Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 42

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

**Grace**

There was a phrase my mother repeated to me with a frequency that made it impossible to forget.

“Grace, this world is run by men. Do you understand why? Because when a man and a woman make a mistake, the blame almost always lands on the woman’s shoulders. That’s why the wisest path is to follow orders, or else face the fallout. One slip-up, and your entire reputation can vanish in an instant.”

Even now, as I stood in this cramped elevator, my heart racing like a wild drum, her words reverberated in my mind with an intensity that felt almost suffocating. I couldn’t quite grasp why they were resurfacing at this moment, but perhaps on some deeper level, I understood all too well.

This felt like that very mistake.

I shifted my foot, attempting to find a more comfortable position, and a sharp pain shot through my ankle. “Ouch,” I gasped, the sound escaping before I could think to stifle it, my hand instinctively flying up to cover my mouth.

Oh no.

“What was that?” one of the girls in the elevator asked, her voice laced with curiosity. “Is someone else in here?”

I froze, my body tensing as if I had been caught in a spotlight.

Oh God.

They were going to figure it out. If they caught even a glimpse of me, the entire building would know my secret by lunchtime.

Why did that security guard have to run his mouth?

My breath quickened, each inhale feeling more frantic than the last. I turned my face away, letting my hair fall forward like a curtain as I silently pleaded with the elevator to open its doors already.

As if sensing the tension, the girls began to turn their heads, but then a tall figure stepped in front of me, blocking their view completely.

River.

He stood like a shield between me and the interns, his back to them, his gaze locked onto mine. I tilted my head up just a fraction. He was looking down at me, and then, to my surprise, his lips curled into a slight smirk that sent my heart racing.

“River?” Piper asked, her voice tinged with confusion. “What’s going on?”

He raked a hand through his already tousled hair, turning around with an air of nonchalance. “I was just thinking,” he said smoothly. “Is the invitation still open?”

One of the girls perked up, her interest piqued. “Invitation?”

“Yeah,” he replied, flashing a polite smile that seemed to light up the confined space. “Can I join you three for breakfast? My treat.”

Their eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect.

Piper beamed, her enthusiasm infectious. “Of course! Finally! I’ve been waiting for a moment like this. Now that that nerd isn’t around to hover over you like a lost puppy, we can actually talk.”

Another girl snickered, her laughter ringing out like a bell. “God, yes! She’s so strange. It was painfully obvious she was obsessed with you. She doesn’t even realize you probably just feel sorry for her. That’s why you hang out with her.”

Their words stung, igniting a flicker of annoyance within me. I shouldn’t have expected anything different from them, but hearing it voiced out loud hurt more than I would have liked to admit.

Was that truly all River felt for me? Pity?

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to disappear entirely, or at the very least, feign indifference. I should have known better. It was foolish to think we had ever been friends. With my carefully crafted facade, most men wouldn’t want to be seen with someone like me.

I blinked up at him, momentarily speechless.

“And if what they say is true,” he added, a hint of mischief in his eyes, “we’ll surely meet again.”

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving me standing there, utterly stunned. I watched his figure disappear around the corner, and my knees buckled beneath me as I slowly slid to the floor, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest.

I clutched the coat around me, letting out a shaky breath, my mind racing.

“What the hell just happened…” I whispered to myself, running a hand through my hair in a futile attempt to regain my composure.

No. I couldn’t afford to dwell on that right now. I had bigger problems looming on the horizon.

I quickly pulled my hair into a loose bun and glanced toward the open elevator doors. No one was in sight. Seizing the moment, I bolted down the hallway toward the exit as though someone were chasing me.

Outside, I hailed a cab. The familiar yellow car pulled up to the curb, and I practically dove inside, my heart still racing.

“Please take me to this address,” I said, rattling it off in a rush.

“Yes, ma’am,” the driver replied, pulling into traffic without hesitation.

I slumped back against the seat, finally allowing my body to relax. One hand lifted to my head, pressing into my temple as I tried to soothe the throbbing pain.

I needed painkillers. I needed sleep. I needed—what did I even need anymore? But one thing was clear.

Today had already spiraled far beyond my control. And I still had two more days to make a decision about my boss. After what had transpired between us last night, that choice felt like an insurmountable mountain.