Grayson
Dammit. I should never have let her go but what the fuck? If she doesn’t want to be with me, so be it. Then, why the hell does it hurt so? Maybe I was too rough and scared her off? I was pretty sure I took good care of her.
For me, the sex was mind blowing.
This totally sucks.
My phone rings and it’s the nurse I hired for my dad. “Mr. Grayson? The doctors think your dad may have pneumonia. You should come.”
“Be right there.” Could this day get any worse?
Fuck. I pick up my phone and text Slate.
Me: I need to go to the hospital
Slate: Give me five. Meet you downstairs.
While we ride uptown, I’m so worried about Isabella that I badger Slate. “Did she say anything? Why she had to go?”
“Not a thing.” He eyes me in the rearview, a concerned look on his face and I glower back.
“So, tell me. Why do you think she left?”
He snorts out a laugh. “You’re asking me? A confirmed bachelor?” Then he gets serious. “Jack has shared some stuff about Melanie Quinn.”
“She’s the wife of that famous quarterback, CJ, right?”
“Yeah. Apparently, Mel had a tough time of it as a kid and made this group therapy thing that you found out about. These women, they’ve got issues. If you’re not serious about Isabella, you should let her go, Gray. She’s had enough grief in her life.”
Damn. That sure as hell is not what I expected to hear. “How do I even know if I’m serious? I just met her.”
Slate shrugs and we ride the rest of the way in silence. Then, I leave him with the limo, head up to intensive care, and sit with my dad for a couple hours while he sleeps.
While I wait, it dawns on me that I may be just like him, or maybe worse. At least my father was married and had me. I got no one. Never have.
There’s no one to blame but myself and up until Isabella I was fine with being alone. It takes a hell of a lot of time to make sure my businesses stay healthy. If you add on being CEO for my dad, I practically live for my job.
I try to recall my last vacation and come up blank. I’d spent some time in the Bahamas last year but was researching offshore accounts for tax purposes. The woman I’d taken with me… Was it, Bambi? Oh man, she was pissed.
I leave the hospital after making sure my dad is getting the best care possible. They ask about morphine and I give my consent. I’ll do what it takes to make him comfortable for his last days.
I just wish I could feel something for him but is it surprising? I don’t know him at all. He wasn’t around when I was growing up and later, was always on my case, someone to be avoided at all costs.
Is this my legacy? A preview of what I am to become?
Maybe that’s what Isabella sees when she looks at me and maybe that’s why she left. Damn her for awakening feelings better left dead.
Later, back at my office, I check my emails. My lawyers have Monty tied up in court and I have a meeting with the accountants in an hour. No doubt I’ll have some good news for my dad before he passes.
Then, Xavier walks into my office, looking like shit.
“We need to talk.” His clothes look like he’s slept in them and there’s dark circles under his eyes.
“Okay. Let’s hear it.” I put another pod into my coffee maker and place my mug under the spout.
“Isabella? She’s taking us to court.” He flops into my guest chair.
There’s no way she’d sleep with me and then sue me but he doesn’t know that. “I’ll call my dad’s lawyers and put them on it. Is there anything else I should know?”
He shakes his head, no. “Do you know where she went? She didn’t come in today.”
“No. Why?” An uncomfortable vibe fills the room as I eye my friend across the small desk that used to belong to Jeanine.
Suddenly, his perfected mask breaks into an ugly sneer. “Women. So fucking unreliable. That’s why I never hire them, except the pretty ones.”
“You’re kidding, right?” I think back to what Isabella said about the company’s attitude coming from the top. I thought she meant my dad but now it’s clear that she meant Xavier.
“I’m sure she has a good reason.” I eye him over my mug as his color returns to normal and he raises an eyebrow.
“I’m sure she does, like being up all night, fucking a certain CEO?”
How would he know unless he had us followed?
A feeling like someone walked over my grave hits me and my eyes narrow. “Just what are you trying to say?”
“Nothing. We wouldn’t want it to go public, that’s all I’m saying. Christ. You need to chill.” He rises slowly out of his chair and strides to the door.
Then, almost as an afterthought, turns his head and adds, “The accountants are waiting for you in the conference room. I got to hit the head, then I’ll join you.”
I walk down the hall and take a deep breath before entering the room. Three men with grim faces sit in the corner of a table meant to seat twenty. On the far wall, the projector beams the beginning of a Power Point Presentation.
I stride behind the primary accountant’s computer. “Forget the dog and pony show. What did you find?”
He hits a few keys, and a spreadsheet pops up. “You’re going to want to call the Feds, Gray. You’ve got some serious problems.”
My eyes go to what they have circled in red. “Oh shit. How did my dad let this happen?”
“Xavier is good. Real good. We had to call in experts from the home office but it’s right there in black and white. He’s embezzled over thirty million dollars.”
Ah shit. All my hopes of going public any time soon shatter. How could my best friend do this to me?
My fists clench as my heart pounds. “Dammit. I just left him in my office. Why the hell isn’t he in cuffs?”
“Sign here if you want to press charges.”
I take the pen and sign where they’ve highlighted. What a fucking idiot I’ve been.
Suddenly, all the hairs on my arm stand on end. The attempts on my life? Izzy’s? That had to be him.
I pick up my cell and try to call her but get voice mail. Then, I text. Then I try the driver, Jack.
When there’s no answer I call Slate. “I can’t reach Jack, can you?”
“Just a sec.” He puts me on hold, then gets back to me. “I’ll get the car. Meet me out front.”
At that point I try calling the State Police and use all my influence to get someone out to the cabin. Apparently, snow is falling heavily up there and it may take a couple hours to get to her.
I turn to the waiting accountants. “Shit. I need to go. Please, call my lawyer, he’ll see to the legal stuff.”
In the elevator, I call security to make sure Xavier doesn’t leave the building but am told he already exited and took a cab.
I make sure he won’t be allowed back in the building and insist they call the police if he shows up but I highly doubt it.
The elevator dings, I dash past the lobby guard, and out the door where Slate is waiting by my jeep. I hop in, he slams the passenger door, and jumps behind the wheel.
While he waits to pull into traffic, I ask, “Were you able to get ahold of her?”
“No, but I’m sure she’s fine. I sent one of my Marine buddies to guard her. Why? What’s up?
“Fucking Xavier. Stole a few million out from under my father’s nose. Do you know how much that guy makes in bonuses? Damn. I can’t believe this.”
“Did they get him?” Slate eyes me and screeches around a corner through a yellow light.
“No. He slipped out of the building before the police got there.”
“Okay. You keep trying Isabella. My buddy’s number is there on my phone. Try him, too.”