Page 148

“Good. Good. In my brother’s office to ask why he’s so stupid.”

Graham chuckles from the doorway.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s enjoying this.

“Good!” Dutton says.

“That’s why we called,” Gavin adds. “Grace isn’t talking yet, and we don’t care how this started—well, maybe a little—but she needs you, and you need her. You need to come back here and talk to her. Unless … was this all really a ruse to get the CEO spot?”

“Are you guys kidding me? I would give up every piece of this company if it meant one more day with your sister, all right. She asked for space. I have to respect that.”

“Eh, to a degree,” Dutton says slowly. “You gave that to her, and that is great, but now you need to show up and fight for her. You need to show her that your love is invincible and—ouch, why did you punch me?”

“Because you need to stop reading those books with Brooke,” Gavin answers.

“Well, my knowledge is clearly helping right now, so no.”

“I agree with Dutton,” Paige says, looking at her husband. “I had to own up to what I did back when I met Graham and messed things up. We wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t. I know how stubborn Grace can be. You need to do something she can’t miss. Something that will be everywhere she is.”

“You need a reporter,” my father says from the doorway.

I’m glad he’s here. I was worried that he was angry about all this, but he’s grinning at me, so I don’t think that’s the case.

“I agree.” My mom rushes in and kisses me on the cheek. “Are you okay, dear?”

“I’m okay, Mom. Thank you.”

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. King!” Dutton and Gavin say in unison.

Cool, really fun family affair here. This intervention is great for me.

“Reporters are how we got into this mess,” I point out, just to be clear that everyone knows why this meeting is happening right now.

“So give them the true story and make sure you tell them everything you want Grace to know,” Paige says. “And I mean everything.”

“An exclusive,” Gavin says, and I don’t need to see his face to know he’s grinning.

“I know just who to call,” my father says and starts to walk out of the room but stops when Gavin speaks up.

“Hold on. That’s part two of why we are calling.”

He sounds nervous now, and I don’t like it.

“What’s going on?” I ask, hands on my desk as I lean down, as if being closer to the phone will help me somehow.

“Grace called a press conference already.”

“What? Why?” Paige takes the words right out of my mouth.

“She, um, she heard about the board contemplating rescinding their offer to make you CEO because of the lie, and she wants to set the story straight,” Dutton says quickly.

“Alone?” I snap.

“Looks like it. She did at least alert me to when they are coming.”

“Well, fucking tell me,” I snap, closing my computer and gathering anything I might need to work out of the office again. “I’ll get on a plane first thing in the morning.”

“That’s the thing,” Dutton says, and I really don’t like the hesitation.