Aria’s POV
I seriously thought about asking Grayson to terminate the contract
But after tossing and turning in bed all night, I still couldn’t make up my mind. By 6:30 in the morning. I dragged myself out of bed and went downstairs to get breakfast.
To my surprise, Grayson <b>was </b>already sitting in the dining room, sipping his morning coffee and reading the news on his tablet.
“Good morning,” he said when he saw meing down the stairs.
Morning,” I mumbled.
His face <b>was </bpletely calm. Like nothing had happenedst night in his bedroom.
“Do you have a minute to sit! I think we need to talk,” he said.
I walked over and sat across from him. Heced his fingers together on the table and stared at me
“I’m giving you a chance to end the contract,” he said.
held my breath. This was thest I expected from him. “I thought I wasn’t allowed to terminate it.”
“Under normal circumstances, yes. But I’m giving you <b>that </b>chance now. If anything that happenedst night crossed a line for you, you’re free to walk away. Right now.”
My fingers curled around the edge of my shirt. I fell <b>into </b>silence. He didn’t rush me just waited, patiently.
Finally, I whispered, “Do you even remember what you didst night? B–because the youst night and the you now.
“Are
very different?” he said calmly. “Butst night is also part of who I am. Now I’m in control of that darkness–But not always. <b>So </b>think carefully. Next time it happens, it’ll only get worse.”
A chill ran through me.
The feeling of being used, humiliated–I still hadn’t gotten over it. And now he was telling me <b>it </b>could get worse?
“What exactly happenedst <b>night</b>?” I asked quietly. “Why did you lose control?”
-You don’t need to know.” His reply was cold.
I bit my lip.
He was using me like <b>a </b><b>tool</b>–ignoring my feelings, my dignity–and I wasn’t even allowed <b>to </b><b>ask </b>questions.
He was locking me out of his world.
“I choose not to end the contract,” <b>I </b>said.
Surprise flickered in his eyes. I stared into those beautiful grey irises, my heart racing again.
Sure, money yed <b>a </b>part in my decision but at <b>the </b>end of the day…
I was hooked.
beautiful and dangerous. And I wanted to get closer. I wanted more.
“You have no idea how d I am to hear that, he smiled.
Then he slid <b>a </b>piece of paper across the table toward me.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“A list of open positions. You can choose any of them. I’m assuming you don’t want to stay home cooking forever!” he said<b>, </b>sipping his
<b>9:47 </b>AM
<b>? </b>
coffee.
I scanned the list–and my eyes went wide.
Holy shit.
These jobs were on a whole other level! Some of them were literally Jace’s dream positions. And now Grayson was casually offering
them to me.
“Wait, you mean <b>if </b>I <b>pick </b>one. I just get the job? No interviews? No vetting?” I stammered.
“Correct,” he said with <b>a </b>charming smile.
“But, I thought you <b>didn’t </b>want to interfere with my <b>job </b>stuff.. at <b>least </b>that’s what you said in your office…”
He paused. “Things changed, didn’t they? Back then, we hadn’t signed the contract. You weren’t mine yet”
He did it again.
He didn’t say anything romantic, and yet it still felt like <b>he </b><b>was </b><b>spoiling </b>me and I was somehow special. I hated <b>it</b>.
Isa
So do you have any suggestions?” I asked<b>, </b>avoiding his eyes. . “Where do you <b>think </b>I fit best?”
“Marketing. It matches your background the most. But if you want to stay far away from Jace
“No need,” I blurted out
He raised an eyebrow.
I <b>took </b><b>a </b>deep breath. “He already fucked up my life once. <b>I </b>won’t let him do it again. Send me to marketing. I’ll show <b>him </b>who the real top sales closer is.”
This time, I was taking back everything I lost
Grayson smiled<b>–</b>and it was devastatingly handsome..
“That’s my girl,” he said.
Third Person POV
Jace was in a terrible mood today.
Last night, he <b>was </b>supposed to <b>take </b><b>his </b><b>rich </b>and beautiful wife to a fancy restaurade. They’d enjoy thousand–dor caviar and <b>a </b>bottle of absurdly expensive wine while admiring the city skyline.
But instead, she brought up the prenup,
Way to ruin the night, Delh. A prenup? Seriously? They were married–weren’t loving couples supposed to share everything! She <b>said </b>that in her damn vows!
<b>So </b>he mmed the door in her face and <b>walked </b>out. If she <b>wanted </b>to bring up ridiculous <b>ideas</b>, then she deserved a little <b>punishment</b>. One night apart should be enough to make her rethink
He slept in his own apartment and <b>came </b>into <b>work </b><b>this morning</b>. The second he stepped into the office, his <b>phone </b>buzzed <b>with </b><b>a </b>message from her.
[Sorry babe, bert the prenup is non–negotiable. My brother insists on it But this doesn’t change anything–I still love you.]
“FUCK!” he roared, chucking his phone at the wall. It exploded into pieces.
Fucking bullshit. She wouldn’t even share a dime of her Hart family wealth. What kind of “<b>love</b>” was <b>thath </b>
9:47 AM
<b>Chapter </b>II
And Grayson Hart. Fucking arrogant bastard. Grayson just got lucky and <b>was </b>born into the right family, handed all that money and power on a silver tter. If he had been born a Hart, he would’ve done even better. Way better.
So just wait.
One day, he’d rece Grayson. He’d be the one in control of the entire Hart.
Knock Knock Knock
Jace <b>instantly </b>wiped the fury from his face and stered on his usual charming smile. “Come in
La waltzed in, wearing a tight bodycon dress with cleavage spilling <b>out </b><b>of </b>the neckline. “<b>Wanna </b>grab <b>lunch </b>together, <b>Jace</b>?”
“Of course. One second
She smirked and leaned against his desk, fingers trailing along his bicep. “I thought you’d forget about me once you married Delh.”
“Come on. Nothing’s changing between <b>us</b>.
He’d his chance to fuck her, but never did. She was a hot <b>slut</b>, sure, but had a big mouth. Too risky. Thest thing he needed was her bbing.
<b>But </b>if Delh kept ying hardball with that prenup, he wouldn’t mind using La to blow off some steam
“Hey, did you hear?” she said casually as he grabbed his jacket. “Jonathan got fired.”
“What? Why?”
Jonathan was one of his boys. They <b>hit </b>the same strip clubs.
“You’re not gonna believe this. He ran into <b>Aria </b>while doing a site visit at one of the Apex grocery <b>stores</b>. Turns out she started working there after she got fired. But something happened, and boom–Jonathan was out, and she got rehired as Marketing Director!”
Jace’s jacket slipped from his hand. He red at her
“No fucking way.”
“I know! I couldn’t believe it either. Didn’t you give HR proof she tanked <b>a </b>million dor deal? How the hell is she back<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“You must’ve heard wrong,” <b>he </b>snapped.
you
“I swear I didn’t. I literally just saw her in the marketing department before <b>I </b>came here. Today’s her first day–Wait! Where <b>are </b>y going?!”
He shoved <b>past </b>her and stormed out the door.
He sprinted down the hallway and skidded to a halt near the marketing floor.
And there she was.
Wearing a <b>crisp </b>white <b>suit </b>and matching heels<b>, </b>she glowed. Her beautiful face was lightly made up, and her smile was radiant. She looked more confident and captivating than ever. Every guy she passed turned their head.
No. Fucking. <b>Way</b>.