GRACE

"Alright. Good day sir." I ended the call I just had with my former boss, Mr. Cumming, and a huge sigh escaped me. I was about to replay the details of our discussion when I stopped myself. I decided it would be better to pretend the conversation never happened and proceeded to head for the living room where Ruby and Jeremy were having a serious class as usual.

It has been a week since Ruby's health breakdown and even though I insisted that she rested some more, she refused and said that she would prefer to resume her classes.

"Mr. Powers just came in. He asked about you," Jeremy informed me as soon as I sat down. The man flashed me a knowing smile and I rolled my eyes at him. But his smile soon turned into a small frown. "Hey, are you fine?"

I guess the effect the earlier conversation had on me was still written all over me. Immediately, I added extra perkiness to make sure I was pretending very well.

Then, I replied, "Yeah, I am. Why?"

"I don't know. You suddenly don't seem very happy."

"Hmm." My lips twitched and I decided it was time to leave that place before Jeremy could determine what was wrong with me. So, I pointed to the stairs and asked, "Did you say that he is upstairs?"

"He is upstairs."

I smiled in response and waltzed to Dominic's room. Though I can pretend to myself and others about the recent development in my life, I can't do that in front of Dominic. I feel the need to tell him about it.

Seconds later, his gruff voice ushered me in and I carefully entered, closing the door as quietly as I could.

"There's my sweetness." I walked into his outstretched arms and he fully engulfed me into his seated figure. He then looked up at me and asked, "What is wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"You don't look... You don't seem like yourself."

My eyelids hooded my eyes and when I opened them moments later, a shaky breath left me. "My former boss called."

Dominic settled me on his lap, as though I was a child, a loved child.

"Is he troubling you?" he asked.

"He wants me to work for the company again." The squeeze my heart felt while I was having that conversation came back and my eyes flickered to Dominic whose line of sight was now averted.

"Oh," the tone of his voice was not as strong as before. "What was your response?"

My arms went around his neck. "I told him that I will think about it. But he wants us to meet at least once before I make my decision."

Silence engulfed the atmosphere and I remained on his lap, my fingers playing with one another. And as the quietude increased, I decided to fully acknowledge that things were possibly about to change. This is certainly a moment I did not expect. At all.

"Will you accept his proposal?" Dominic asked at a point where the silence started to lean toward awkwardness.

A deep exhale was the first response I gave. "I don't know, Dominic. The job was my dream for a long time. So, when I was fired, I felt terrible. So, I should be excited about going back. But," our eyes met, "the mere thought of leaving Ruby and you makes me sad."

"Grace, I agree that it will suck that I might not get to see your beautiful face every day. And yes, Ruby will miss you." His arms snaked my waist. "But we are talking about your dream job. So, I strongly feel that you should not let this opportunity go."

"I know. But..."

"Grace, you are part of our family now. Even if you have to stop living with us anymore, we can always arrange to meet because I will freaking miss you so much. I will make sure I always look for excuses to regularly reach you."

His words made my heart race with warmth, many things danced in my belly as well. A gentle smile tugged my lips and I reached for his cheek. "That is so lovely to hear, Dominic. But my decision is not settled yet. I guess I'll be seeing Mr. Cumming tomorrow."

"Cumming?" Dominic's nose twitched in amusement.

"Oh, trust me. Despite the temptation, we could never make fun of our boss's name. He can be a fun boss but he is scary when he's angry."

He chuckled and planted a kiss on my left cheek.

"I guess I will be watching Ruby tomorrow." I nodded and further swum in the heart-fluttering moment, my cheek resting on his forehead, my eyes closed. "Make sure to wear a disguise though," he added.

"Why?"

"Oh, you will find out. Just put on a disguise."

********

As I ran into the room that used to be my office, I jammed my back against the door and tried to catch my breath.

Of all things that could happen, I didn't think that I would be chased into my former workplace by freaking paparazzi!

It happened really fast.

One moment I was having debates in my mind. Next, out of nowhere, cameras started flashing and many ridiculous questions filled my ears.

It took a miracle to get out of their encirclement.

And thank God I was able to escape.

As I gradually achieved steady breathing, I dragged off the scarf that was wrapped around my head and took off the sunglasses that covered more than my eyes. It is a huge shame that my disguise didn't work.

When I looked into the mirror in the penthouse, I thought I looked unrecognisable.

I proceeded to look around the room, nostalgia gradually set in as I recalled the moment that led me to secure a suitable position in the company. Shortly after Kyle's death, I became very obsessed with my work so much that after a short while, I got promoted.

It really is a big shame that I destroyed my new position by indulging in another distraction.

I caressed the smoothness of the desk that used to be mine. And it sort of delighted me that no one occupied it after I left. Now that I might be coming back, there will be no awkward moments when trying to claim desks.

Trust me, office-related conflicts can be super weird.

"Grace." A bit startled, my palm resting on my beating chest, I turned to face Mr. Cumming who opened the door and leaned against the frame, a large smile on his lips.

"Oh." I was relieved. "I thought it was one of the paparazzi."

"I apologise about that. They have been lurking around for the past few weeks to see if they can get information about you. I should have remembered to warn you about them when we talked over the phone."

"I did wear a disguise but..." I displayed my scarf and sunglasses to show that they failed to do the work.

Mr. Cumming closed the door behind him and asked me to have my seat. After we got settled, he began, "I don't wish to waste your time. So, I will go straight to the point. Like I said yesterday, we would like you to come back to work for us."

"Why the sudden... ?"

"I feel rather ashamed to be the one admitting this, but your recent relationship with the billionaire, Mr. Powers will benefit our company immensely." My brows lifted in perplexity. "The board thinks that your consistent presence in the company is enough to benefit us publicity-wise. Of course, there will be more bonuses for you, we are even considering making you the face of our website."

My eyes narrowed and Mr. Cumming must have taken that as a hint to continue talking.

"Hmm..." His hands further gesticulated. "Once you are back to your position, it would be nice if you help facilitate a relationship with Mr. Powers."

"Huh." I was greatly overwhelmed with disbelief, so I did nothing but nod my head for a couple of seconds while his words played over and over in my head. After a while, one of my fingers pushed out as I asked, "Did I hear wrong?"

"What?"

"I know that I am the reason I lost my job in the first place. But there's no denying that I did a great job when I was still sane. So, why?"

The man adjusted in his seat, he appeared to be a little concerned about my reaction. He must have thought I would jump for joy.

"Mr. Cumming, why are you giving me the job because of the man I am dating? Why is it not because I am talented and diligent?"

"Well..." He cleared his throat. "Of course you are. We are just trying to facilitate..."

I got up, there was no way I was going to sit and listen to such nonsense. "Mr. Cumming, facilitate all you want. But I will not be coming back to this job." The man did not hide his surprise. "It is very nice to know the real reason you offered me a job. So I would like to thank you for making my decision easier."

"Miss Sands..."

I reached for my disguises and glared at him before I made for the door. When I was almost out of the room, I turned to give him one last piece of my mind and said, "You know what? You should be ashamed of yourself, Mr. Cumming."

And I stormed out, my entire being bidding goodbye to the company that will continue to occupy a huge part of my memories. I put my disguise in place and decided to take a route that would inevitably lead to my house if I walked.

That made me consider paying my apartment a visit. It has been a while since I saw the walls of my home and spending some time alone wouldn't hurt. So, I found my way to the rarely used door at the rear of the building.

Glad that it was not locked, I ventured to the empty alley that was the starting point of my foot journey.

After a few steps, my phone chimed. I felt reluctant to open the message that arrived since I was still trying to cool off the effect my earlier meeting had on my soul. But I opened the message eventually.

And like the last one, it was a warning. A warning that made chills wrap around my soul.

YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE JOB, DEAR GRACE. NOW WATCH AS I TAKE JOY IN DEALING WITH YOU FOR BEING NEXT TO DOMINIC.