Divorcing The Billionaire On Valentine's Day

21. Grayson

GRAYSON

“Sir, Miss Adeline is here to see you.” Alicia walked through the tiny opening in the door, without knocking. Maybe I was finally getting through to her.

“Did she say what she was here for?” I barely looked up from the paper. It was killing me not to, but desperate was not a good look.

She shook her head before saying, “No sir.”

“Alright then, make her wait a little longer.”

“But sir, she was here with Damian yesterday to see you.” Of course she was. Damian had called and cussed me the hell out for choosing yesterday of all days to take the day off. He went on for minutes nagging me about how I was unserious about the contract and how he finally convinced Adeline to show up only for me to be nowhere. It was all a load of bull. She was the one who chose to stall when we both needed it. It was my turn.

“Alicia, you know I don’t like to repeat myself.” I pinned her with a bored look. She gulped, her eyes the picture of fright as she scurried out of the office. I wanted Adeline to sign the contract, no doubt about that, but she had to know who was in charge. She had to be put in her place.

I went back to clearing up the paperwork I skipped yesterday. Or atleast I tried to. I wonder what was running through her mind. Was she beginning to see the error in her ways? Was she realizing she needed me more than she assumed before? Or was she still stuck on being stubborn.

The door swung open, slamming against the wall with the force of the push.

“You can’t go in there. He’s in a meeti-“ Alicia voice squeaked from behind.

“Well hello to you too.” I said without looking up, I didn’t have to. The smell of whipped cream and espresso that assaulted my nostrils immediately she walked in was enough of a tell.

“So I was right, you really were being petty.”

“And you really are hell bent on getting on my last nerve.” I said in a bored tone, I had enough problems to deal with without her adding to them.

“You know, maybe coming here was a mistake.” She turned to leave, but the uncertainty in her eyes betrayed her. She did want it to work. What happened? She was stalling just a day ago, so why the sudden change. I was never going to satisfy that curiosity though.

“Walk out that door and make sure it’s your last time coming here.” I said easily despite the fire burning in my veins. She was infuriating. Before she had been boring, too bland, but that had been easy to handle. The new version, the one that always seemed to have something to say, she pushed me to depth I couldn’t dare entertain.

That got her attention. Her eyes clouded with nothing but disgust as she stared me down. I didn’t need to hear her utter any words to know what she must have been thinking, how much of an ass I was? Good. Now we were on the same page.

“Has anyone ever told you how much of a- you know what? Never mind.” She waved easily but her hand shook with the annoyance she could barely contain. It almost made me smile. Almost.

“So you can control that mouth of yours.” I poked the bear. Her eyes flared, the warning in them glaring, she was just one comment away from actually attempting to take me off the face of the earth. I would like to see her try.

She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, then opened it again, the next jab just on the tip of her tongue. Maybe I was going mad, but I actually wanted to hear what she came up with next. Her hands balled into fists, her attempt to cocktail her annoyance, and it was just freaking adorable.

“Where’s the revised contract?” She asked instead, surprising me.

“Are you actually going to sign it now or would you need a few days to ready a pen first?” I c****d an accusing brow at her.

“Maybe I might need a pen.” She said with a sugar sweet smile. “To stab you in the freaking gut. Save humanity the pain of your existence.”

I smirked, “A stab to the gut won’t kill me. Especially if it’s coming from you.” I made a point to look at her arms at that moment, I highly doubt there would be any muscle strength for any of the threats she was so fond of.

“Ugh! Just give me the file.” She snapped, failing to admit defeat. But it was okay. I’d let her live in denial a little longer. I pulled the file from the first desk drawer. I always kept it close.

“Here.” I handed it to her and then, added a pen. The flare of red on her forehead was the tell tale that she might be trying her luck with the pen if I kept pushing. Well, I would like to see that.

She snatched the file from my grip, a death glare on her face, at least what was supposed to be a death glare. She just looked like a freaking cat holding back a yawn. It was hilarious.

She took a seat across from me without asking and flipped through the pages. A few minutes later, she crossed her legs like a perfect lady, a sophisticated and calm lady, that she was not. I watched her go through it in silence, she was so focused, squinting her eyes every now and then like she needed glasses but once again was in denial. I took a mental note of it.

“This wasn’t here last time.” Her head finally came up from the paper.

“What wasn’t?”

She frowned. The accusation in her eyes obvious. “This.” She jabbed the bottom of the pen at the fine print. Fine print she was supposed to miss, most people do, most people don’t actually settle down to read a contract line for line before signing. It was either she had a bad experience in the past with contracts with hidden clauses or she just didn’t trust me. My bet? It was both.

“That is only a necessary precaution.” I shrugged.

“Paying a half a million dollars if I want a divorce before the contract ends, is not just a precaution.” She hissed. She was right. It was punishment for her.

“I only added that after your little disappearing act. If you want to blame anyone, blame yourself. Plus, I had to make sure the penalty was something I would…miss as well.” That was a load of bull and we both knew it. Half a million would barely make a pinch to my accounts. It was meant to make sure she got rid of any crazy ideas of divorce.

She raised an unimpressed brow at me, “we didn’t discuss this.”

“Yes, we didn’t discuss a lot of things, like how you plan to work for me when you would be swamped with schoolwork soon.” She frowned like she hadn’t even considered that, but she was quick to catch up before I could jump on the chance to scrap that out, or rather pull out the copy without that particular request included.

“Most of my classes end at 2pm or earlier.”

“And who’s going to do your work while you’re ‘learning’. It won’t be at my expense.”

“I would once I get back.”

“You seem to be misunderstanding me. We start work 8am, and you expect to come and spend less than 4 hours per day and get paid? Do I look like a philanthropist to you?” I leaned back in my seat. Her pen hovered over the line where her signature should have been already.

“I can work in shifts.” Her eyes danced with desperation.

“I’m afraid that won’t work with Johnny under your care and all.”

“I can take him with me, he’d love it.” She rushed in one breath.

“I love the enthusiasm, but my son is not going to be paraded around your school nor would he set a foot in my offside in your company.” There was no way that was happening. Aside the obvious reason, which were the blogs plastering her face everywhere, my office was were I focused and fit things done, that wouldn’t happen if Johnny was suddenly in it.

She went silent and I took it as a win. “What position would you like to start with?” I kept my voice calm and leveled.

“Anyone works fine. I just want to be busy.”

“Be careful what you wish for.” I warned, flipping through the available positions mentally.

She opened her mouth to say something but never did.

“I’d give you a few days, come up with a solution or the work offer is off the table. For now, sign.” I pinned her with a warning look.

She bit her lower lip like it was the hardest decision to make. After a good two minutes of placing the pen on and off the paper, she finally signed the papers.