Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 41

**Across Distant Skies Lies Hope Waiting To Be Found by Kade Rowan Flint 41**

**CONTENT:** I was going to tame that woman.

**Present Day**

**Apollo**

I found myself staring at her, unable to look away.

Her eyes were wide, a mix of shock and dawning realization washing over her features as if her mind was finally catching up with the chaos of the previous night. The expression on her face shifted, morphing from confusion to something akin to dread.

She parted her lips, perhaps to speak, but then closed them again almost instantly. A wise choice, I thought, considering that whatever words were about to escape her mouth would likely be utterly futile.

My gaze drifted downward, taking in the sight before me. The sheet clung to her form, outlining her curves in a way that was both enticing and maddening. I could see the gentle arc of her hips, the soft rise of her chest, and the delicate peaks of her nipples pushing through the thin fabric. She was barely covered, and the sight sent a rush of heat through me.

When my gaze returned to her face, I was met with that same innocent expression, a mask that only added to my frustration.

I inhaled sharply, pressing the heel of my hand against my temple as if I could physically ward off the headache she’d become.

This woman was a damn enigma, a headache I never asked for.

Since her arrival, my meticulously crafted plans had unraveled. My days once flowed with a predictable rhythm; meetings were scheduled, outcomes calculated. But now, chaos reigned, and my carefully maintained restraint was fraying at the edges.

That’s precisely why I had struck the deal. It wasn’t about my desire for her in a romantic sense—no, I didn’t do romance. I thrived on logic and reason. I believed that if I could satiate the primal urge she stirred within me, everything would revert to its orderly state. But last night had shattered that illusion.

Last night, she had transformed me into a man I scarcely recognized.

Impatience clawed at me, frustration simmered just beneath the surface, and the urge to touch her was overwhelming. It was a struggle to keep my hands to myself.

I had never before had to exercise such restraint over my desires.

She shifted on the bed, a soft murmur escaping her lips. “Hmm…”

An eyebrow shot up as she bit down on her lip, a dangerously enticing habit.

“I-I know what happened was unforgivable,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “But I really apologize, sir—”

I interrupted her, my gaze unwavering. “It seems you have a penchant for apologies. It’s practically a reflex for you.”

She swallowed hard, her face turning away from mine as if she were a child caught in the act of sneaking candy from the pantry.

With a resigned sigh, I crossed my arms and leaned against the couch, my posture relaxed but my demeanor anything but.

“What exactly did you do wrong, Miss Grace?” I asked, my tone cool and measured.

Her head tilted slightly in my direction, then turned away again. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture. “I got drunk… and made things inconvenient for you.”

“Inconvenient?” I echoed, my voice laced with sarcasm. “That’s a generous term, don’t you think? First, you caused a scene in my office. Then…”

I let the words hang in the air, letting the weight of them settle in. “Then you had the audacity to call me ‘daddy’ in front of an employee.”

Her fingers twisted the sheets tighter around her body, a clear sign of her discomfort.

“Second, you kissed me without my consent.”

Her head snapped up, panic flashing in her eyes. “I—”

“That,” I interjected flatly, “could be construed as sexual harassment.”

She straightened, her eyes wide, mouth agape. “No! I didn’t mean—”

I watched her, her words trailing off in a haze of embarrassment. The sight of her squirming was unexpectedly satisfying.

“And then,” I continued, rising to my feet and slipping my hands into my pockets, moving toward her with the slow, deliberate grace of a predator closing in on its prey, “you made me carry you all the way back to my office, which only added to my already overloaded schedule.”

“Then you clung to me like a child refusing to let go of her teddy bear,” I added, a hint of a smile tugging at my lips, though there was no amusement in it. “Oh, you remember that, don’t you? Calling your boss a teddy bear, Miss Grace. You’ve got more guts than I ever gave you credit for.”

“And finally, after I gave you exactly what you wanted, you had the gall to claim it was all just a dream. Do you think I’m that insignificant? That you could simply decide it didn’t happen?”

I stepped in front of her, positioning myself between her legs as she sat there, gazing up at me with wide eyes. “How do you intend to hold yourself accountable for all of this? How do you plan to take responsibility for the chaos you caused me last night?”

“You got drunk and decided to throw yourself at me again,” I said, dragging my thumb slowly across her bottom lip, parting it just enough to make her breath hitch. “What makes you think that the next time you try that, I won’t tie you up and punish you?”

My gaze roamed down her body, lingering for a moment before returning to her eyes. She was breathing heavily now, the tension crackling in the air between us.

“Next time you touch me without permission, you won’t get away with it. Is that clear, Miss Grace?”

She nodded almost immediately, a quick, instinctive reaction.

“Use your words.”

She swallowed, her voice barely a whisper. “Yes, sir.”

We locked eyes, the air thick with unspoken tension. She began to raise a hand, her fingers slowly reaching toward my belt, just as there was a sharp knock on the door.

A voice called from the other side, “Mr. Apollo?”

My jaw tightened, and my hand dropped away from her face, the moment shattered.

Perfect timing.

I straightened and turned toward the door.

“Stay here,” I commanded.

I stepped out of the private bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind me. My office was dimly lit, and standing in the doorway was Chase.

Chase entered quietly, his head bowed low in a show of respect. “Good morning, Mr. Apollo,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I didn’t bother to look at him.

“Come back later, I’m busy.”

“Sir,” he pressed, clearly forcing himself to speak, “I’m sorry, but it’s important. It’s about the Whitebridge project. The lead engineers and supervisors are all downstairs waiting for your signature.”

I exhaled through my nose, irritation bubbling just beneath the surface as I took a seat. The project was significant, and Chase hurried to place a thick folder in front of me.

“This is the updated version. The cost adjustments are highlighted here.” He pointed at the marked margin. “We moved around some of the budget—”

But my attention was elsewhere. My eyes were glued to the private room’s door.

It cracked open slowly, and then she stepped out.

My stomach dropped. You’ve got to be kidding me.

The three girls straightened up, hair flipping, shoulders rolling back. I didn’t blame them. River was one of the most attractive men in the company, second only to Apollo. The way women responded to him was something he was undoubtedly used to.

“Hi, River,” one of them purred, her voice dripping with flirtation.

“Do you want to grab breakfast with us?” another chimed in.

“I’m good.” He offered them a polite smile, the kind that didn’t reach his eyes, and didn’t spare them a second glance. Instead, his gaze drifted to the back of the elevator, and our eyes met.

I turned my head sharply, letting more of my hair fall in front of my face.

Don’t look at me. Just ignore me, I beg you.

He raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Instead, he stepped beside me and leaned casually against the wall, hands tucked into his pockets, his expression unreadable. He looked as he always did—detached and mildly bored, as if the entire world were merely background noise.

That was something I had noticed about him. Even when surrounded by people, he always appeared as if he would rather be anywhere else. His politeness felt rehearsed, a routine he had perfected over time. But with me, he always initiated conversations.

The elevator lurched into motion. The girls at the front continued their chatter, too engrossed in their own world to realize I was standing right behind them.

“I’m serious,” one of them said, her voice lowered conspiratorially. “Everyone’s talking about it.”

“About what?” the other asked, feigning innocence.

“Last night,” the first girl said, lowering her voice further. “A woman came to the company really late, asking for the boss.”

I stiffened, my eyes widening in alarm.

The ringleader of the group scoffed. “Asking for the boss? Does she think Mr. Reed is someone you can just ask for like it’s no big deal? Who the hell does she think she is? His time is worth more than half the department combined. I bet he told them to throw her out.”

“Nope. That’s where you’re wrong, Piper. The boss came downstairs himself to meet her.”

“What?” the third girl gasped, disbelief etched on her features.

Piper ran her fingers through her hair, clearly irritated. “That’s impossible. Why would he, of all people, come down for someone like that? Who is she?”

“Beats me, but that’s not even the wildest part. She called him ‘Daddy’ right in front of the security guard.”

I nearly choked on the air around me.

“She what?” Piper hissed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and envy.

“Yeah. And get this—the guard didn’t even get a chance to react. Mr. Reed looked at him like he was ready to kill him for touching her and told him to back off. He was so possessive.”

I stared straight ahead, my fingers digging into my palm, my entire body trembling with anxiety. I couldn’t believe the rumors had already spread through the office.

“She was drunk or something,” Piper hissed, her tone laced with venom. “Honestly, the audacity. Who even was she? Does she work here? If I find her, I swear, I’ll murder that bitch.”

“The security guy didn’t catch much. He said he has some kind of eye problem. She flashed an ID and claimed she worked here, but he said it didn’t really look like her.”

“What does she look like?” Piper pressed, her curiosity piqued.

“He said she was wearing a black dress, had black hair, and was really beautiful.”

“Perfect,” Piper sneered. “If she works here, we’ll find her. Anyone wearing a black dress today is officially a suspect.” She crossed her arms, a nasty smile creeping onto her face. “She’s dead if I see her. Seducing her boss to get a promotion? I’ll make sure her whole life falls apart.”