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“Grayson…”
He pressed his lips together and looked away. “You can’t leave, Josie.”
“I have to,” I whispered.
“The company won’t survive without you.”
I scrunched my face in disbelief.
“You run our most popular segment,” he continued. “If you go, our readers will follow.”
My temper sparked. “Is this how you plan on keeping me around? Emotional blackmail?”
He shook his head. “Regardless of our situation, I care about this magazine and that’s the truth.”
The blood drained from my face as Grayson’s eyes confirmed his words. “Can I work from home then?”
“What? Why?”
“Because I can’t sit here and see you every day and pretend everything is okay. So, unless you plan to leave, we’ll need to find another solution.”
Grayson’s expression softened as he reached for the tear on my cheek. “Josie, it doesn’t have to be like this.”
I flinched away from his touch. “I’ve already told you. I’ll never be that girl.”
With a frustrated growl, Grayson spun around and just when I thought he was about to leave, he closed the door and returned to the visitor’s chair.
“What are you doing?” I asked, narrowing my eyes as he made himself comfortable.
He leant forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “You need to listen to what I have to say.”
“We’re at work, someone may hear you,” I whispered, glancing out into the empty corridor.
“I don’t fucking care at this point. I’ve tried to keep this out of the office, but you’ve left me no choice.”
I sunk into the chair, crossing my arms. “Fine.”
“My father is threatening to ruin your career.”
“What?” I gasped, sitting back up.
“If I don’t marry Melanie, he made it very clear you’ll never work for any publication again.”
My eyes grew wide with panic. “He can do that?”
“He’s a powerful man with a lot of connections. I have no doubt he’ll follow through with his threat if he suspects anything is going on between us. That’s why I haven’t called or texted you, he’ll be looking at our phone records.”
“He would stoop that low?”
“There’s a reason Harlow Corp. have broken all the biggest stories. He has eyes and ears everywhere.”
Swallowing down my fear, I slowly gazed around my office wondering if it was bugged.
Grayson lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry, Josie.”
“How could he make such a cruel request?” My stomach churned.
“That’s the way he operates.”
