Chapter Three

/-Emily-/

I managed to get out of the chaos that was the paparazzi. Just who exactly was Grayson that he had that amount of paparazzi following him around everywhere? I was now at the hospital, straight from Grayson’s penthouse, like I had promised Ryan, my brother.

By the time I arrived at his bed, he was still sleeping. The nose thingy was over his mouth, and the heart monitor was beeping in response to the rise and fall of his chest.

I searched for Grayson Knight on the internet, and what I saw blew my mind.

He was a multi-billionaire and the owner and CEO of Knight Industries, which comprised major companies scattered across the country.

My eyes widened as I saw pictures and articles of him. One article in particular caught my attention. It was a gossip site that discussed his reputation with women. I went through the pictures that were posted of him with several women; some looked like models, while others resembled your typical girl next door, like me.

Something settled in my stomach, and I pushed it back down. Suddenly, an article notification popped up, and I clicked on it.

Shock went through my entire body. The article had my face plastered on it. My heart dropped.

What was going on? I hurriedly read through the article. It said I was Grayson’s next plaything, and they wondered how long he would last with me before he moved on to another person.

My heart jumped in my ears as I read the disgusting comments in the comment section.

“All these women are dirty, letting Grayson Knight use them like this.”

“Tsk. Tsk. Another of his whores.”

“She looks like she can fuck, though; I wouldn't blame him.”

With every comment I read, the lump in my throat got bigger and bigger, and before I knew it, I started sobbing. Not wanting to wake Ryan, I immediately moved to the bathroom, hurriedly sitting on the toilet seat and letting my tears flow.

I made one stupid decision, just one, and this is what happens. My shoulders shook as the words flashed in my mind.

“She's such a whore.”

“Slut.”

My sobs echoed in the bathroom. My phone pinged, and with teary eyes, I read the text that came into my phone.

“The deal's off. Maybe next time you should think twice about who you sleep with.”

My sobs grew louder. That was a client I had signed a deal with concerning making art paintings for a kindergarten school. The money I would have earned from it wasn't a lot, but it would have been enough to pay part of my debts.

My shoulders shook as my tears poured. Why was my life such a mess? Why couldn't things just go right for me?

I cried for what felt like forever until I got a hold of myself, washed my face, and headed back to where Ryan was still sleeping. Part of me was grateful that he wasn't awake to see the mess I was.

As I got back to the chair, my phone vibrated; an unknown number flashed on my screen. My thumb hovered over the screen.

What if it was paparazzi that somehow got my number to ask more stilted questions? Or, I tilted my head, what if it was a potential client who didn't care about the news surrounding me and needed one of my paintings?

That thought alone made me pick up. “Hello.”

There was silence. “Emily. It's me, Grayson Knight.”

My heart thumped in my ears, and my eyes widened. Confusion. Shock. Dislike. They all eroded my mind.

I settled for dislike; that seemed to fuel a light in me. “How did you get my number?” I said, snapping at him. He was the reason I was in this mess, and I wanted nothing to do with him.

“I asked your boss,” came his voice, low and deep.

My fingers clenched into a fist. Of course. “What do you want? You said we would never seek each other out.” I gritted out.

“Listen, we need to meet. I know something that can get us both out of this situation.”

My brow raised. “Tell me.”

“I can't. Not over the phone. Like I said, we need to meet.”

My teeth ground, and I looked heavenward. Why couldn't he just tell me? The last thing I wanted was to be seen with him again. But if what he was saying was true, I didn't want to lose the chance.

“Fine. Text me where you are. And not your penthouse.”

Grayson was in a fitted suit as he sat at the table across from me. We were in a restaurant, and there was no one else with us apart from the cook who came to take our orders.

I raised a brow at him. “Did you rent the place out?”

“Yes.”

I gave him an incredulous look, my jaw almost dropping. That was a lot of money.

“We need the privacy.”

Of course, he had the money to spend. I cleared my throat. “What is it? The thing that can get me out of this mess?” I asked, taking note of his demeanor.

He no longer had that teasing glint in his eyes or that smirk on his lips. Instead, I saw a void in his eyes I couldn't quite place. His lips were held in a firm line.

“I know about your family's debt, the problem with your parents' house, and your brother's health challenge.”

That threw me off. I narrowed my eyes. “Are you stalking me?”

“I simply ran a background check on you,” he replied casually, the cold still evident in his tone.

I looked at him, appalled. “Why would you do that?”

He hesitated before speaking. “I needed to be sure you wouldn't turn down my offer.”

I was sure he could see the confusion on my face. “What offer?”

A few seconds passed before he spoke. “As you've already figured out, my reputation, especially with women, isn't a good one, and that has affected my business in more ways than I can count. It's why I need you.”

I reared back. “Me? Shouldn't you be staying away from me instead?”

“No. You would be helping me build back my reputation.”

I blinked. “What?”

“If you marry me, at least for a year, I would help clear all your family debts, get back your parents' house, and get your brother treated and on a lifetime medical insurance.” The way he spoke was casual, but his words were anything but.

My eyes widened, and I blinked vigorously, trying to comprehend what he just said.

He continued, “Say yes, and after a contract is signed, everything would commence.”

I walked in a daze back to my parents' house. Grayson's offer was too good to be true. But the paper documents he had dropped on the table suggested that his offer was indeed true. The sun followed me as I walked, sending a trail of sweat down my spine.

As I got to the front porch, a jeep rolled by, stopping right in front of the house. I raised my brows.

The window on the driver's side rolled down, revealing my uncle's face, which held disdain.

My spine straightened as I braced myself for whatever he was about to say.

“You’re still here?” He didn't bother to come down from the vehicle.

“I am,” I said, with a jutted chin.

“You are just as stubborn and strong-headed as your mother. Whatever wings you're riding on, I'll soon break them, and then I'll see if you are anything better than the whore they call you over the internet.”

My hands clenched at my side as I glared at him.

“I'm giving you until tomorrow to leave, or else I'll send my men to chase you out with your things.”

My heart dropped. I opened my mouth to speak—

“I don't care if you and your brother sleep on the streets.” With that, he zoomed off.

My knees buckled, and I fell to the ground. I let out a curse, running a hand through my hair.

I hadn't given Grayson an answer about his proposal because I was skeptical about it. But now, I needed nothing more. It was enough to get me and Ryan out of this mess before things got worse.

I hastily reached into my purse and retrieved my phone with shaking hands. I dialed Grayson, who picked up on the first ring like he had been waiting for my call.

“I'm in.”

Right now, I would do anything to get out of this hellhole. Anything.