Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

‘Eloise belongs to Grayson… Beckett found the statement utterly absurd.

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“Dad,” he countered, his voice tight. “Eloise is neither Grayson’s girlfriend nor his wife. How can she ‘belong’ to him? Why is she off-limits to me?”

Cyrus was fuming. He took a deliberate sip of coffee to compose himself. “Don’t be a fool.

“I don’t care about their current status. That woman is not to be touched.

“If your actions cause the Hayes Group to lose that resort project you can consider yourself out of this company.”

Beckett clenched his jaw. “My feelings for Eloise are serious. I want to marry her.”

A mug flew from Cyrus’s hand, shattering at Beckett’s feet. “Do not be ridiculous. Even if Grayson had no interest in her, a woman with another man’s child would never be allowed through our doors.

“Are you out of your mind, wanting to play stepfather to someone else’s brat?

“Drop this insane notion now. My answer is final.”

Beckett wanted to argue. “Get out!” Cyrus roared. The door slammed shut behind him.

Alone in his office, Hayes seethed, his chest heaving with anger. Beckett, known for his past indiscretions, seemed reformed since returning to Ekloland, focused solely on work.

‘Now it appears he’s been saving his greatest folly for last, attempting to steal a woman from Grayson, and a single mother at

that.

‘Grayson is only toying with her. His family will never let him marry someone like her.

‘But even as a plaything, she is under Grayson’s eye. Finn has made that clear.

‘I will not allow my son to mess with Eloise.’

On his way back, Beckett paused at Eloise’s desk. She looked up from her work, concern etched on her face. “Mr. Hayes, did your father misunderstand earlier? Did you explain?”

Instead of answering, Beckett walked into his office and returned moments later with a paper bag. It was the lunch ordered for him by Felice. He placed it on Eloise’s desk. “Eat. Then work

Eloise was taken aback. “Oh, no, Mr. Hayes. that’s yours. I’ll go down and get something.”

“Just have it,” he interrupted, a frown forming. “Eloise, you’ll need to get used to this.” Without another word, he turned and strode away from the secretarial department.

Eloise ran a hand through her hair in frustration. ‘What does he nean by that? Get used to what?’

In the end, she ate the lunch. Wasting food was a sin for her. She then buried herself back in the files.

Just before the end of the day, she delivered the compiled documents to Beckett’s office.

He took the folder, his tone casual. “Have dinner with me tonight Bring your son.”

Eloise stared at him, stunned, before quickly refusing “Mr. Haye, Noah and I have plans with a friend.”

Beckett said calmnly, “Tomorrow night, then. If we’re to become family, I should meet him sooner rather than later.”

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Chapter 42

Eloise nearly choked. She stared at him in disbelief. “Mr. Hayes, what on earth are you talking about?”

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Beckett stood and walked around his desk toward her. There was a strange intensity in his eyes today that made Eloise uneasy. She took several steps back, putting distance between them.

He continued to advance. “Let me be clearer, then. Grayson broke my hand over a misunderstanding about you and me. I shouldn’t have to bear that blame for nothing. Perhaps I should make the rumor a reality.”

“Eloise,” he said, his voice dropping. “Be with me. We can start by seeing each other, then get married. I will treat your son as my own.”

Eloise felt as if the ground had dropped from under her feet.

While Beckett had been overly familiar once before, the time when he was drunk and mistook her for someone else, she had always believed their relationship was purely professional.

He had been a considerate boss; she had been a loyal employee. How did it spiral into this?’ She couldn’t understand.

Eloise gaped at him, wondering if he’d been possessed.

“Mr. Hayes,” she ventured cautiously, “I’ve heard there are… strange practitioners of black magic in Yaiville. Could you have been affected? We should get you checked.”

She made to bolt for the door, but he caught her wrist. “Eloise, I’m not cursed or enchanted. I care for you. I have for a long time.”

As for why he was confessing now, he thought perhaps Grayson’ reappearance had triggered a sense of crisis.

Before, Beckett had known his own feelings but also understood he and Eloise came from different worlds. His future wife was expected to be a socialite from a good family. Eloise was the woman he kept in his heart.

But Grayson’s presence had sparked a panic. Beckett was terrified of losing her to him.

Eloise’s mind was a whirlwind. She slapped at Beckett’s hand, struggling to break free. “Mr. Hayes, please calm down. Let me go.”

“Eloise,” he said, his gaze intense. “I am perfectly calm.” Nevertheless, he released her.

The moment she was free, Eloise fled his office like her life depended on it.

It was past quitting time; Felice and Bertha were long gone. Not even stopping to clear her desk, Eloise snatched her bag and

ran.

During the drive home, her mind raced with one urgent question: ‘Should I resign?’

She then thought, ‘Beckett has lost his mind. His long-dormant ecklessness is resurfacing.

‘Maybe I should introduce him to some other women? But I do know any suitable candidates in Ekloland besides Juliette. And I can never introduce Juliette to a man like Beckett.

‘No, that’s out of the question. I can’t introduce anyone to him

Grayson was just ending a call in his car when he saw Eloise pull into a parking spot. She got out, looking utterly distraught, as if on the verge of tears.

Concerned, he quickly exited his own vehicle and followed her. What’s wrong?”

Eloise screamed, startled by his sudden appearance.

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Chapter 42

Her reaction startled him in turn. “What’s the matter with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

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Eloise pressed a hand to her chest, shot him an exasperated look and continued toward the elevator without answering.

Grayson followed her inside. Leaning against the wall, he studied her profile. When she remained stubbornly silent, he moved to stand directly in front of her.

His long finger tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Eloise, talk to me.”

She rolled her eyes and swatted his hand away. “I don’t want to.”

Grayson caught her chin again, his thumb brushing lightly over her skin.

“Stop that,” she snapped, irritation flaring.

“But it’s so soft,” Grayson murmured, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

Eloise glared at him. “You’re a creep.”

Grayson’s smirk faded. “Eloise,” he asked, his tone suddenly serious yet absurd. “Am I handsome?”

Her chin still captive, Eloise looked at him as if he’d grown a second head.

Grayson answered his own question. “I am, right? Have you ever seen a creep this handsome?”

“Seeing one right now,” she retorted.

The elevator doors slid open. Eloise shoved past him and sprinted down the hall to her apartment door, which was already opening.

Noah stood in the doorway, a bright smile on his face. “Mommy welcome home.”

Overwhelmed by the day’s events, Eloise swept him up in a tight hug. “Oh, sweetheart, I missed you so much.”

Grayson’s cold, dangerous voice spoke from behind her. “What did you just call her?”

Noah froze, his eyes widening in horror over Eloise’s shoulder. ‘Oh no. I just said Mommy.

Eloise stiffened, her blood running cold. Her mind, scrambled by the day’s chaos, had completely failed to warn Noah that Grayson was right behind her.

She panicked. ‘What now? How could I possibly explain this? Or is it finally time for the truth to come out?’

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