“Grant!” I yell at the exact moment he lets the ball glide from his fingertips. The shock makes his throw a complete air ball. “My office. Now!”
A new round of “Ohhhhhs” rings out in the gym, but this time I’m not concerned with sparing him.
Travis shakes his head patting Grant on the back. “You’re in trouble.”
I pull open the gym door not waiting for Grant, but the metal clinks again when he reaches it. I’m in my office by the time he makes it over the threshold.
Standing behind my desk I wait for him to take a seat in the chair, but he doesn’t. “You can’t be here.”
He leans against my desk both palms flat, getting into my face. “Why not?”
Not to be intimidated I cross my arms and lean into him. “Because I haven’t approved your paperwork.” What better excuse than he doesn’t have clearance? State law and all that.
He smirks, leaning back and settling into the chair. One leg crossed over the other, suddenly he’s a man at ease. “Yes, you did.”
I leaned further across the desk. “No I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. When I played soccer this spring you ran and approved everyone.”
My mouth falls open in irritation, and I remember back to the day I ran checks on everyone in the RDA gang. I scowl.
“I still have copies at home if you want me to bring them in for you to look over.”
“No,” I grind out. I’m required to keep copies. They’re somewhere in the filing cabinet in the back of my office. “Well… you’re not my boyfriend.”
Yes, it’s ridiculous. But who does he think he is, coming in here and getting my guys to like him?
His smile grows. “Were we dating? Because we certainly didn’t break up. So if you thought we were dating before,” he pauses and I give him time to think about his next words. “Then I guess we still are.”
Why does this man insist on antagonizing me? He always thinks he has to have the last word. It’s annoying.
“Why are you here?” I give up and sit in my chair.
Grant props one leg on the other. Leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, he gets serious. “To apologize, beg for mercy, tell you what a moron I am.”
Well at least we agree on something. “Did you tell William?” I ask, worried about his answer.
I’m not worried William would hear the news and come looking for his daughter. I’m concerned because when Grant tells him I know he won’t get the reaction he wants. It will ruin the image Grant has of his long-time friend. Is it possible I’m more like my mother than I realize?
“Of course not, Clare. It’s not my story to tell.”
“Thank you.” We’re all saved from the soap opera that is my family. At least for today. I’ve worked too damn hard to get where I am to have that family fuck it up somehow. “So, what do we do now? I imagine you’ll see a lot of him.”
“I’ll work it out,” he says with authority. “You’ll never see him again.”
Is it possible? Would Grant choose me over his lifelong friend and business partner? I shouldn’t get happy over a ruined friendship, but a thrill rises up at the thought someone picked me.
“I’ll keep you far away from him for the length of the contract, and then when it’s over no more deals.”
I lean back in my chair shocked. This is what I get for thinking I’d be a first choice. “Didn’t you say it’s a five-year contract?”
Grant flinches and I hold out hope he sees how crazy this idea is.
“Clare,” he says my name sadly, but yet with a bit of reproach. Like I don’t know how the world works. “The terms of the contract are ironclad. There would be court battles, lost revenue, and two families absolutely torn apart.”
Once again I’m not worth the hassle. I sigh, tired with the whole thing and ready to finish this day and drink beer with Drew. Maybe his whole theory of baseball, pizza, and alcohol isn’t so far off.
“If you ever change your mind and decide you want to meet him, tell me.”
