Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 86

**Across Distant Skies Lies Hope Waiting To Be Found by Kade Rowan Flint 86**

The moment I entered the Korean-styled restaurant, a wave of regret washed over me.

Now, don’t misunderstand; it wasn’t the ambiance that caused my dismay. In fact, I was quite enamored by the decor. The wooden partitions, the soft glow of lanterns casting a warm light, and the tantalizing aroma of grilled meat wafting through the air—it all transported me back to countless evenings spent glued to my screen, lost in the enchanting worlds of Korean dramas. I often found myself wishing I could step through the screen and experience those vibrant lives firsthand.

But that wasn’t the issue at hand.

The real problem lay in the sea of people. As soon as I crossed the threshold, every single pair of eyes in the room seemed to converge on me, pinning me in place.

I stood frozen, blinking like a deer caught in headlights, my heart racing in my chest.

Weren’t we supposed to be meeting with the PR team? I had anticipated a gathering of about twenty people at most, maybe even fewer. Yet, the crowded space suggested there were easily over thirty individuals present.

What on earth? Was the entire company here for this?

A dry sensation crept into my throat. I despised crowds. All I wanted in that moment was to turn on my heel, grab River’s arm, and make a hasty retreat before anyone noticed my presence. But just then, River stepped in behind me, shutting the door with a soft click. He paused, his expression mirroring my surprise as he surveyed the throng of people. His brows knitted together, and his lips parted slightly in disbelief.

“I thought you said they booked the place,” I muttered under my breath, my eyes darting nervously from one face to another, searching for an escape route.

“That’s what I was told,” River replied, his voice steady but tinged with uncertainty.

Before I could voice the idea of fleeing while we still had the chance, a voice rang out, slicing through the chatter like a knife. “Oh! River’s here!”

A collective gasp escaped the lips of the women in the room as they turned toward the door, their faces lighting up as if they had just received a long-awaited gift. Their cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling with excitement, and some even leaned in to whisper conspiratorially behind their hands.

Of course, I had to walk in with him—the company’s golden boy, the man whose name seemed to be on every girl’s lips. River appeared utterly unfazed, as if this kind of attention was as routine as breakfast. Meanwhile, I felt an overwhelming urge to crawl into the nearest hole and vanish from sight.

What had I been thinking, showing up with him? I felt like a hapless deer dragged into a lion’s den.

“Grace, River!” Mr. Aiden, the head of the PR team, waved enthusiastically from the far end of the room. His face was flushed, a clear indication of the alcohol coursing through his veins. “Over here! I saved you both a seat!”

Oh, just perfect.

River glanced down at me, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Don’t worry,” he murmured, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder, a reassuring gesture that somehow made me feel more grounded. “I’ll make sure we come out alive.”

I shot him an exasperated look, muttering under my breath, “Geez, thanks.”

His chuckle was genuine, clearly amused by my discomfort.

As we navigated through the maze of tables toward Mr. Aiden, I was already convinced that this evening would be a complete disaster.

“There they are!” Aiden announced triumphantly as we approached, slapping his palm down on the table with far too much enthusiasm. He regarded us with glazed eyes and a lopsided grin. “My two favorite new recruits—the brilliant Grace and the department’s heartthrob, River!”

Heat flooded my cheeks at his words. He called me brilliant. I adored that word.

“I heard you work directly under the boss,” Sarah said, her lips curving into a sly smile. “Tell me, what’s it like working under Apollo Reed?”

The moment she spoke, every pair of eyes at the table turned toward me, anticipation hanging thick in the air.

My body tensed. What was I supposed to say?

I couldn’t exactly blurt out the truth: Oh, it’s fantastic. That man is incredibly attractive, and he’s quite skilled in the bedroom, too. We just finished an intimate rendezvous in his office a short while ago, actually.

Yeah, no. That would undoubtedly end with me being fired or, at the very least, unceremoniously ejected from the building.

My lips parted, but before I could stumble over my words, River’s calm voice interjected. “We should sit,” he suggested, his tone steady and reassuring.

Sarah’s gaze flicked toward him, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Mr. Aiden erupted in a drunken laugh, clapping his hands together. “Yes, yes, let’s not waste time with unnecessary questions. Tonight is for drinking until we can’t remember anything!”

Laughter rippled through the group once more, the tension momentarily alleviated.

Sarah shrugged it off, taking a sip of her drink before turning her attention back to me with a smile that felt both inviting and daunting. “That’s true. We can always chat another time, Grace. I’m very interested in you, you know.”

I nodded stiffly, though inwardly, I wasn’t exactly thrilled by that prospect.