Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 178

This meeting is over

Apollo

I leaned back against the chair, a frown on my face as I studied the man sitting across from me. He, on the other hand, looked entirely too relaxed, a confident smile fixed on his lips as if he had already decided the outcome in his favor. His fingers rested casually on the table as he leaned forward, eyes gleaming with interest, like a predator certain its prey had nowhere left to run.

“So what do you think-”

“No.”

My voice cut through the conference room. The single word echoed, and every executive seated around the table froze instantly. I could feel their confusion, and unease, but none of them dared to speak. None of them were foolish enough to interrupt me. The only person who didn’t seem affected was the man in front of me.

He stared at me for a second before bursting into laughter, leaning back in his chair as if I had just told the most amusing joke. He wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye, then looked back at me, raising an eyebrow as he tilted his head slightly.

“No?” he repeated lightly. “Why no, Mr. Reed?

”

>>

“Everyone I know speaks highly of you. They say you’re the best businessman they’ve ever seen. They say you never miss a good deal when it’s right in front of you. You’re dangerous, decisive, and ruthless when necessary.”

His smile widened. “Even my brother, who barely speaks about anyone, praises you. He says you’re the only man worthy of his attention. So tell me, why would you say no when I’m offering you such a perfect deal?”

He leaned forward again, his voice lowering slightly. “I’m asking for a small payment. My reputation is clean, my family is wealthy, and I don’t even need this partnership to survive. And yet, I make one request, and you shut me down immediately. Is everything they say about you false, Mr. Reed, or do you simply not recognize a good deal when you see one?”

I looked at him with indifference, my eyes narrowing slightly as I studied his face. I drummed my fingers against the desk, the soft, rhythmic sound cutting through the tense silence of the room. It was something I always did when I was deep in thought.

“That,” I said calmly, “is precisely why I won’t agree to your terms.”

His smile faltered for a moment.

“Your deal is too perfect and convenient. Even with your spotless records, what you’re asking for is impossible. I will never hand over my employee just because you asked.”

He smirked, clearly enjoying himself. “Is it impossible because she’s your employee, or because she’s the one I specifically asked for?”

I didn’t answer him. I didn’t need to. The air in the room shifted, growing more oppressive, as my

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This meeting is over

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expression darkened enough that no one dared to breathe too loudly. I tapped my finger against the table once, the sound decisive.

“My reasons are none of your business,” I said coldly. “This meeting is over.”

I pushed my chair back, preparing to stand, when a knock sounded against the door. Before I could speak, or anyone could react, the door opened.

***

Grace

Chase opened the door and stepped inside first, and I followed right behind him. The moment I crossed the door, every single person looked up at once, all eyes landing on me. But I didn’t even glance their way. My gaze went straight to Apollo.

He had been looking at someone else moments ago, his attention focused and distant, but the second the door opened, his head turned sharply. His eyes found mine immediately, and he froze. For the first time since I’d known him, genuine surprise flashed across his face.

His gaze swept over me slowly, from head to toe, as if he were seeing me for the first time, like a man confronted with something so beautiful he didn’t know where to look.

I held his gaze, unable to look away even if I wanted to.

Apollo had seen me without my disguise many times before, but always when we were alone. In public, I almost always hid behind it, and he had never questioned me, or asked why. Standing here now, fully exposed, I suddenly wondered what he thought.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding.

Was it just my imagination, or did something almost like pride flash in his eyes as he looked at me?

Whispers rippled through the room in confusion, until one of the executives finally spoke up.

“Excuse me, but who is this?” he asked bluntly.

“Where is Miss Grace?” another demanded, turning toward Chase with a frown. “Weren’t you supposed to bring Miss Grace in?”

Chase stiffened as he looked at me. He opened his mouth to speak, when a deep voice cut through the room.

“Are you all blind?” the voice said lazily. “Can’t you see it’s her?”

Everyone turned toward the speaker. Even Apollo’s attention snapped in that direction, his expression darkening instantly.

I blinked, confused, and followed the voice.

Sitting casually in his chair, as if he owned the place, was a strikingly handsome man. He lounged back with the ease of someone used to attention, black hair slightly tousled, sharp blue eyes studying me intently. He wasn’t looking at me with lust like some men, nor with admiration like Apollo. It was pure curiosity, as if I were a puzzle he wanted to solve.

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This meeting is over

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He wore a hoodie and pants, completely out of place among the suited executives, a face mask dangling from his fingers as he flashed a bright, confident smile.

I raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious. I had never seen him before, and yet there was something oddly familiar about him. Maybe it was the way his features vaguely resembled mine, or maybe it was because he looked exactly like the posters I’d seen plastered across Eleanor and Liana’s room walls.

And why was he staring at me like that?

Noticing my confusion, Chase leaned closer and whispered.

“He looks familiar, right?” He swallowed before continuing, “That’s Theodore Jones. The actor everyone’s obsessed with these days. Second son of the Jones family, the richest family after the Reeds.”

Theodore wants you

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