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I stand in front of the microphone, about to open my mouth, when I see her walk through the door.
CHAPTER 22
JADE
There’s something about the sight of Grayson in a suit that makes me think I should turn around and run out of the room before I make a fool of myself.
I take a deep breath, sliding along the back wall and trying to stay hidden. The last thing I want to do is have people notice me arriving late. It would look worse than not coming at all, especially since it looks like I’m walking into the middle of Grayson’s speech.
Lara sidles up to me, looking stunning in a pale gold dress that hugs her body to perfection. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to be here tonight.”
“I almost wasn’t.” I smooth down the wrinkles in the bodice of my dress, trying to breathe even though my chest feels impossibly tight.
She loops her arm through mine, squeezing tight. “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you didn’t show. I’ve been giving him hell over the last week. He really does seem upset by what he did.”
I shrug. “I’m happy that he’s getting everything he wants, but I think there are things more important than finally pleasing your father enough for him to stop holding the family company over your head.”
“Well, you’re right about that.”
Grayson clears his throat, the microphone whining a little, feedback screeching through the room.
I wince, ears ringing as he chuckles, his face turning red.
“I’m not good at speeches,” Grayson says, his voice warm and friendly as he looks around. “And I’m going to share something about me that most of you probably already know, but it’s that I’m even worse at relationships.”
Leo smirks and takes a step back, his eyes glued to his son.
My heart leaps into my throat as I watch him, and just when I’m about to look away, his gaze locks on mine.
I don’t know what to do. It feels like I’m frozen to the spot, but at the same time, I want to run away.
This is too much. I don’t know what I was thinking when I came here tonight. I could have just stayed home and worked on planning my trip. I could have gone over to my mom’s house and cried on her shoulder some more.
Maybe I should have. Maybe she would have talked some sense into me. She might have told me that chasing after Grayson again is too much. That I should stop thinking that he’s ever going to come around and see that I’m here for him, regardless of the title he holds.
Grayson gives a nervous chuckle as he looks around the room. “I didn’t think that I would be standing here right now, to tell you the truth. In the last week, I’ve done a fine job of blowing up everything good in my life.”
Lara leans into me, her lips close to my ear. “I think he’s talking about you.”
My cheeks are on fire. “There’s no way. He wouldn’t ruin the moment by putting his flaws out there for everyone to see. This is everything he’s been waiting for.”
“I thinkyou’reeverything he’s been waiting for,” she says with a smug smile.
I roll my eyes, my heart racing like a runaway train.
Grayson has worked for this his entire life. He wouldn’t sacrifice the glory just to prove something to me.
At least, I don’t think he would.
The microphone squeaks again, but it’s less violent this time.
Grayson shakes his head. “See? Even when I’m trying to make things right, things keep going wrong.”
People around the room chuckle and shake their heads, smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths.
“Over the last three months, I got to work with the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. Jade Harper is a nightmare of a woman. She never takes no for an answer, and I don’t think I’ve seen anything that’s capable of standing in her way. She keeps pushing harder and harder. That’s what she did with me.”
Tears blur the edges of my vision as I lean closer to Lara. “I don’t think I can be here for this.”
