Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

The younger assistant tended to rotate with the year and newest sexual harassment lawsuit. Tory had been with Beryl for most of his adult life.

“We’ve missed you,” Tory said. “The air around here is…”

Crushing. Demoralizing.

“Different,” she provided. “How long are you back for—”

“Grayson.” My grandfather’s voice cut her off and she froze, clearly not expecting him to have gotten out of his seat.

“Grandfather.”

I followed him into his office, past two petrified assistants.

He took a seat behind his massive desk, the New York skyline behind him. I fell into the wingback opposite.

“I’ve enjoyed the interviews,” he said. “You look like quite the happy family.”

Silence ticked on.

Smug fucking bastard.

“I can’t remember the last time you came to work,” he finally said. “If you’re coming for my throne, I know you’re not prepared to sit on it. What are you going to do? Take it and let the castle crumble?”

“I don’t want your fucking throne,” I gritted.

He leaned forward, chin on the tips of his fingers. “So why are you here?”

“To bargain. I’ll give you what you want. A puppet. I’ll take the photos. I’ll show up to the meetings. I’ll play nice. I’ll stop fighting.”

“And what do you want?”

“Her alive. Out of this world. Safe. That includes from West du Lac. If anything happens to her, you know what I’ll do. We both win. She’s gone; I’m here.”

“And how do you propose we do that, Grayson?”

“I know you wouldn’t have gone through with this wedding unless you had enough dirt on du Lac to fill a fucking graveyard.”

He arched a brow. “You want me to go against our new family?”

There was only one person Grandfather ever looked out for: Grandfather.

“She’s gone before Christmas.”

“I’ll need your assurances. You…” My grandfather tapped his fingertips. “Have a history.”

“I’m willing to do whatever you need.”

He leaned back, rubbing the salt-and-pepper shadow on his jaw. “It’s time to take your place by my side, Grayson, but you’ve always been weak. Soft.” I clenched my jaw as his eyes drifted over my shoulder. “Tory is getting too old to look at. Start by firing her. Then show up for work tomorrow.”

I stood up, ignoring the sludge in my stomach.

I put Story in this mess, and I would get her out of it, no matter the cost to me.

STORY

* * *

After Grayson left, I stayed in bed, trying to ignore my craving for suckers. It’s not fair. It’s not fair that I crave Gray on a chemical level.