My hair is still damp, and Julia's mood is still sour from an hour ago before I escaped to shower. I take a small sip from my whiskey as I watch the skyline visible from the glass window. The lights of other buildings take up the stars' responsibility in this polluted city.

My mind wanders off to far places... places it should not visit, like the first time Gracie came here and how she looked out at the city lights with wide eyes.

She probably already knows, but she has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen... I don't recall ever telling her that back then. I should've though.

I sigh and shake my head. No use thinking about the past. Even though after kissing her, that's all I've been thinking about.

As exhaustion slowly makes it harder to stay focused and unaffected to intruding, spiraling thoughts, I find myself wondering about Gracie way too many times. If I could've lived with the mortification of it, I might have even admitted I miss her like crazy from the second we got out of her private jet and she left with her driver.

If only I could feel her and touch her again, even a mindless caress...

"Yesterday I spoke to Amanda," Julia starts, snapping me out of my reverie.

I quizzically look at her and lift a brow.

She shifts on the armchair and crosses her legs. "She said they're planning to set the wedding date about two months away from now, she doesn't want it to be in the middle of winter."

The wedding. I gulp and I glance down at the glass in my hand. Two months only? That's too soon.

"You do want to marry me, right?"

I close my eyes and inhale deeply through my nose and count backward hoping to curb the sudden flare of irritation.

Each time, when your first instinct is to lash out, or show any irrational behavior as your instant reaction, and you hold yourself back, you're restructuring the neurons connected inside the brain. With each of these decisions, one bridge weakens as another one forms, shaping and reshaping one's personality.

During these few weeks, ever since Gracie has re-entered my life, I'm damn sure at this point, probably half of my brain's neuron connections have been broken and reconstructed.

When I open my eyes, I'm somewhat in control of my tempter and manage to utter in a steady voice, "We've been through this, Julia. Of course, I want to marry you."

She purses her lips. I hold back a groan. It's clear as a day she's not willing to give up this damn conversation just yet. Doesn't she get tired of repeating the same shit day in and out?

"Well, it doesn't look like that. At least not to me."

I heave a sigh and place my glass on the coffee table a few paces away from me before shifting to face her directly. "Why's that?"

"Did you see your ex during this business meeting?"

Incredulously, I stare at her. She plants her wine glass on the coffee table and holds my gaze expectantly.

"Not with this nonsense again," I groan and lean back to the seat. "I'm not cheating on you." I fix my eyes on our bedroom door.

"Fine then, who did you meet? What did you discuss?"

I rub my forehead and glare at her. "Have I ever asked you what you do during your business meetings and the countless trips you've gone on through these three years?" I straighten on my spot and push my glasses up. "Have I ever asked you who meet?"

Unabashedly, she keeps on staring at me.

For a split second, my stupid, useless brain compares Julia to Gracie. She never used to demand answers from me... though we hadn't reached this level in our relationship. I shouldn't compare them, I suppose Julia has a right to ask, but it's just too much. Perhaps because I'm guilty and she is right. I was with another woman after all. My infamous ex.

Revolting.

"I understand our engagement is not out of love. You made that clear early on that you don't love me, and it's a matter of convenience for both of us-"

"Exactly," I sharply interrupt her. "Then why do keep circling back to my ex?"

"Because you're not even telling me her name."

"We had a deal. You don't ask about the person I was with after our first break up, and I won't ask you to tell me the reason why agreed to be with me again."

She twists the ring on her finger, her mouth setting into a straight line, the corners slightly arch downwards. "You were always a cold man, and I was used to it. But now you're being distant too. Sure, we agreed to that, but I need to know if there's another woman in your life."

"There isn't," I mutter.

"You act like you don't even give a damn about me. You think I don't notice ever since that gathering at William's place you've been acting weird. You barely even touch me. You leave earlier than usual in the mornings. When you come back, you lock yourself in your stupid study like you're running away from me. And now you're not even willing to convince your dad to become my company's investor."

I clench my jaw as I scowl at her. "Is this what's all about? You need money from me?"

"Spencer-" she starts, in a softer tone but I cut her off.

"What? Don't bother denying, it's obvious." I stand up, making her rise to her feet too. "Have you ever thought maybe I need a fucking break? The second I step into the house you start with the usual nonsense. Every fucking thing circles back to 'when we're going to marry!'"

"Well maybe if you give me a goddamn date after six fucking months, I won't keep on asking the same damn question!" she yells.

I hold up my palm for a beat before pointing at myself. "Can't you see I'm not in the right headspace for shit like marriage date!"

"Shit?" she echoes with surprise as her features twist with anger. "Our marriage is shit for you? Might I remind you; you were the one who came to me, you were the one who wanted me back, and you were the one who proposed!" she shrieks.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes, and inhale deeply. A small voice in the back of my head suggests I might have made a mistake but I snuff it out.

Calmer and more composed, I open my eyes and push my glasses up. "I need to lock myself in my study because you're not giving me space to breathe. Yes, I came to you, and I proposed, but that does not mean in every waking second of my day I have to do whatever you want me to do. I have a shit ton of work I need to get done. I have a fucking company to look after, and I have to watch out for every step Gracie takes against my dad. And all you care about is fixing a date and getting married. Stop pressurizing me so much."

"Of course." She crosses her arms in front of her chest and presses her lips to a thin line, nodding sardonically. "Of fucking course." She throws her hands up and I stare at her with confusion.

"Gracie Stewart," she mutters and spins on her heels.

I frown, growing even more confused, and slightly irritated from the way she said her name, as Julia starts pacing the living room.

"Everything always comes back to Gracie Stewart, doesn't it?" She halts and faces me.

"What's your problem with her?" I ask, my voice coming out way harsher than it should've. Instant regret floods me, but studying Julia's face ensures me she either didn't notice or doesn't care.

"Ever since she has entered your family, everything has gone to shit. You start acting up, then you suddenly become the CEO of Judy Corp. William can't invest in my company, because, again, Gracie Stewart is a ticking bomb for yours. If I even want to choose my wedding date, I have to first check what that bitch is doing and if it's okay with her."

I clench my jaw in attempt to cage the irrational words threatening to spit out. I fist my hands, sensing the skin pulling tightly over my knuckles, and without looking I can tell my knuckles have gone white. Deep breaths in and out, I control my sudden burst of anger but can't stop myself from glaring at her.

Suddenly, I can't even stand to look at Julia's face. At least not without wanting to shout at her for talking about Gracie like that.

She has no right to talk about Gracie in that way. Technically Gracie has done nothing wrong to her... but maybe she should. Just to show her what it truly means to have your life screwed by the one and only Gracie Stewart.

I freeze as the thought passes my mind.

Holy shit! What's wrong with me!

Is Gracie's crazy rubbing off on me?

Christ! I really need to stay away from her.

"You're being unreasonably dramatic," I say, just to have responded to her comment and stop her from assuming I wasn't listening.

Her eyes widen and her lips pull back in a sneer, she opens her mouth and rages on, "What the hell! She's ruining everything-"

I harshly cut her off, "No she's not. And she's going to be a part of this shitshow for quite some time, so you better get used to it. This is how Wright family works. If you can't stand it, the door is right there." I point at the wall with the entrance door on its other side, surprising both of us.

She gapes at me, her hands falling limply at her side. Julia opens and closes her mouth like a fish multiple times before finally finding her voice, "How could you?" She pushes her hair aside from her face and takes a step toward me. "Where is this even coming from?"

I groan and shove my hands through my hair. "I have not had a single night of peace, Julia, have you noticed that?" I hold up my index finger. "Not even one, ever since I asked you to marry me."

She purses her lips and looks away.

"I keep on telling you I'm not in the right headspace, that I need time, my life has turned upside down. Yet every single night you find something to argue over just because something is not going according to what you want."

"I'm sorry," she flatly says.

I scrutinize her, and it doesn't take a genius to tell she doesn't mean it one bit. But I'm in no place to complain, I got myself into this mess.

I'm no fool, I know I'm not a man who can easily be loved, accepted or whatever. Anyone who has ever bothered to be with me was because I was in one way or another, mainly financially, beneficial to them. Including Gracie.

Although, not once have I allowed myself to note Julia might be here, with me, putting up with everything because she found out I'm William Wright's eldest son, having a huge chunk of Judy Corp and Wright family's wealth adorning my bank balances. At times like this, it gets impossibly hard to not consider this matter.

But again, I'm in no place to complain. I knew it, saw the gleam of greed in her eyes when I met her at a restaurant and asked her to get back together. Probably one of my biggest mistakes, but I've been making terrible mistakes quite a lot in these few years, what's with adding one more to the pile?

At least, when we started dating again, I was able to push Gracie out of my head one hundred percent, and could have easily claimed I'd moved on.

However, with Gracie back in the picture, it's not that easy anymore.

"Stop pressurizing me so much, we'll get married when the right time comes." Which should hopefully be after getting Gracie out of my life.

"Fine, I won't, but I can't wait forever either."

I nod and push my glasses up. "Just let things settle down and see how everything with Gracie and MK enterprise unfolds."

Julia crosses her arms in front of her chest and holds her head high. "I just think it's unfair she's being treated like a goddamn royal-"

"Julia!" I interject and she halts, rolling her eyes.

I shake my head and walk off to my study, locking the door, and letting the lights stay off. With heavy steps I make way around the desk and flump down on the chair, resting my head on the backrest.

I gaze out of the window for a long time. Long enough sleep slowly fogs up my head but I get rid of it with a cup of black coffee, and switch on the lights, and start to go through the company's files and tomorrow's meetings.

Well past midnight, I wrap up the work I wanted to do and contemplate if I should try to get ahead of my schedule when my phone buzzes with a text notification, snapping my concentration.

I check the time and it's two in the morning and my frown deepens. I grab my phone from the corner of the desk and read the message.

"I bet you're up and trying your hardest not to think about me."

I unlock my phone and reread the text before pondering over the unknown number.

It can't be... she doesn't have my number. But why the hell does the message read like something Gracie would say?

I shake my head and curse myself, and Gracie, as my heart ferociously pounds away in my chest. I'm back to square one, relating anything and everything to her.

My finger hovers over the delete icon, but some unrecognizable force is stopping me from pressing it.

Instead, I do the craziest thing I can, I call the number.

On the first ring, the call is received and the sounds from the other line snatches my breath away.

Gracie's soft giggles fill in the line and my heart skips a beat as my mouth hangs open.

"I knew you were awake," she says, and I can hear the satisfied smile spread across her face.

A million thoughts rush through my mind before I manage to utter out, "How did you get my number?"

"Probably the same way you found out the time I was leaving for Vegas. Do I need to remind you? I'm good with numbers too, Spencer."

My breath catches in my throat from the way my name rolls off her tongue. I close my eyes and inhale deeply. Focus. "What do you want?"

"Aww, aren't you impressed?"

I can envision her, tilting her head, feigning innocent curiosity with widening her eyes. "Gracie," I warn.

She sighs, "Fine." Faint ruffling sounds follow before she speaks again. "We need to talk."

If an ounce of sleep was lingering in my system after the coffee, it evaporates and I instantly get alert.

"Can you come over?"

"Right now?" I keep my voice low, glancing over the monitor and seeing the living area is dark, no light slithers through the narrow space between the door and the floor.

She hums instead of answering.

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Your point?" she asks, sounding bored.

"Can't it wait for tomorrow?"

"Nope."

What is it with women and getting on my last nerve these days? I draw in a sharp breath, and open my mouth but before I get a word out, Gracie speaks in a soft whisper, "We need to be alone."

My mind immediately brings forth the memories of last night along with the other times we slept with each other, five years ago.

She giggles when I don't answer. I clench my jaw, even though my heart is racing like crazy and my left leg bounces with anticipation.

"Don't worry, it's nothing... torturous for you, just got some information on Mason's accident and I wanted to talk to you about it in private."

"We can talk tomorrow aft-"

She cuts me off, "No! I..." her voice trails down. "I want you here tonight," she murmurs, the suggestive tone in her voice buzzes my senses, titillating me.

I gulp and shift on my seat.

Damn you, Gracie.

"Oh, come on, Spencer, we both know you're not with Julia right now. In fact, I'm sure you can't sleep with her anymore, especially not right after being with me."

I don't need to see her to be able to tell she's beaming, with a playful smirk, and mischief gleaming in her eyes.

I rub my forehead, hoping against hope she's not being serious. Or if she is, it's only because of her sky-high confidence and not because she knows me... or is aware of the grip she has over me.

"Gracie-"

"Please," she drawls, keeping her voice soft and coy, making it absurdly hard for me to stay put. "We'll just talk... don't you want me to not marry Kristian? This might be it."

I glare at the wall across from me. She knows how to play her cards; I have to give her that. Or maybe I'm too screwed that I fall for them each time.

"Spencer," she murmurs. Her voice is doing stupid things to me, and I can't resist it, not after I slept with her only twenty-four hours ago.

"I'm not coming," I force out the words, the effort of keeping them stern is almost painful.

"You will come for me. I'm waiting for you."

I open my mouth to argue but she hangs up.

Unbelievable! I stare at my phone's screen for a long moment before cursing her and tossing it aside.

I spin the chair and face the window, glowering at the somewhat empty streets.

Her soft voice keeps echoing and reverberating in my head. I squeeze my eyes shut, and images of last night, and our kiss from today flit about my mind and I snap my eyes open.

To see her alone, away from prying eyes, to hear her voice... and maybe even feel her touch again- Fuck.

I shove my hands through my hair. My leg bounces at its own accord as half of me stays mortified that I'm actually thinking all these things. The other half of me, foolishly, considers taking her up on her offer.

Suddenly the prospect of seeing her is too enthralling to ignore. The urge to be with her again rapidly grows stronger.

I spring to my feet and pace the room, war raging inside of me.

It's wrong. Wanting to see her, at this time of the night while my fiancée is probably asleep in the next room is so damn wrong.

Yet...

The idea of meeting her again, sends a world-shattering rush of excitement through me.

It's always been like this. Gracie Stewart is the superlative, brilliant thrill in my life.

My drug.

I stare at the window as my resolve slowly fades away and exhilaration courses through my veins. I grab my keys and phone, before rushing out of the study, and sneak out of my apartment.

I can't even bring myself to be mad at her for this.

What are you doing to me, Gracie?

❦ ♥︎ ❦

Aahhh I'm super excited for the next 2 chaps ^.^

Tell me your thoughts on Julia :}

And also, were you expecting that Spencer would give in to meet Gracie? Or did it surprise you? xD Comment your thoughts on Spencer, his thoughts for Gracie, and his relationship with Julia. I'd love to hear your opinions =D

I was supposed to update way earlier, but I ended up writing a detailed outline for this book (took about 3hrs :") ) and then I started reading Punk 57 :")) [because it kept popping up on TikTok vids and my for you page xD] and a few hrs after that the books I had ordered came in, and I ended up reading The Godfather (because I'm writing mafia romance, and what better book than Mario Puzo's Godfather to make me understand the entire mafia thingy xD although now I'm depressed because my book won't ever be as good as that, but hey, thankfully writing is my hobby and not my occupation, so I guess it's alright lol). Anyway, sorry about the delay :) hopefully the coming chaps will be uploaded on time =)

I also want to thank you guys for answering my previous chapter's questions. Sure, now I'm worried out of my mind, because probably everyone will hate the ending of *that book*, but I can't imagine any other ending... so I guess the (thankfully few) readers kinda have to make do with it :')

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, vote if you did, and comment your thoughts. The next chapters will be up tomorrow. (Yes, we'll be having a double update ^.^)

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading ♡