Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

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Rhys instantly connected the dots to Grayson’s heartbreak from five years ago. “Wait, Grayson, are you telling me you’re still hung up on that woman?

“That’s ancient history, man. Why are you still carrying that torch? You gotta move on. What’s so great about a materialistic gold-digger anyway?

“That girl from the used car lot the other day, now she was something else. A real beauty. She’s got flawless skin, a great figure, and that beautiful hair.

“And I heard her speak. Her voice was so soft and gentle, so pleasing to the ear. It was just swoon-worthy.”

He didn’t get to finish his poetic description. Grayson moved with startling speed, grabbing Rhys by the collar and shoving him back against the plush sofa, his forearm pressing hard against Rhys’s chest.

“Hey, Grayson, that hurts! Let go,” Rhys wheezed, struggling.

Grayson loomed over him, his eyes blazing with a cold, dangerous fury. “Still think it’s swoon-worthy?”

It finally clicked for Rhys. Grayson was jealous because he’d complimented the girl’s voice.

“Fine, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have spoken about her like that. Now will you please let me go?” Rhys managed to choke out.

Grayson released him with a shove. Rhys sat up, rubbing his sore chest, thoroughly confused.

“Grayson, just tell me straight,” he said, exasperated. “Who is it you actually like? The one who dumped you five years ago, or this Eloise girl?”

He waited, but Grayson just downed another shot without answering. “You’re killing me here. Don’t tell me you like them both and you’re drinking yourself stupid because you feel guilty about being two-timing?”

Grayson shot him a

athering glance that could freeze lava. “Rhys,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “you should

seriously consider a career in screenwriting.”

Then Grayson dropped the bomb, his tone flat. “They’re the same person.”

Rhys stared blankly. “What? The same person? What do you mean?”

Grayson just looked at him with pure disdain, as if questioning his basic intelligence.

The penny finally dropped after a long, stunned pause. Rhys show up from the couch. “No way,” he shouted. “Eloise is the gold-digger?”

Grayson’s brow furrowed deeply, a fresh wave of irritation surfacing at Rhys’s choice of words. “Watch your mouth,” he warned, his voice dangerously quiet. “Say something like that again, and we’re done.”

He could think it, but he wouldn’t tolerate anyone else calling he that.

Rhys was speechless. “This is insane. He’s completely lost it.’

He took a moment to process the explosive news that the stunning, gentle-voiced Eloise was the very woman who had shattered Grayson years ago.

He found it hard to reconcile the image of that lovely girl with the label “gold-digger.”

Rhys wondered, ‘But then again, looks can be deceiving. The world is full of women with innocent faces and calculating hearts.

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Chapter 27

“Grayson,” Rhys said, adopting a more serious, brotherly tone. “You can’t let the same ship sink you twice.”

He believed that there were plenty of beautiful women in the world. If not this one, then another.

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But Grayson wasn’t like him. Rhys enjoyed the variety, never getting attached. Grayson, however, had a kind of emotional puritanism.

Back in their school days, countless girls had thrown themselves at him, and he’d never given them a second glance. In all these years, Eloise was the only one he’d ever seriously been with

Rhys vividly remembered a night about five years ago. Grayson had called him and Colton, sounding happier than they’d ever heard him. “I’m seeing someone,” he’d announced, his voice full of undisguised joy.

Both Rhys and Colton had been shocked, wondering what kind of girl could have captured Grayson. They’d demanded a photo. Grayson had refused, protective. “Why would I show you my girlfriend?”

But he’d promised, “I’ll bring her home to meet everyone during the holidays.”

Then, about two months later, Grayson had quit his job in Ucrevine and returned to Ekloland a broken man, listless and hollow, as if his soul had been sucked out.

That was when they’d learned he’d been dumped for being “poo” He’d hidden his true identity.

At the time, they’d all thought it was for the best. A woman like that wasn’t worth it.

Grayson drank until he passed out completely. Rhys had to halfcarry, half-drag him home to Vernal Road before finally leaving.

Sitting in his car afterward, Rhys tried calling Colton, wanting to discuss the whole unbelievable situation, but Colton didn’t

answer.

*****

For the next few days, Eloise didn’t see or hear from Grayson. Then, on Friday, while escorting a female client to her hotel for Beckett, Eloise ran into him.

Grayson was a striking figure in a impeccably tailored suit, exuding an aura of cold authority, surrounded by a retinue of similarly suited subordinates as they moved through the hotel lobby.

He saw Eloise. His cool gaze swept over her without a flicker of recognition, and he continued walking without breaking stride.

Eloise had prepared herself for. However he chose to act, she resolved to stay calm. She wouldn’t let this man dictate her

emotions.

She simply stepped to the side, waiting for the group to pass.

Finn, walking near the back, spotted her and offered a polite smile. “Ms. Caldwell.”

Eloise returned the nod. “Finn.”

Finn asked, “Here on business?”

“Just seeing off a client.” Eloise showed a polite smile,

Finn nodded. “Well, I’d better catch up.” With that, he hurried to rejoin the procession.

Eloise glanced once more at the tall, commanding figure at the ont of the group, then turned and walked away.

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Chapter 27

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The weekend arrived. Eloise took Noah to the library, a large, well-stocked one in the city center. Noah loved it there and could easily spend hours immersed in books.

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