
“I’ll clean up,” I snap, defiantly crossing my arms.
“But seriously, what am I allowed to do around here?
Every single thing seems to annoy you.
Is there some list I should be aware of, or should I just assume that breathing is off-limits, too?”
Okay, maybe I’m being a tad ridiculous, but it’s too late to scale back now.
“You’re a guest in my home, Grace. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t act like you own the place.”
“I’m not trying to own anything,” I retort. “But it’s impossible to feel comfortable here when you’re hovering over me, waiting for me to mess up.”
“I’m not hovering,” he says, his voice low. “I just don’t like people in my space. Especially people who don’t know how to respect it.”
I let out a frustrated laugh. “Right. Well, sorry for invading your precious sanctuary. I’ll get out of your way so you can brood in peace.”
He doesn’t respond, just glares at me, his eyes burning with irritation. The tension between us is thick enough to cut with a knife. I know I’m pushing his buttons but I can’t help it. He makes it so damn easy.
As I start toward a bench, his phone buzzes in his pocket. He glances at the screen, his frown deepening.
“Devon and Sarah are here,” he says, sliding his phone back into his pocket. “They’ve brought your things. You should go meet them.”
“Fine,” I mutter, grabbing my water bottle and heading for the door.
But just as I reach it, I pause, glancing back at him. “For the record, I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here.
But Devon said it’s temporary, so maybe we can both try to coexist… without biting each other’s heads off.”
Theo’s expression remains unreadable, but he gives a slight nod. “Doubtful.”
Jerk.
I make my way to the front of the house, where Devon and Sarah are waiting just outside the door, a few suitcases at their feet. As soon as I step outside, Sarah rushes over to me, pulling me into a hug.
“Thank God,” she says, squeezing me tightly. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
“I’m fine,” I reply, though my voice sounds more tired than reassuring.
Devon steps forward, a concerned look on his face. “How are things with Theo?”
I roll my eyes, leaning against the doorframe.
“About as well as you’d expect. He hates having me here.
I swear, every time I do anything, he acts like I’ve committed some mortal sin.”
Sarah gives me a sympathetic look, but Devon just sighs.
“You have to understand, Grace. Theo’s… particular about his space.
Especially after the stuff with Alexia. He doesn’t let people in easily.”
“Yeah, I got that,” I mutter.
“But it’s exhausting walking on eggshells around him. I can’t even make coffee without him getting annoyed.”
“Just try to play nice,” Devon chuckles.
“It’s only temporary. I’m working on getting everything sorted out, but until then, you need to stay here.
Theo’s house is the safest place for you right now.”
I cross my arms and groan. “I know. It’s just… hard. I like having my own space and peace, too.”
“I get it,” Devon says, resting a hand on my shoulder. “But trust me, it’s better than the alternative. You don’t want to be out there on your own with your stalker still lurking around.”
I nod, knowing he’s right but still feeling the frustration gnawing at me. “I’ll try.”
“That’s all I’m asking,” Devon replies with a small smile. “Just keep your head down, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
Sarah gives me another hug. “Take advantage of this, Theo doesn’t let anyone into his world, so this is a big deal. He really is a great guy, you’ll see that.”
Ah, Sarah, the eternal optimist who sees the good in people when it’s clearly not here.
I nod because I don’t want to argue with her. She has this fairy tale belief about life and love that I don’t share at all. Devon walks off to find Theo while Sarah stands next to me, spinning around and looking at the place in awe.
“You’ve never been here before? I thought you knew him well.”
“I do, and no, I’ve never been here before.
I meant what I said when I told you that Theo doesn’t normally let anyone in.
Devon has been here because the two of them are like brothers, but Theo keeps everyone at arm’s length after what happened with Alexia.”
“I’m sure he does. It’s much easier for people to see the devil behind the mask when they’re close to you.”
“He’s not the man the media has painted him to be,” she says softly. “If you give him a chance, you’ll see that.”
“The only thing I see is that he’s a cranky old bear of a man,” I sigh.
“You protect yourself in certain ways, he does the same.”
“You ready to go Sarah?” Devon asks as he walks back into the living room with Theo.
Take me with you.
She nods and the two of them both head back to Devon’s car, leaving me standing in the doorway, staring out at the sprawling estate. I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering irritation.
It’s only temporary.
Later, I’m sitting on the couch in the living room, scrolling through my phone, when Theo walks in again. I can feel his presence at once, the air around him charged with tension.
He doesn’t say anything at first, just stands there, looking at me like I’m some kind of puzzle he can’t figure out.
“You’re not exactly making yourself at home,” he finally says, his voice low but still carrying that edge.
He can’t be serious right now.
I look up from my phone, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
He gestures vaguely toward me. “You’re just sitting there like you don’t want to touch anything. Like you’re scared of breaking something.”
I bristle at his words. “Maybe it’s because every time I do touch something, you act like I’m invading your precious space.”
He frowns, his brows knitting together. “This isn’t about that.”
“Oh, really?” I snap. “Because it sure feels like it.”
He sighs, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “Look, I didn’t ask for this either. But Devon thinks you’ll be safer here, and I owe him. That’s the only reason you’re here.”
It’s the only reason you’re here.
Why do those words sting so much?
“I know why I’m here,” I reply, my voice rising. “But that doesn’t mean you have to treat me like I’m some kind of criminal. I’m not the asshole here.”
“You’re not a criminal,” he says, his tone softening just a fraction. “And I’m not an asshole either. But this… it’s not easy for me.”
“And you think it’s easy for me?” I stand up, frustration bubbling over.
“Do you think I like being here? Depending on you for safety because some psycho won’t leave me alone?
Do you think this is fun for me—especially after what you did?”
His expression shifts, something flickering in his eyes that I can’t quite place. Vulnerability, maybe? But it’s gone as quickly as it came.
“I’m not saying it’s easy for you,” he says, his voice quieter now.
“I just... I don’t do well with people in my space.
It’s how I’ve always been. I need control, and having someone else here... it throws everything off.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me.
I know exactly how he feels.
“Well, I didn’t exactly have a choice in the matter, did I?”
“No,” he admits, his gaze meeting mine. “Neither of us did.”
We stand there for a moment, the tension between us still present, but something else has shifted. An understanding, maybe.
We’re both in this situation against our will, and no matter how much we clash, we’ll have to find a way to make it work.
I guess it’s not really against our will. I could have been adamant that I wanted to stay in my home. Theo could have said no.
“I’m not trying to make things difficult,” I say after a long pause, my voice softer now. “But this… this isn’t easy for me, either.”
He looks at me for a moment longer, then nods. “I get that.”
“Do you, Theo?” I snap.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that you tricked me into believing you were a good man and you’re not. You tricked me into sleeping with you and…”
“I tricked you into sleeping with me?”
“You…you didn’t tell me that you had a girlfriend.”
“I didn’t have a girlfriend. I told you that day that Alexia was someone I tried to help out.”
“Men don’t just let random women live in their house,” I snap.
He doesn’t reply, just makes a face at me.
Oh, shit.
“It’s not the same.”
“You’re right, it’s not.
I won’t ever get caught up in that bullshit again.
Alexia took advantage of me and then tried to throw herself at me.
When I didn’t reciprocate, she went on a mission to slander me, and it worked.”
It’s the same thing that Devon said. Did they rehearse this?
“It only worked because people believed it, which means that you clearly live your life in such a way that people couldn’t fathom that it was a lie.”
“That’s a wrong assumption, but I expect nothing less from you.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that we shared an amazing weekend together, but you darted the chance you saw an opening. That’s not the type of person I want in my life.”
I open my mouth to respond but he’s already stalking out of the living room like he’s the wounded party.
“Let’s just… try to stay out of each other’s way,” I call after him. “We don’t have to talk unless we need to.”
“Sounds like a plan.”