My eyes widen and I barely hold back a gasp. "You fucking-" I start, but he cuts me off.

His smile falls away, turning into a hard line as he leans down to me. "I told you, I won't be letting you marry Kris."

"How sick do you have to be, to take your dad's spot just to be able to kick me out?"

He steps to me. "I'm determined to keep you as far away from me, and my family, as possible."

We glare at each other and his face comes closer to me. I struggle to keep my breathing even as he stays at my eye level, but breathing in his familiar, tantalizing cologne scent is increasingly challenging me.

"Stay out of my way, Spencer," I warn him in a low voice, barely fighting off the daze gripping my mind.

"I have no reason to be afraid of you. It's pointless to throw warnings at me. In fact, you should be worried and threatened by me." He plants his hand on the top of the chair's backrest placed behind me.

I glare at him with all my might as I hold my ground.

"I can ruin you in a heartbeat," he whispers in a deep voice. "How the tables have turned, Gracie."

Goosebumps break over my arms and my breath hitches as butterflies flutter in my stomach.

Even though he's threatening me, my stupid body is growing hot... or maybe it's the room. I hope it's the goddamn room.

I gulp and wet my parched lips, never breaking our eye contact. "You-" I begin but he interrupts me.

"No, you listen. Leave, call off this wedding and live on your life, as far away from me as possible. The further, the better. Or if you decide to stay and cross your line, I'll tell William how half of your company can legally be mine." He raises a deliberate brow as if to emphasize his point.

"And I told you, stay the hell away from me and my plans, or else I'll ruin your reputation and your life." My voice comes out low and slightly rough but I ignore it, holding my chin up.

"You wouldn't dare."

"I can assure you, you don't wanna try me." I summon my courage and dare to go nearer to him, leaving almost no space between us. "You know me well enough to be sure if I go down, I never go alone."

"Fine," he gruffly says, leaning even closer to me. "The second you try to move against my family's business, you're done. A hint of you attempting to double-cross us and it'll turn into your biggest mistake."

"You're being an annoying thorn at my side. You know what I do with troublesome thorns?" I inch closer to him, tilting my head further back as he stares down at me. "I pluck them out and flick them aside. You don't wanna be that thorn, Spencer. And I don't understand, when your own father has no problem becoming my shield in front of Benjamin Stewart, what's your problem?"

He scowls at me. "So, you are going to use Judy Corp as your shield, let William take the blow for you, even if it might make him go bankrupt."

I shrug. "His choice, with no blackmailing or anything." I lay my palm on his chest, ignoring the sudden jolt of tingling sensations electrifying my palm, sending tendrils of longing to my heart.

He freezes for a beat as his muscles tense under my touch.

Tilting my head to the side, I add, "If you get in my way, I will ensure Benjamin takes down William before hitting the bottom. No one will even know it was me, so Spencer Wright, it's in your, and your family's, best interest if you don't stick your nose into my business. This is your last warning."

"I'd like to see you try," he challenges, his hot breath fanning over my face.

My heart pounds in my chest and thousands of knots tie and untie in my stomach and chest. The feeling is all too familiar, my body's been aching and longing for it for over five years. Now it's acting like a drug addict who has quit her addiction and after years gets a glimpse of the high the drug used to offer.

I steel myself against these overwhelming sensations, reminding my mind and body Spencer is no longer the man I used to love and care for, instead, he's my enemy, behaving like an obstacle.

A barrier I might need to crush and get over if need be.

"Believe me, you don't," I challenge back.

"I won't let you succeed," he breathes out, his husky voice seeps into me, creating a thick haze over my mind.

"I'm not the one to lose," I murmur, fighting every urge in my body singing to be closer to him. To just shut my eyes and lean into him. To his hard body and gentle touch.

The yearning is so fiercely strong it's almost painful.

We look into each other's eyes. Even though the longer I gaze into his beautiful dark blue orbs I sense myself sinking deeper into an ocean I'm no longer permitted to; I can't pull away.

Our heaving chests lightly brush each other with each of our pantings, and it tickles my already hyper-alert senses.

"I hate you," I mumble, fisting my hands so hard my nails painfully dig into my palms.

I hate you so fucking much, Spencer Wright. I hate you for leaving me. I hate you for not even giving me the chance to explain myself and for not even trying to forgive me. I hate you for letting me suffer through that horrendous heartbreak and affliction.

I hate you.

"Believe me sunshine, the feeling is mutual," he rasps.

My heart agonizingly clenches at the nickname. If I wasn't so immersed in his eyes, it might have brought tears too, but it doesn't. Perhaps I'm too busy fighting against the need to close this minimal space and crash my lips on his. Even though it's so horribly wrong.

But just for a moment.

Just to be able to feel what I used to feel back then.

Or maybe sense the lack of it, and be done with Spencer Wright once and for all.

Yet we don't move. Not one inch.

Even though I have to, I can't. It's as though his heated gaze has enchanted me.

A faint clicking sound comes, not strong enough to break us out of our little bubble.

But it's quickly followed by a voice, "Ma'am the-"

Erika's voice snaps me out of my dazed state and I pull away from Spencer, straightening myself and turning to the door as I tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear.

Looking like a deer caught in a headlight, Erika glances between Spencer and me.

Irritably I demand, "Yes, Erika?"

"Uh-" her gaze flickers between us once more before she clears her throat and focuses on me. Her cheeks tint red and she drops her head. "The interior designer and their staff have arrived."

"Very well, send them in." I round the desk, not sparing another glance at Spencer as I settle on my chair.

Hurriedly, Erika nods and flees.

I intertwine my fingers as I plant my elbows on my desk, finally shifting to Spencer.

He runs his hand through his hair and marches to the door.

"You know Spencer, it's kinda sad to see you still revolving your choices around me. If only you'd start focusing on your own relationship, trying to salvage it, instead of fussing over getting me away from your brother because you can't stand to see me with him-"

He barks a harsh laugh. "It's not I can't stand to see you with him, I simply cannot stand to see you, Gracie." He shoots me a glacial glare before leaving the room.

I stare after him, biting my lip and desperately trying to not acknowledge how his stupid words have the power to sting and hurt me.

Damn you, Spencer.

❦ ♥︎ ❦

Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, vote if you did, and comment your thoughts! Especially on him calling her 'sunshine'. Who remembers the little backstory behind the nickname from The Solution? =D And do you think can it possibly mean something? :}

I'm not gonna lie, I've been thinking for a while, about romance books' endings... and I have to say, I HATE endings that have an epilogue where it shows the main characters have married (or it's the marriage scene) and you kinda get to see them with their kids and whatnot. UGH, I hate that sort of ending. But kill off the main character, and I'll be OBSESSED...

Now you're wondering why I'm saying this :D I haven't decided how to end this book yet and my black soul is tickling my writing side of brain to give in to my favourite sort of ending. However, I'm giving you guys this chance to comment your ideas on endings [because you guys are literally the best and most loyal readers in the world, one I never thought I'll have :")]. I'll really feel guilty if I end up giving you guys a sad ending, since you've stuck around for so long.

So yeah, tell me your favourite type of ending (or even the ending you wish this story would have), and hopefully, it'll inspire me and I can finally sit down and outline this goddamn story and see where I'm taking it. If not, I think I'll end up flipping a coin or something, if it was head, then I kill off Gracie, if was tail I'll kill off Spencer :") [I'm 100% serious].

Thanks for reading this chapter! ^.^

The next chap will be up tomorrow (I hope).

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading ♡