Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Eloise had been about to tell Grayson about Noah, but before she could finish her coffee, he had whisked her away to the Pierce Manor.

It was a sprawling, stately complex that took her breath away with its scale and elegance. It took a full five minutes just to walk from the imposing gates to the main residence.

“Grayson, let go of me. I can walk by myself,” Eloise protested, trying to pull her wrist from his grip.

“No,” Grayson replied, his fingers tightening gently. “I won’t let go. I’m afraid you’ll run.”

Eloise gave up struggling, her heart a confused mess.

Hannah was already waiting by the grand entrance, her face breaking into a delighted, crinkly-eyed smile the moment she saw Grayson holding Eloise’s hand.

“My future granddaughter-in-law, you’re here,” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

Eloise’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Mrs. Pierce, I’m really not…”

“Oh, pish-posh,” Hannah interrupted with a mischievous wink. “Holding hands and still denying it? I may be old, but I’m not blind.”

Eloise sighed inwardly, realizing further explanation was futile.

Grayson, seeing an opportunity, leaned in and said to his grandmother, “I brought your future granddaughter-in-law, just as you asked, Grandma. Is lunch ready?”

His words effectively cemented the ‘future granddaughter-in-law narrative in Hannah’s mind.

Eloise shot him a sharp, warning look. “Don’t say things like that

Grayson merely smiled, a faint, unrepentant curve of his lips, ignoring her silent fury. “Grandma, your future granddaughter-in-law is hungry. Shall we eat?”

Hannah didn’t question his sudden change of tune. If he was acknowledging Eloise now, that was all the confirmation she needed.

Beaming, she linked her arm through Eloise’s and led her inside. “Everything’s ready. We were just waiting for you two.” Eloise was ushered into a magnificent dining room. A long, polished table was laden with an elaborate feast.

Hannah took her place at the head of the table, pulling Eloise in the seat beside her. Grayson sat down on Eloise’s other side

Hannah began piling delicacies onto Eloise’s plate. “Fat, my dear Don’t be shy. Make yourself at home here,” she urged, her eyes kind

“Thank you, Mrs. Pierce, Eloise murmured. taking a susall, polize bite.

“Is it to your taste?” Hannah asked.

“It’s delicious, Eloise said sincerely.

“Then have more. Hannah smiled

Eloise plate promptly received several more additions served by Grayson. Eloise glanced at him, a silent protest in her eyes,

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Chapter 34

but he just smiled innocently. She lowered her head and continued eating.

Halfway through the meal, Eloise’s phone buzzed. It was Beckett

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“Excuse me for a moment,” she said, rising and stepping out into the hallway to take the call. “Mr. Hayes?”

The moment she was out of earshot, Hannah leaned toward Grayson, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. “So, what changed your mind, Grayson?”

Grayson glanced at the gossipy old lady. “I brought her home, din’t I? That’s all you need to know,” he deflected.

“Fine, fine, I won’t pry. But when’s the wedding?” Hannah then asked.

Grayson was at a loss for words. “Grandma, aren’t you being a bit too eager?”

Hannah shot him a glance. “Of course I am. Look at my age. How many days do I have left? I could close my eyes tonight and never see the sunrise again.”

Her tone turned dramatically mournful. “If you marry soon, I might still live to hold my great-grandchild. Then I could die in peace.”

Seeing Hannah was getting carried away, Grayson quickly placated her. “Alright, Grandma. I’ll do my best. No more of this talk, please.”

“That’s my good grandson.” Hannah’s melancholy vanished instantly, replaced by a triumphant grin.

*****

Outside, Eloise spoke into her phone. “Mr. Hayes?”

“Where are you?” Beckett’s voice held a sense of tightness that hadn’t been there before.

He’d been called out by Cyrus to meet a client in the morning, had lunch with them, and returned to the office only to find Eloise’s desk empty well past the start of the afternoon work session.

It was 2 PM already. His other assistants had informed him she’d left earlier and hadn’t returned.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hayes,” Eloise explained, “Mr. Cyrus Hayes asked me to accompany Mr. Pierce on a tour of the company. We’re just finishing lunch now.”

She omitted the detail about where they were lunching.

Becket clenched his fists, fury in his eyes. ‘Dad got me away on purpose.

“Come back to the office immediately. I need you for something he stated, his tone brooking no argument.

This was the perfect excuse Eloise needed. “Of course. Mr. Haye I’ll be right there?

She returned to the dining room “Mrs. Pierce, thank you so much for the wonderful meal. Im afraid I have to go. Aly supervisor needs me back at the office.”

Hannah, though disappointed, didn’t press ‘Of course, dear. Work is important. Grayson will drive you.”

Eloise shook her head. ‘Oh, no, that’s not necessary, I can get a ki

But Grayson was already on his feet, picking up his suit jacket from the back of his chair ‘Let’s go. It’s not easy to find a cab around here.”

Hannah bustled over, patting Eloise’s an “Don’t be silly, dear han take you seeing his future wife to work is the least

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he should do. Now hurry along, don’t keep your boss waiting.”

Her repeated use of “future granddaughter-in-law” and now “future wife” made Eloise’s ears burn with acute embarrassment. She just wanted to escape.

Swallowing her protests, she nodded at Grayson. “Then thank you, Mr. Pierce.”

Grayson slid an arm around her shoulders, steering her toward the door. “No need for formalities. We’re family now,” he said, his voice low and teasing near her ear.

Eloise tried to shrug off his arm, but it was like trying to move a steel beam. She settled for shooting him a furious glare.

Once they were in the car, Eloise turned to him. “Mr. Pierce, your grandmother has completely the wrong idea. Instead of correcting her, you’re making it worse. What is your game?”

Grayson glanced at her, a genuine smile touching his lips as he started the engine. “My game is the same as my grandma’s.”

Eloise closed her eyes briefly, a fresh wave of exasperation washing over her. “Is this some kind of joke to you? Because I’m not laughing.”

“Eloise,” he said, his tone turning serious for a moment. “Why is so hard for you to believe I’m being sincere? I mean what I say. I want us to be together again.”

“I don’t believe a word of it. You can’t fool me,” Eloise said firmly

Grayson felt helpless. “What would it take to convince you?”

Eloise glared at him. “Maybe when pigs fly.”

Grayson felt a wave of futility. Seeing that Eloise wasn’t going to shed her suspicions anytime soon, he decided further explanation was pointless.

He changed the subject. “What does Beckett want you back for?”

“Probably work. It’s always work.” She turned in her seat to face him more directly. “And Grayson, you need to be civil to Mr. Hayes. Our relationship is strictly professional. Your behavior makes my position very awkward.”

The memory of Grayson breaking Beckett’s wrist still filled her with guilt. ‘And the audacity of this man, she thought, to waltz into Hayes Group today after what he did. Does Mr. Cyrus Hayes even know?’

Grayson made a dismissive sound in the back of his throat. “Eloise, you’re too naive. One of these days, you’ll get taken advantage of and not even see it coming.”

“Besides you, who else would bother to trick me?” Eloise retorted the barb aimed squarely at his five-year deception.

Grayson recognized the dig about his hidden identity from five years back. The woman had a long memory. He let the comment pass

“Eloise,” he tried a different approach. “why don’t you quit and come work for me at Virtubusiou Group? Be my secretary

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