"You broke her heart, asshole. Did you really think the money would make it better?” She scoffs.
Guilt rears its ugly head. I know I broke her heart. She begged me not to, told me she loved me, and I told her the car was waiting.
I don’t need Kacey to tell me I’m an asshole, I already know. "She went home to Michigan. Can’t even stand being in this city, the one that she loves, because of you.” Kacey's voice cracks slightly. "She loved you, you absolute waste of space. Actually loved you. And you destroyed her."
I never wanted to hurt Grace, and I despise myself for it. I was trying to protect her, keep her safe from my family and all the drama that comes with us.
She turns to leave, then spins back. Picking up the whiskey glass, she flicks her wrist, unloading the contents onto me. For a moment, my brain short circuits, and I'm back to that night months ago when the glass tumbled from Grace's hand and coated me in liquid. The look of horror on her face.
Kacey doesn't look horrified, though. She looks righteous in her anger.
"You know what the worst part is? She still defends you. Still says that she knew what she was getting into and it’s her fault for getting attached." Her voice drops to a whisper that somehow cuts deeper than her shouting. "She's protecting the man who broke her heart. Because that's who Grace is."
Then she disappears into the crowd, leaving me staring at my reflection in the bourbon.
"Well…" Gabe says quietly, his eyes still following Kacey as she struts away. "That was illuminating."
“She’s right,” I say. “I am a fucking idiot.”
I pushed Grace away becauseIwas scared. And for what? So I can be CEO and be just like my father? The man who bribedsomeone to kill my wife? So I can lead a company that preaches wellness while only lining my pockets?
“I think I want to quit.” The words burst from my lips. It’s something I’ve been thinking since the moment I learned my father tried to have my wife killed.
I tried several times. I thought about going to my father’s house and telling him I’m done. I envisioned the scenario in a thousand different ways. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Isn’t this what I worked for? Why do I want to give it up?
But the truth is, it’s cost me so much. And I hate it. I hate unwinding my father’s messes. I hate having to pretend that he’s not a monster. And I hate that I chose this company over Grace.
“Then quit,” Gabe says. “And I’m not saying that because I want to be CEO, trust me, Ash, I don’t. I’m saying it as your brother. You don’t need this company; you could go and do anything you want wherever you want.
“And what about Dad?”
The corner of Gabe’s lips twitch. “I have a plan for Dear Ol’ Dad.”
Is this it? Is this what I’m finally doing? Choosing myself over my family? Over the company?
“Fuck this.” Slamming my hand down on the table, I push to my feet again. Gabe is smiling now.
“Go get her,” is all he says.
“I’m going to.”
I make a call on the way to the airport, and as soon as my father answers, I say two words: “I quit.” And then I hang up, not wanting to hear what he has to say next. After finding the address for Grace’s home in Cedar Falls, MI, and sending it to my pilot, I turn off my phone.
I don’t need any connection to my family or the business right now. All I need is Grace.
NEW STORY IDEAS
We meet the heroine in her tragically boring life. Maybe she’s broke?
The heroine is rescued from her average life by the enigmatic billionaire.
