GraceI grit my jaw, barely controlling the rage that makes my blood boil. “ Maybe you know people that do things like that, Mr. Costello, but I am not like them. Please refrain from verbal harassment. ”“ Verbal harassment? ” He snarls, shooting up from his seat. I clench my hands into fists, standing my ground. “ Yes, Mr. Costello. It’s verbal harassment. You are saying things that are making me uncomfortable. ”He rounds the table with a speed that makes me take a step back.“ You think you are all that just because you slept with a higher-up, huh? ” He sneers, closing the distance between us. “ but you are just one of their adventures. They don’t give a fuck what happens with you down here as long as they have paid you by getting you this job. ” “ Why do you assume that I got this job because of a vulgar reason like that? ” My eyes narrow on him.He sizes me up, from head to toe, his gaze leering. Uncomfortably, I shift my weight from one foot to another.Suddenly, he grabs my u
Grace“ What happened to your feet? ”Surprised, I look down, and my nose scrunches. My feet don’t seem to be in a good condition.“ I spilled coffee on— ”I pick up my head and get stunned into silence. Tristin is already halfway across the office, approaching me with long strides. I close my hanging jaw and swallow. He rolls his sleeves up, displaying his veiny arms and blank ink peeking from underneath the white shirt. My gaze lowers to his forearms before I quickly lift my eyes to his face again. He stops one step away, his eyes narrowed on my feet.“ Who did it? ” He inquires in a grave voice. My shoulders stiffen. “ I spilled coffee on my feet accidentally. ”“ And you are walking around instead of applying ointment on the burns? ” Slowly, his eyes find mine, and a strange emotion flashes across them.“ I…didn’t get…the time. ” I whisper, uneasy about how he is investigating the whole situation.“ You didn’t get the time for what? ” He asks and grabs my arm without warning.“
GraceEthan’s gaze traces Tristin’s figure before dropping on my legs, his jacket, and slowly meeting my gaze again.His eyes become intense, almost promising torture and pain. If looks could kill, I would be long dead.“ Ah, Ethan Calder. ” Tristin rises, a cold smile playing on his lips.Ethan doesn’t take his eyes off me. It makes me nervous, and ashamed. It feels like I got caught doing something wrong.But I was not doing…anything like that.That line of thoughts makes me stiffen. Even if I do something wrong, what does it mean to Ethan?! It’s not like he is a saint.“ You are desperate for a divorce. Can’t wait to get in your lover’s bed without any remorse? ” Ethan scoffs, each word dripping with venom.I narrow my eyes on him. “ You are the one who was desperate for divorce, did you forget?! ”“ You refused it then. You were so whiny about leaving me. ” He walks closer, his eyes fixed solely on me.“ I was a fool back then. I didn’t know how cruel you were! ” I reply, standing
Grace“ Let me see. ” Tristin lifts his hand towards me, disregarding my words altogether.I sigh sarcastically. “ there is no need. I know just how much you care about these things. ”“ Grace. ” His voice hardens. I press my lips in a thin line and get to my wobbly legs. I need to get this through my head—if Ethan is a calculative man, Tristin is not too different. They are men of power, bred and raised into this cruel world to get whatever they want at any cost. Their care is only reserved for the people they find useful.“ I told you before, I will pay the price for your help. And I know that’s what you want. So as long as we are on the same side, you can drop the nice act and remain your true self—the man you were just now. The man who didn’t think twice before saying… ” I trail off, unable to keep going.My gaze lowers to his neutral eyes. For a second there, I was comparing him to others in my life, and believing that he is a little better than them.In that moment, I forgot w
GraceAfter surviving Mr. Costello’s taunts and jabs for the rest of the day, I feel like fainting. The side of my head has gone numb by the time I step out of the tall tower. To add to my misery, it’s raining. Workers rush to their cars in the parking or hail cabs to get home while I stand in front of the tower, looking around.My phone buzzes in my hand, making me sigh and glance at the message. As expected, it’s Lily.She could never stop herself from texting me to meet after watching the video that was circulating everywhere.I open her texts and read them.—We are sisters, Grace. How can you stoop so low as you try to harm my reputation? I roll my eyes at the tone she used. She still thinks she can manipulate me.The next text reads: I am ready to forgive you if you come over and meet at Club Euphoria at 8. I have made reservations in the VIP room. Just tell them my name and they will lead you up.I go over the two texts numerous times. Hate brews in my heart, while anger threa
GraceThe man walking me up the stairs opens the VIP reserved room. I don’t step inside until my eyes fall on Lily who is already lounging on the couch, glaring at the people dancing on the dance floor below.Instantly, a wave of anger and disdain runs down my body, taking over every inch of me.Every time that I see her, I hear her voice from that day. ‘ You stole what was mine. I never share, Gracie. You should have known. ’It’s like a constant jab at my heart before I recall what followed. The memories of bleeding out on the road and losing one thing that mattered the most to me, at the hands of the people I loved and trusted…Those memories will never leave me alone.“ Grace. ” Lily hisses, like a snake, and my trance breaks.I direct my neutral gaze at her. She smiles, her lips curling into a threatening gesture.“ Come take a seat. ” I take small steps towards the red couch opposite her and sit there, my eyes remaining on her coldly.“ Gracie. ” She sighs, leaning back.I take
Grace“ Catch her. ” The four men in the distance yell, sprinting towards me.My phone drops on the floor. I bend down to pick it up, only to see them closing in on me. So, I rise and make a run for it again.The doors of the VIP rooms on this floor are closed. The staff members who see those men chasing me only step aside to give them way instead of saving me or asking the men why they are after me.My breaths come out in pants as I take support of the wall and continue to stumble forth.What if…Tristin doesn’t come?Fear fuels my instinct to run faster but the drug’s effects are making it harder by the moment for me to see, to walk without stumbling over my feet.The heat has become a dangerous molten lava under my skin, making me shudder and writhe with every labored breath in.“ Do you think you can run away? ” The voice of the man from behind sounds so close to me.I glance over my shoulder, my blurry sight finding their wicked faces lit with leering grins. My feet tangle and I f
Grace“ I will help you. ” I hear his voice, so close to my lips.“ Tristin. ” I whimper, my lips pressing to his neck again.I am so aroused and needy that I feel like I will lose my mind if I don’t do something about it.My mind is in a haze, completely disconnected with reality.My fingers weave in his hair, scratching his scalp while my lips trail a path down his skin, roaming every inch of him that I can find.“ Grace. ” He calls me out. “ You will regret this. I am not Ethan. I am Tristin. ”His voice hits a cord deep inside me, making a full body shudder roll over me.“ I-I know. ” But I can’t stop.His warm breaths hit my ear, pushing me over the edge of control. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing myself to stop.This is wrong. So wrong Grace.The ache turns into a pain so strong that it makes me struggle in his arms. I can sense him moving quickly while he talks to Luca.“ Take these men. And let them know what happens when they touch a woman without her consent. ” His v