chapter 3
1042 Words
Mia's breath caught in her throat.
Grayson Vaughn stood by the door, his tall, broad-shouldered frame a dominating force against the hospital's sterile white walls. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers with unsettling intensity, his eyes blazing with something she couldn't quite decipher—curiosity? Amusement? Determination?
No. Something darker.
Mia's gut twisted.
He had no reason to be here. No reason to be seeking her out.
And still, here he was.
Her fingers tightened around Oliver's little hand as her son tugged on her sleeve, blissfully unaware of the tension seeping into the space between them.
"Mommy, can we get ice cream now?" Oliver asked, looking up at her with hopeful eyes.
Mia's smile came automatically, even as her heart was pounding uncontrollably. "Of course, baby."
She needed to get moving. She needed to get out of here before—
"Leaving so soon?"
His voice, low and silky smooth, sent a shiver down her spine.
She tensed.
Slowly, she turned back to him, her heart throbbing painfully in her chest.
Grayson moved forward, his actions slow, almost stalking. The fitted silhouette of his dark gray suit highlighted his muscular build, and the very air of confidence with which he conducted himself made it excruciatingly obvious—he was a man accustomed to getting precisely what he desired.
And at this moment, it appeared that what he desired… was explanations.
Mia's swallow was audible.
"I wasn't aware you had business at the hospital, Mr. Vaughn," she responded, her tone even in spite of the tension that shrieked through her body.
His lips curved—barely—but there was no humor in his eyes. "I don't. But I do have unfinished business with you."
Her heart dropped.
Rachel, who still stood a few feet away, looked back and forth between them, her nurse's instincts on high alert as she sensed the tension.
"Mia, is everything okay?"
Mia forced herself to nod, even as she felt the heat of Grayson's attention as a tangible touch on her skin. "It's okay, Rachel. Can you—" she glanced down at Oliver, frantic for an excuse, "—can you take him to the vending machine for a minute?"
Rachel paused. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Rachel crouched down to Oliver's height. "Hey, buddy, wanna come help me pick a snack?"
Oliver grinned. "Can I have two?"
Rachel smiled dryly. "You're a tough negotiator, kid. Let's see what we can do."
Mia let out a sigh of relief as they walked off, leaving her alone with Grayson.
The air between them grew thick.
She stood tall, refusing to be cowed by him. "If you're here to make me pay for your car, I already told you—"
"I'm not here about the car," he interrupted smoothly.
Mia scowled. "Then why are you here?"
Grayson studied her, his eyes searching her face as if weighing his words. Finally, he spoke, his voice lower this time.
"I don't like loose ends."
Mia tensed. "Loose ends?"
His gaze flicked to Oliver, who was laughing with Rachel at the vending machine.
Mia's stomach churned.
Her mind screamed at her to deflect, to close down this conversation before it became something dangerous.
"What do you want from me?" she whispered.
He tilted his head to one side. "That's what I'm trying to figure out."
A shiver of unease crept up her spine.
"You don't need to figure anything out," she said, crossing her arms. "We had an accident. You dropped it. That should be the end of it."
Grayson took another step closer, closing the distance between them. "And yet… here we are."
Mia's breath hitched.
There was something in the way he was looking at her—not just with scrutiny, but with an unspoken intensity that had her nerves skittering.
"I don't know what kind of power trip you're on, but I don't have time for games, Mr. Vaughn."
He exhaled slowly, his expression impassive. "Grayson."
She blinked. "What?"
"If you're going to lecture me, at least use my name."
She clenched her teeth. "Fine. Grayson—"
A slow smile ghosted his lips.
Heat teased at her skin. She hadn't meant to say it like that. Not like a dare. Not like an invitation.
His eyes darkened. "Better."
Mia exhaled sharply. "You're impossible."
"And you're avoiding my question."
Mia hesitated. "What question?"
He tilted his head slightly. "Who is Oliver's father?"
Her breath escaped her lungs.
The world reeled.
A cold, choking fear gripped her.
"What?" she managed to choke out.
Grayson's eyes were unreadable, but his voice was level. "You heard me."
Mia's fists tightened at her sides. "That's none of your business."
Grayson's jaw clenched. "Maybe not. But after today, I have a hunch I'll be seeing you again. And I don't appreciate surprises."
Mia swallowed hard.
This was bad.
This was so, so bad.
She had to get Oliver and leave. Now.
She took a step back. "I don't care what you think, Grayson. My life is not some puzzle for you to solve."
Something flickered in his eyes.
Oliver rushed up before Grayson had a chance to respond, clutching a bag of gummy bears. "Mommy, look! I got the blue ones!"
Mia smiled, her heart still pounding. "That's great, sweetie. Let's go."
She turned and began to walk away, Oliver trailing behind her.
But even as she walked away, she felt Grayson's eyes on her.
Following. Plotting.
And she had a sinking feeling—
This wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
---
Meanwhile…
Grayson stood in the hospital lobby, hands in his pockets, and watched as Mia disappeared through the glass doors.
She was hiding something.
And if there was one thing Grayson Vaughn didn't ignore—
It was a mystery.
With a slow breath, he reached for his phone.
The line rang twice before being picked up by a crisp voice.
"Mr. Vaughn?"
"Dig up everything you can on Mia Carter," Grayson commanded, his tone allowing no room for argument. "And hurry."
A pause. Then—
"Understood."
Grayson hung up, his jaw tightening.
Something about Mia—about Oliver—troubled him.
And he wouldn't rest until he had answers.
Even if it would turn Mia Carter's life upside down.
- Writer
