Page 86 of The Grump I Got Stuck With

Fat lot that would help. The damn reporters would just make something up.

“We know it’s been a wild few days,” Weston said.

They literally had no idea. This was my worst nightmare come back to life.

“Also wanted to make sure you hadn’t taken to shooting down the drones yet,” Locke said, walking around to my window to spy between the blinds.

There was an amused edge to his voice, and it rubbed me the wrong way. Nothing about this was funny. I gritted my teeth. “I’m fine.”

“You’ve said that every time we’ve texted,” Weston said, dropping down in the chair across from my desk. “But are you really fine?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I shot back, annoyed. First Alfie, now them. Was this going to be the day of everyone second-guessing me?

He exchanged a look with Locke. “Aside from the fact you went to see Jessica. Alone. You also broke things off with Madison the same night and⁠—”

“I’m fine,” I growled again. I hadn’t shared much with them other than we weren’t together anymore.

“Mate, you don’t have to lie to us,” Locke said. “I don’t think anyone would be handling this well.”

I bristled. Just because Madison and I had ended things didn’t mean I wasn’t handling this situation well. I was handling this fucking amazingly. The paps hadn’t gotten so much as a glimpse of me or Kenna since I’d left London. I hoped they were bored to tears, parked there outside the estate, freezing their arses off.

“You know, with everything going on,” Weston said, looking down at my desk. “I wonder if the best thing would be to take a step back from work for a while.”

Locke nodded. “We remember how rundown you got during the trial. If you take a breather, you can focus on⁠—”

“What, Kenna?” I snapped. Neither of them had any fucking clue how draining this situation actually was, but despite it all, I’d never lost sight of the fact I was a father first. “She’s always been my top priority.”

Weston blinked at me, a little shocked at my outburst. “I know. I’d never think otherwise.”

I curled my hand around the arm of my chair. I was more than capable of handling the invasion of the press, working, and taking care of my daughter. And with Madison and me no longer together, that was one less thread pulling at my attention.

“Look, mate,” Locke said, sitting down on the edge of my desk. “We’re just here to show support. Remind you that we’ve got your back. Say the word, and we’ll sic Weston’s homicidal pony on those camera crews.”

“What are you implying?” I said. “That I can’t handle this on my own?”

“Not at all,” Locke said, a line appearing between his eyebrows. “We’re just trying to remind you that you’re not on your own. And maybe cheer you up a bit.”

“I don’t need cheering. I’m not distraught,” I bit out. “Or whatever mess the press are painting me to be.”

The tabloid headlines had been scathing after my trip to London. Alistair Shaw runs right back to ex-girlfriend following her arrest…Billionaire lapdog at your service…It was ridiculous how they persisted in dragging me across the coals. I wasn’t going to let it shake me this time.

“We didn’t say you were a mess,” Locke argued.

I shook my head. “I don’t need you and Weston giving me advice like you actually understand.”

Locke scoffed. “You’re not the first guy to have his business and his life dragged through the mud. I had my own run-in with it last year.”

Was he actually kidding? Because he had one business deal fall through and a couple of media outlets mocked him over it for half a second? Did he really think that compared? “You have no concept of what it is to have your entire world picked apart by these vultures.”

“Mate, why are you taking every statement of concern as a criticism?” Weston asked.

“Why are you being like this?” Locke agreed.

“Because maybe I’m sick of everyone acting like they know what I need better than I do. What I need? Is to be left the hell alone,” I growled. “I think the two of you should leave.”

“Are you taking the piss?” Locke said. “We’re here because we care about you, and⁠—”

“And I’m telling you to take your care and shove it. You can see yourselves out.”