The Billionaire I Never Married

Chapter Three

GRAYSON'S P.O.V

"GET AWAY FROM ME."

Her soft fingers flinched off me in mild shock and annoyance. She recovered easily enough and plastered a fake smile on her face.

"But Grayson," Mary said, pushing her full breasts into my chest. "I miss you. It's been so long. Don’t you miss me?"

I pushed her hand off. "I'm not in the mood, Mary."

She blinked, shocked, then laughed like I was joking. Shifting away from me, she curled into the couch like she belonged there.

"You invited me in yourself, Grayson. I thought we were finally getting somewhere. This is the first time you’ve invited me into your place in five years."

"A mistake I'm beginning to regret."

"Because of her?" she asked, uncrossing her legs. Her dress hiked up higher, revealing her panties—and she didn’t bother fixing it. "Do you not remember what she did to you? She left, Grayson. And I stayed." She slipped a finger into herself. "Look at me, Gray. Do you really not want me?"

"You stayed because you're a jealous b***h who's always wanted what her best friend had," I said.

Her smile cracked, and she closed her legs.

"Don’t act like you did me a favor. You left your best friend to chase a man. How am I supposed to believe you wouldn’t leave me for someone else too?"

She stood now, walking toward me again. She reached out to hug me. I stepped back.

"Grayson, please. You can't do this to me now. Not after everything."

"You did this to yourself the moment you chose to betray her."

She flinched, and I saw the anger rise.

"So that's it? She's back now, and suddenly I'm nothing to you? After everything I've done for you? Do you know how hard it was for me to convince Daddy to give you that contract? I made you who you are today, and you think you can just leave me?"

"YOU did not make me. I made myself. Yes, you helped—but even without your help, we both know I would have made it. And we both know exactly why Emily left."

"No," she said sharply. "Emily was weak. I stood with you. I love you!"

I shook my head. "Don’t kid yourself, darling. You're not capable of loving someone."

Before she could say more, a small voice broke the tension.

"Dada?"

We both froze.

Shit. She was never supposed to find out.

I turned to look at the reason I live.

Gabby stood in the hallway, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was messy. One pink sock dangled off her foot, and the other was somehow on her head.

Mary gasped. "You have a daughter?"

Gabby waddled toward me, crying. I bent down and picked her up. She rested her head on my shoulder and rubbed her face against my shirt.

"Get out of my house, Mary."

"Wait—Grayson. What is going on? Since when do you have a kid?"

I didn’t reply. I reached for my phone.

“You never told me…”

“Because it’s none of your damn business.”

Mary’s mouth dropped open.

“Get out of my house.”

“Grayson…”

"Before I call security."

"But I don't—"

“Security. Penthouse 51. Now.”

She stared at me like I’d slapped her.

Gabby made a soft noise, and I rocked her gently.

"You’ll regret this," Mary whispered.

"I already regret ever meeting you."

She stormed out just as security arrived. I didn’t even look her way.

Gabby sniffled. "Dada, who was the loud aunty?"

"No one," I said.

"She woke me."

"She won’t come back here, baby. I promise."

I sat on the couch with her, humming the soft tune she liked. Her head rested on my chest. Her eyes fluttered shut.

I kissed her forehead.

"Dada’s here. You can sleep now, baby."

The door clicked open again, and this time, my best friend Caleb walked in with a grin.

"I heard yelling. I brought snacks in case it was serious."

Gabby’s head popped up. "Uncle Kaykay!"

She clapped and giggled at the goodies in his hands. Caleb walked over and took her from me.

"Hey, sunshine. Did I wake the most perfect princess up?"

"No, silly," she giggled. "The pretty lady did."

"Yikes," he said, bouncing her on his knee. "You okay?"

She nodded happily, going back to play and grab the goodies in his arms.

He passed her back. "You alright?"

I nodded. "Barely."

Caleb sat beside me and handed over a thick folder.

"Well, I got everything you asked for about the shares we just got."

I flipped the file open and grinned. Nicely done.

"How much do you own now?"

"Forty-three percent. Just enough to carry out the next phase of my plans."

Caleb whistled. "Wowee. You’re almost there."

"Almost isn't enough."

Gabby squealed, still playful. Caleb bounced his eyebrows at her. “I told you I’d bring Dada a big present.”

“Yay!” she said.

“Thanks,” I told him, placing the file on the table.

Caleb watched me silently for a bit before smirking.

"So, how did it feel to come face to face with the almighty Miss Hayes?"

"Satisfying," I replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "Watching her squirm was worth every second."

"And?"

"She's engaged now."

His eyes widened. "To who?"

"Christian Trent. Her father's golden boy. Spineless and dumber than a tree."

He snorted. "So she’s playing the good daughter again."

"She always did what he wanted. Until she didn’t."

Caleb sighed. "Has she changed much?"

My jaw tightened, and an image of her flashed in my mind—those fiery green-gold eyes, the way her lips pressed together in irritation when she saw the tracker on my phone. It’s insane how she still gets under my skin.

"Not much," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "She’s as beautiful as ever... but that doesn’t matter now."

Caleb arched a brow, clearly unconvinced. "You sure about that? Because from where I’m sitting, buddy, it looks like she still has you tied up in knots—if you know what I mean."

I scowled and turned to stare out the window at the city lights. "She’s irrelevant. For now."

Caleb leaned back, laughing softly. "If you say so, boss. Still, it must be a bit weird. You’re literally about to destroy the poor girl."

"She doesn’t need to know that yet," I answered. "I made sure to buy the shares with dummy names and accounts. All she has to do is everything I tell her—no matter how uncomfortable for her, and fun for me."

"Sounds like you’ve got it all planned out." Caleb tilted his head. "But let me ask you this—what happens when she realizes this isn’t even about her?"

I remained silent.

Caleb sighed, shaking his head. “You’re playing with fire, Gray. She doesn’t deserve this.”

I looked at him sharply. “Have you forgotten what they did to us?”

“No.”

“Then don’t tell me what she deserves.”

“But she’s not the one who did it.”

“She’s his daughter.”

“His innocent daughter.”

“Still his daughter,” I said, louder this time.

Gabby stirred. When I looked down, she had her thumb in her mouth. I softened at her angelic, sleeping face.

Caleb watched quietly. “She calms you,” he said.

“She’s the only thing that does.”

He stared at me for a moment. “What are you going to tell her when she grows up and asks about her family? About her siblings? Or where her birth father is?”

I looked up sharply.

“I am her father. She’ll know I love her. That’s all that matters.”

“You don’t think she’ll want more?”

“There is no more,” I said. “Her birth father is a married man who slept with my baby sister and had her killed when he found out she was pregnant.”

Caleb’s face tightened.

“She doesn’t need anyone else. I’m her family. Me.”

He nodded slowly. “Just be careful, man.”

He stood and slowly walked out.

I stood and took Gabby to her room. Her fool of a nanny slept in the corner.

"I’ll fire her first thing in the morning," I muttered.

I laid Gabby in the crib and covered her up. I shut her lights and turned to leave the room. A tiny murmur stopped me.

“G’night, Daddy. I love you.”

I froze.

Then whispered, "I love you too, princess."

I walked back to the living room.

I picked up the file and began to work.

This was it.

The beginning of the end for the Hayes family.

They would pay.

One by one.