The CEO's Secret Baby

Elaine "How much is your piece of ass worth?" Grayson's crude words rammed into me, cold and biting, stabbing my chest, leaving me breathless. This wasn't him. I told myself. This wasn't my Grayson. But when his bitter, cold gaze collided with mine, a truth I'd buried hit me like a slap. This was Grayson Adrian Frost. Cold. Vindictive. Ruthless. And I had been foolish to think he could ever be different with me. "Grayson..." Naked, I grabbed my clothes that he'd thrown in my face, feeling like the p********e and gold digger he thought I was. "It's not what you think," I wiped furiously at the damned tears that wouldn't stop falling. "What, not enough?" He spat, reaching for another bunch of notes from his wallet and tossing them at me. The bills fluttered to the floor all around me. I'd never felt dirtier. "How much, Elaine?" he growled, jaw tight, his voice piercing, stabbing my heart over and over again. "How much do you think my life's story is worth?" He laughed, the sound hollow, bitter. "How much do you think the cold, broken CEO would pay to keep his miserable life hidden?" I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. It was never about the money. "Not enough still?" He scoffed. "Or maybe you'd prefer a condo. A mansion. A comfortable life?" His voice dropped, full of mockery. "What's your rate, Elaine?" "What's your rate, Elaine?" Grayson's words rang, their poison seeping into my soul, erasing every other word he'd whispered to me while he pleasured me. While he worshipped every inch of me. Words I realised now had been nothing but lies. Meaningless. He had probably said them to every woman he'd had in his bed without blinking. I was the stupid one to have thought I was special. That we had connected on some sacred level. I stared at the said furniture and caught sight of the article, its damning publication somehow credited to me. My gaze flitted to the bold headline. "In Bed With The Cold CEO." How ironic. I thought bitterly. It would never have been my choice for a title, but it didn't matter now, did it? Because as inappropriate as the title was, every word that came after was mine. And I had never hated my writing skills, until now. "Written by Elaine Murdoch." Once upon a time, seeing my name in such a prominent publication would have made me feel that much closer to my dream, but all it had done was open my eyes to who Grayson really was. To how little he thought of me. How worthless I was to him. "What's your rate, Elaine?" The pure Elaine. His words that had made me blush now stung. He had only wanted a taste of the pure Elaine. I furiously wiped at my tears again, feeling oh so stupid. I should have seen it coming. A loud knock startled me, my eyes snapping towards the door of the suite when it opened without Grayson asking whoever was there to enter. "Oh, Gray, I didn't realise you had company," A familiar voice purred, making me snap my gaze to the unexpected guest. Although, she was only unexpected to me. My chest ached as I watched Grayson stalk towards her, his muscled chest on full display. "I don't." He smiled at her, his voice sweet, tender, just like he'd been with me last night. Like he hadn't just been hurling insults at me a moment ago. "I wasn't expecting you until later, Gabby." Gabby? I gawked at the little exchange between Gabrielle Springer my boss at the paper where I interned and my boyfriend. I wasn't even aware they knew each other. "She was just leaving." Grayson bit out, shooting me a dismissive look, cracking my heart anew. I didn't miss the judgemental look from the woman. I wished to scream that this was nothing but a misunderstanding. That I was not this type of girl, but to what end? It would not change how Grayson saw me. It would not change the last couple of minutes of my life. It would not change that come tomorrow I would have no job because there was no way I would work for the woman sleeping with him. Wanting to save myself anymore embarrassment, I straightened up and headed to the bathroom, intending to dress up when Grayson's hard voice halted me in my tracks. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" "I was just going to dress up then I'm leaving," I mumbled. He wouldn't deny me that, would he? "Yeah, about that, I don't think so." He hissed. "Like I told Gabby, you were just leaving. So leave." I was being thrown out, naked? I blinked at him, but his jaw only clenched tighter, making me start for the door, quietly. I could only hope the hallway was empty. Stepping out on shaky legs, I was reminded of how much the universe hated me as I came face to face with a few hotel guests of which with my state of undress was as good as a freaking crowd. I quickly threw on my tee, thankful that it had been oversize. It covered my butt a bit while I pulled on my pants. I was about to run off, to find a cave to hide in and die when the door behind me opened. It wasn't Grayson though. Because why would it be? He'd just tossed me out like I was nothing. He wouldn't need to run after me. Gabrielle stood in the doorway, clutching the crumpled bills Grayson had thrown at me. "I believe these are for you." She shoved them in my hands before leaning forward and whispering, "Know your place, little girl. You were never meant to be here." She stepped back, a smirk painting her perfect lips. "Don't bother showing up at the paper. You are fired." I told myself I wouldn't cry after the door slammed shut in my face. But as I stumbled down that hallway, drowning in whispered stares, I realised—I hadn't even begun to break yet.