Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 72

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

**What’s your type?**

**Grace**

I didn’t have to scan the room to know it—every single pair of eyes was trained on me, their gaze like a spotlight I had never asked for, illuminating my every flaw and insecurity. The sensation was overwhelming, akin to being thrust into a performance for which I had not rehearsed. Throughout my life, I had always been the quiet observer, the one who blended into the background. In school, I was the wallflower; in college, the silent participant. Yet here I stood, feeling like a fraud on a stage I never wished to occupy. The weight of their scrutiny felt unbearable, a suffocating blanket of awkwardness that made my heart race.

“Did you hear? They’re calling her,” a voice whispered conspiratorially from the back of the room, low and conspiratorial.

“Look at her name tag. It says Grace. She’s in PR,” another voice chimed in, dripping with skepticism and disbelief.

“But why would the vice president summon someone like her?” came the incredulous reply, tinged with a hint of envy.

“I think I heard that one of the new PR recruits handled the celebrity incident really well. Maybe she’s the one they need,” suggested yet another voice, a mixture of hope and doubt coloring their tone.

“Even if she did,” a different voice scoffed, “just look at her. What makes her worthy of riding in the elevator with the president and vice president? She doesn’t meet their standards.”

Their whispers coiled around me like a thick fog, and I fought against the urge to react, determined to keep my expression neutral. I wasn’t naïve; I knew that any sign of discomfort would only fuel their gossip. I had no time for such trivial drama; I had to focus on my own path.

“Are you going to keep standing there,” a commanding voice cut through the chatter, “or would you like to join us?”

Startled, my head snapped up. Apollo was looking directly at me, his gaze unwavering and intense, sending a shiver down my spine.

A collective gasp rippled through the group surrounding me. Even River, who stood a few paces behind, inhaled sharply, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he had just heard.

Genesis, standing next to Apollo, wore a knowing smile, her lips curving with a blend of satisfaction and mischief. “Yes,” she added sweetly, her tone dripping with authority, “and it’s entirely my prerogative who I allow in.”

Without breaking her smile, she turned her piercing gaze toward the hesitant employees lingering outside the elevator. “Who dares question my decision?”

Silence fell over the crowd, some swallowing nervously while others instinctively took a step back, their heads bowing slightly under her scrutinizing stare.

Genesis tilted her head, a satisfied nod accompanying her words. “I see. No one, then.” Her expression shifted to one of warmth and invitation as she turned back to me. “Come in, dear. We’re heading to the same floor anyway.”

Before I could even process her words, she reached out and grasped my hand, her grip firm yet purposeful. She pulled me into the elevator, and as I stumbled forward, my shoulder brushed against hers, causing my forehead to collide with something solid.

I gasped softly, the impact sending me reeling into Apollo’s chest. It was hard and masculine, the scent of his cologne enveloping me, and a rush of heat flooded my cheeks, making my heart race even faster.

“Oh, would you look at that,” Genesis remarked, her voice laced with feigned innocence. “What a delightful accident.”

Swallowing hard, I forced myself to lift my gaze. Apollo was already watching me, his expression inscrutable, leaving me to wonder what thoughts were swirling behind those dark eyes.

Quickly, I stepped back, bowing my head slightly in an attempt to regain my composure. “I apologize, sir.”

Without waiting for a reply, I retreated a few steps, pressing myself against the cool wall of the elevator, desperate to create some distance between us.

“Good morning, dear,” Austin greeted me with a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with familiarity.

I was right; he definitely recognized who I was.

Chase raised a hand in a casual wave, his boyish grin reappearing. “Morning, Miss Grace.”

I managed a stiff smile in return, though it felt forced. “Good morning.”

My eyes darted anxiously toward the elevator doors, searching for River. Just as they began to slide shut, a hand shot in, halting them with a loud ‘ding.’

I could have sworn I heard her mutter something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like “crazy bastard.”

Before I could piece together the implications, River’s hand settled lightly on my shoulder from behind. “Are you okay?” he asked, concern etched in his voice.

I tilted my head back to meet his gaze. His sincerity was disarming, and for a fleeting moment, I forgot we had an entire audience. I nodded quickly. “Yes. Nothing I can’t handle.”

A faint smile graced his lips. “That’s what I thought. Just ignore them.”

But then, I felt the atmosphere behind me shift, turning icy as a chill crawled down my spine. Someone’s gaze bore into my back, cold and scrutinizing. I dared not look over my shoulder. I wasn’t doing anything wrong… was I?

“Grace.”

Genesis’s sing-song tone snapped me back to reality. I turned toward her, and she smiled at me, a look of mischief in her eyes, as if she were about to hand me a loaded weapon just to see how I would wield it.

“Tell me,” she said sweetly, her voice dripping with intrigue. “What’s your type?”

“T-type?” I stammered, caught off guard by the sudden question.

Her grin widened, a predatory glint in her eyes. “Do you prefer the hot, domineering CEO?” Her gaze flicked shamelessly toward Apollo, who seemed to be observing the exchange with keen interest. “Or perhaps the charming bad boy aesthetic?” Her eyes cut to River, who still wore that infuriatingly relaxed smile, as if the entire world around him was merely a passing breeze.

My throat went dry.

Why on earth was she asking me this? And why did Apollo glance at me as if he were genuinely curious about my answer?

In this moment of unexpected attention, Grace finds herself at a crossroads, grappling with her identity and the perceptions of those around her. The whispers and stares that once made her feel like an imposter now serve as a catalyst for her awakening. The presence of Apollo and River, each embodying contrasting yet compelling facets of attraction, ignites a flicker of hope within her—a hope that perhaps she can step out of the shadows and embrace her own worth. As Genesis’s playful inquiry hangs in the air, Grace begins to realize that she is not merely a bystander in her own life; she is a participant in a narrative that is uniquely hers, filled with possibility and promise.

As the elevator descends, the atmosphere shifts, laden with tension and unspoken emotions. Grace’s heart races, not just from the unexpected attention but from the realization that she is at the center of a dynamic that could redefine her. The playful banter and underlying currents between her and the two men suggest that her journey is just beginning. No longer will she allow the doubts of others to dictate her worth. Instead, she stands on the precipice of self-discovery, ready to confront the challenges ahead with newfound confidence. In this pivotal moment, across the distant skies of her past insecurities, hope awaits her, ready to be found.