*Grace*Caught off guard, my mind raced to comprehend why David's mother would be lingering in my building's entrance, claiming we needed to talk. I didn't even try to guess how she got my address. I assumed something like this was a piece of cake for someone like Margaret Anderson.Her imposing figure and her piercing blue eyes were fixed on me, making my blood run cold as I took a few more steps towards my building. Dressed immaculately in a tailored black suit, Margaret exuded an air of authority that was impossible to ignore.The cold air stung my cheeks and my heart beat erratically with anticipation and fear. The world seemed to pause around me, a silence enveloping the space between us. The distant hum of the city outside only served to heighten the tension that crackled in the air, and I had to clear my throat to utter a coherent sentence without looking like a scared kitten."Mrs. Anderson... I-I didn't expect to see you here," I stammered anyway, failing to hide my inse
*David*Stepping into the conference room that fateful morning felt like walking into the lion's den. My heart drummed a rapid beat, echoing in my ears, as I zeroed in on the man seated across the table.William Reynolds–my longtime business adversary and the thorn in my side that had plagued me for decades."You know, Anderson," he said as a greeting, a tight smile on his lips and his eyes glinting with malice. "I never expected to be summoned here. I must say you have surprised me."His words were laced with sarcasm, a dagger aimed directly at my heart. It was as if fate had conspired to intertwine our lives in the cruelest way possible–through our children. When I accepted Sarah's wedding to his son, I could never have foreseen the twisted turn of events that would bring us to this point.As I took my seat, I couldn't help but feel the weight of decades of rivalry settling between us. "Surprises keep life interesting, William," I quipped, attempting to diffuse the palpable te
*David*Coming into an agreement with William put me in a very good mood. I still wasn't completely confident he'd keep his word, but his lawyer did contact my office as he said he would, and the process to buy Sarah's shares back was already on-going.Now, I felt like I could finally breathe. There was still a lot to fix in my life–Sarah being the top priority–but I had also neglected Grace these past few days while I tried to solve the huge bomb my daughter had dropped on my lap.I felt guilt when I got Grace's message asking how I was doing. I should have reached out to her, at least told her I was okay. I said I was going to call her, but I hadn't, and I could see why she would be worried.As soon as I could, I made sure to reply to her text, telling her I'd call when things were solved, and now that they seemed to be, I was planning something for her. Something that would show her how much I appreciated her support and patience throughout this whole mess.The fact that Grac
*David*As soon as I finished planning my upcoming weekend with Grace–assuming she'd be free and willing to go along with my plans–I decided to head home. After the confrontation with Victoria, I started feeling emotionally drained and my head was pounding like hell, so I felt like I should just go home for the rest of the day.I got home before sunset and headed to the gym to work out. Maybe exhausting my muscles and body would make me sleep a bit better tonight. I hadn't been sleeping well lately, and I was eager to have a tranquil night of sleep for a change.The sudden sound of the doorbell ringing made me almost jump out of my skin. I got out of the treadmill, grabbing a towel to wipe my sweat as I headed to the living room. I wondered who knew I was home already. I hadn't contacted Grace yet, so there was no way it could be her. Right?My heart pounded in my chest as I reached for the doorknob, deep down expecting she had come to surprise me and I would be able to see her
*Grace*Needless to say that the following days after Margaret came to my building to threaten me were awful. Especially after I read David's answer to my text message. I didn't reply to him, of course–too scared to do anything and have Margaret on my doorstep again quicker than a thunder.For the thousandth time that week, I found myself rambling through my mind, trying to decide what to do. I spent the next few days as if my relationship with David was over. Because that's what it was, right? There was no way I could continue fighting for this love when everyone around us seemed to want to break us apart.I was being weak, I knew that. I could almost hear David's voice telling me to be brave, that our love was worth fighting for… My mother's words replayed in my mind over and over as I tried to convince myself that I should just ignore Margaret and live my life as I pleased.What would happen if I did that though? I would be lying if I said I didn't consider the implications be
*Grace*I stood by the window of my living room, staring out into the darkened streets below as I grappled with my emotions. My heart swelled with hope and happiness after Sarah's unexpected acceptance of my relationship with David, yet Margaret's chilling threats overshadowed my newfound joy. A knot tightened in my stomach, churning with doubt and fear. Could I ignore her warnings and choose to stay by David's side? Was he strong enough to protect us from his own mother's venomous wrath?As if summoned by my thoughts, my phone vibrated with an incoming call. The screen displayed David's name, my heart skipping a beat at the sight. He'd been silent for days, handling what I now knew were business issues. I felt anxious to answer his call, not knowing how to address him yet, but I was dying to hear his voice for so long, I couldn't simply not answer him now."Hello?" I answered hesitantly."Grace," his voice was a mix of urgency and anxiety, "can you let me in? I'm downstairs.
*Grace*David’s tongue danced with mine, making me moan against his mouth as he pinned me to the wall of my living room. "I missed you so much," I repeated against his mouth, my fingers instinctively threading through his hair."Me too. I couldn't sleep without you all these days," he replied hungrily, his arms pulling me closer, his gaze so intense that made my knees weak. His mouth found the curve of my neck and he began to place soft kisses against my skin, making me unconsciously tilt my head, granting him better access.David slid his hands up the sides of my body, softly grazing over my curves as his lips continued their path down my neck. When his fingers slipped under my shirt, finding me completely comfortable and loose without a bra, I flinched under his touch, preparing myself for his next move. He groaned against my skin, his tongue continuing to caress my neck as he took each breast in his hands, kneading them gently and brushing his thumbs across their sensitive
*Grace*When David surprised me by saying he wanted to take me on another trip, I immediately accepted, although he didn't want to tell me where we were going.What I would never have dreamed of was that it would be the majestic Swiss Alps.As David and I arrived, we were greeted by the breathtaking sight of snow-covered peaks–a heart-skipping, jaw-dropping kind of scenery. My excitement was through the roof as I took in the grandeur of our surroundings through the window of our rented car, and I couldn't help but get all giddy with anticipation and pure joy.This trip turned out to be a surprise-packed adventure, and I was already loving every second of it."David, it's absolutely stunning here," I breathed out as we reached the resort we'd be staying at, my voice filled with awe."Isn't it? I knew you would love it," he replied, his sharp blue eyes reflecting the mesmerizing landscape. I couldn't help but feel grateful for this unexpected escape from reality, a chance to expl