Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176 You Read My Mind

After school, Eloise dropped Noah off at VirtuFusion Group.

She brought him up to Grayson’s floor, but didn’t even step out of the elevator. She gave Noah a quick wave and left right away.

Noah, with his little backpack on, knocked on Grayson’s office door.

Grayson looked a bit surprised. “What brings you here?”

Noah closed the door, walked over to the couch, sat down, took off his backpack, and set it aside before looking at Grayson.

“Mom brought me here,” Noah replied.

Grayson glanced at the door. “Where’s your mom?”

Noah said, “She’s having dinner with Juliette tonight, so she asked you to look after me.”

Grayson frowned.

‘Classic Eloise. She just leaves her kid with me and goes off to enjoy herself, Grayson thought.

‘And the worst part is, she just left me behind, Grayson thought with a sigh.

He glanced at Noah, who was sitting across from him, swinging his legs.

“Go play by yourself. I’ll take you out for dinner when I’m done with work,” Grayson said.

“Okay,” Noah replied.

Noah slid off the couch and went to grab some toys.

There was a special area in Grayson’s office just for Noah’s toys and models. Some of them were even bought back when Grayson had no idea Noah was his son.

Father and son each went about their own business, quietly and without bothering each other.

Finn came in to drop off some documents and saw the scene. He thought, ‘Noah is such a well-behaved kid.

Finn had a nephew who was a year older than Noah, and that kid was a total handful. He could tear the house apart in no time and was always making a racket. Every time Finn visited, his nephew would pester him to play silly games or drag him out to buy stuff. Finn had never seen his nephew sit still for a second.

‘Mr. Pierce must’ve saved the galaxy in his last life to end up with such a well-behaved son,’ Finn thought. After Finn finished reporting to Grayson, he walked over to Noah and crouched down beside him. “I’ll play with you for a bit, okay?” Finn offered.

Noah looked up at him and said, “No thanks. You should get back to work.”

Finn smiled and left.

Once Grayson finished up his work, he shut down his computer, grabbed his coat, and stood up. “Let’s go.” Noah got up, strapped on his backpack, walked over to Grayson, and grabbed his hand.

Grayson looked over at him.

‘He’s so tiny, Grayson thought.

He bent down and scooped Noah up into his arms.

Noah’s face lit up with surprise and delight.

‘I’m getting bigger now. Mom struggles to carry me, but Dad picks me up like it’s nothing,’ he thought.

Noah wrapped his little arms around Grayson. “Can we have fried chicken, Dad?”

Grayson shot him a look. “You’re really pushing your luck.”

Even so, Grayson still took him out for fried chicken and burgers.

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Chapter 176 You Read My Mind

Watching Noah happily munching away across the table, Grayson warned, “Don’t tell your mom about this when we get back.”

Noah took a big bite of his chicken wing, his mouth all shiny with grease, and nodded his little head.

Grayson took a napkin and wiped Noah’s mouth for him.

After dinner, Eloise and Juliette headed to a chill bar and hung out for an hour.

Juliette had a few drinks, so Eloise drove her.

“Juliette, where do you want me to drop you off?” Eloise asked.

Juliette leaned back in her seat, a little tipsy, her cheeks flushed. Her lips parted as she murmured an address.

Eloise had never heard of that address before, but she guessed it was probably Colton’s place. She knew Juliette was living with Colton now.

When they pulled up to the gated community, the security guard recognized Juliette and waved them in.

“Juliette, which building is it?” Eloise asked.

The whole place only had eight buildings. It was that upscale.

Juliette slapped the car door. “This one! This one!”

Eloise had already passed it, so she backed up.

Juliette opened the door and got out, waving at Eloise. “Thanks for the ride, gorgeous. You can head home

now.”

Eloise looked at her. “Do you want me to walk you up?”

“No, no, I got this,” Juliette said.

Juliette stumbled into the building.

Eloise waited until she saw Juliette get into the elevator before starting the car and driving off.

Colton was lounging on the couch when he heard the front door’s keypad beeping nonstop, the unmistakable sound of someone messing up the code again and again.

He got up and opened the door, finding Juliette with her finger still pressed against the keypad.

As soon as she saw Colton, she grinned and ran straight into his arms.

Colton blinked in surprise but steadied her. “Did you have some drinks?”

Juliette just giggled.

“Just a little,” she said.

“Just a little? And you’re already this tipsy? Looks like you can’t handle your booze at all,” Colton teased.

Colton scooped her up around the waist and kicked the door shut behind them.

Juliette jabbed a finger at his chest, pouting. “Who says? I can totally hold my liquor. Wanna have a drinking contest?”

Colton glanced down at her. “Quit poking me.”

“Watch me! I’ll poke you all I want!” Juliette said, poking him playfully again and again.

Colton just stared at her, not saying a word.

Juliette was tossed onto the bed, her head spinning, and then Colton pinned her down.

Colton gazed at her, eyes smoldering. “Girl, you’re the one getting me all worked up.”

Juliette reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him down closer.

Suddenly, Juliette blurted out, “Why are you so ridiculously handsome, Colton? I’m totally obsessed with you.”

Colton couldn’t help but laugh.

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Chapter 176 You Read My Mind

“Let’s not break up, okay?” Juliette pouted.

Eloise parked the car, opened the door, and saw Grayson sitting on the couch with his laptop propped on his knees.

She was surprised for a moment and walked over. “You’re still up?” she asked.

Grayson looked up at her. “How could I sleep when you’re not back?”

Eloise smiled, sat down beside him, looped her arm through his, and leaned her head against his shoulder.

“What are you looking at?” she asked.

Eloise glanced at the screen. It was some overseas stock market graph, and honestly, she couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

All of Grayson’s gloom vanished as soon as Eloise cozied up next to him.

“Why did it take you so long?” he asked.

Eloise tilted her head. “We went to a chill bar after dinner and hung out for a bit. Juliette had a few too many drinks, so I had to drive her home.”

“You guys went to a bar?” Grayson asked.

“It was a chill bar,” Eloise said.

“What’s the difference? It’s all the same, you’re still drinking,” Grayson scoffed.

“I didn’t drink,” Eloise replied.

Grayson already knew she hadn’t had a drop.

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