Chapter 20
TIANA
Griffin and Sylas stepped out to run errands, grab donuts, and stop at the hardware store, so I take advantage of the quiet time to do my afternoon workout in the sun-drenched sitting room, and to film snippets for my day-to-day vlogs.
I set down my mat and ease into a slow yoga flow. Deep stretch. Hips up. Arms long.
I’m mid–downward dog, exhaling, when I hear the door opening then voices.
I make the mistake of glancing backwards between my legs.
Griffin and another man I don’t know are right in the doorway. Sylas runs right past them yelling a quick ‘hi’ and storms up the stairs.
Griffin looks like he swallowed a lemon.
His friend looks delighted.
“Oh,” I say, still upside down. “Hi.”
The man clears his throat, fighting a grin. “Well, hello.” Then he actually waves. “I’m Henson.”
Oh my God. That’s Henson Miller. Worth’s brother and Griffin’s business partner. Another hot billionaire mogul. What do these men eat?
I scramble up, cheeks burning, then cross the room to shake Henson’s hand. He’s all smiles.
“I’m Tiana. Nice to meet you.”
Behind him, Griffin looks furious, and still hasn’t said a single word.
Henson looks over at his friend, noticing his expression. “Griff,” he says carefully, his tone amused. “I’ll wait in your office?”
Griffin just nods once.
Henson gives me a big smile and disappears down the hall.
The moment he’s gone, the energy in the room shifts, as if someone sucked all the air out.
Griffin stares at me. “So this is what we’re doing now? Parading around the house in tight booty shorts and a bra?”
I blink.
Then I laugh. Because what?
“I will wear whatever I want where I want, Griffin.”
“Not in this house you won’t.”
I scoff. “This isn’t the first time I’ve worn workout clothes in this house, Griffin. You’ve never been bothered or noticed at all.” I tilt my head. “What is this really about, Hayes?”
His eyes flick to the door Henson walked through, then back to me.
My eyes widen. “Are you…” I pause, enjoying this way too much. “Jealous?”
He scoffs. “Of what?”
“That your friend saw me like this.”
“No. Why would I care?” He gestures vaguely at me, expression darkening. “It’s not like you were bent over, ass in the air, for him anyway.”
My mouth parts and a grin spreads across my face.
“Oh my God. You are jealous!”
Griffin’s nostrils flare as he steps closer. “I’m not.”
I don’t stop smiling. “Really?”
He towers in front of me now, close enough that I can smell cedar and the faint citrus soap he uses. His hungry eyes drag down my outfit.
“You think I care that Henson saw you?” His voice is dangerous in its calm. “I don’t.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Uh huh. Right.”
His gaze drops to my mouth, then he looks away, dragging his hand through his hair, muttering something under his breath that sounds a lot like Jesus Christ.
“You sure you’re not even just a little bit—”
“I’m not jealous,” he cuts me off, teeth clenched.
I open my mouth —no idea what I’m even about to say— when he suddenly moves even closer and it feels seismic.
His voice drops, rough and quiet. “You don’t get it, do you?”
My breath hitches. “Get what?”
His gaze is molten. “That it’s not about Henson.”
His hand twitches like he wants to touch me. I feel it like a pulse, making my heartbeat ridiculous.
Then—
“TIANAAAA!”
We both flinch.
Sy barrels through the sitting room, holding a new dinosaur toy.
Griffin steps back like he’s been caught doing something illegal.
“Look what I got! His name is ‘Butcher the brachiosaurus’!”
“Terrifying! I love him!” I exclaim, not daring to look back at his dad.
Sy beams and sprints off. Griffin watches him go, shoulders rising and falling. Then he turns back to me and raises an eyebrow. “You should put on a shirt… and pants,” he says to me and walks away, leaving me stunned.
Right at that moment, my phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s Mya.
I’m still riled up from my conversation with Griffin that I don’t even say hello when I pick up.
“Apparently,” I shout, “I can’t do yoga in the house anymore because Mr. Grump is jealous and doesn’t want me bending over where people can see.”
From somewhere down the hall, I hear, “I never said that!”
“Might as well have!” I bark back.
Mya cackles. “Oh my God, TJ.”
“I’m officially living with a man who thinks I should have modesty in my OWN SPACE!” I yell the last words. “It’s like being twelve again.”
“You lowkey love it,” Mya sing-songs.
I purse my lips, trying not to smile. “Only because he makes good coffee.”
“Like I said,” she repeats smugly. “You love it.”
I flop down onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. “Anyway, what’s new in your world? Please tell me something scandalous. I need to cleanse my brain.”
“Boy, do I have the scandal for you. So… Worth and I are getting married. In Paris.”
“What?” I gasp. “Really?”
“Yup.”
“You’re getting married-married.”
“Yup.”
“In Paris.”
“Yup.”
“Oh, okay. So you’re just casually getting married to your billionaire boss in France. As one does. How are you not freaking out about this?”
“I am freaking out but I’m trying not to! Why are you acting so surprised? You’re the one who convinced me to do this,” Mya argues.
“Fair point. Though, in my defense, this is practically the plot of an emotionally charged workplace romance.”
Mya groans.
“And second,” I continue, “it was for a good cause and you needed a paycheck. I didn’t know you’d get married this soon.”
“Out of context, it does sound insane,” Mya says.
“Oh, fully,” I chirp, and we break out into a fit of laughter.
“Bottom line, I need you to be a witness,” Mya adds.
“Duh! Oh my God. I have to get a dress.”
“Make sure it has a slit so high that if Griffin sees you in it he might actually pop a blood vessel,” Mya teases.
I burst out laughing. “This is why we’re sisters.” Then, I realize what she said. “Wait. Griffin is coming too?”
“Yeah. He’s the other witness.”
I bolt upright so hard I hit my chin on the coffee table. “Oh, no. You can’t tell him I’m going,” I whisper.
“Why?”
“Because he… he’ll—” I stop.
I don’t even know what he’ll do. Probably combust.
“He’ll do Griffin things,” I say finally.
“Griffin things?”
“Stare. Judge. Scowl. Exist too intensely,” I mutter.
“Right,” she says with a chuckle. “And are you sure that’s the only reason?”
I don’t reply for a long time.
Mya shrieks. “I KNEW IT!”
“Shut up,” I hiss. “Don’t say anything to him, MJ.”
She snorts. “Oh relax. It’s not like he can hear me through the phone.”
I look toward the hallway. It’s empty, but I swear I can feel Griffin there.