Divorcing The Billionaire On Valentine's Day

27. Grayson

GRAYSON

Pissed didn’t even begin to cover the anger that bubbled through me all day. Batshit furious came closer.

At first I thought Alicia was being too pessimistic and forward with the whole Blacks pulling out to the contract text, but she wasn’t. Carl Black was really going to do something as illogical as pulling out of a mutually beneficial contract because of ‘family’, because his son wasn’t allowed to spearhead it, his inexperienced son, his son who couldn’t tell an iron clad contract from a landmine filled contract.

I should have just accepted the terms and used that to my advantage, but there was a high chance Carl Black would vet it and it would come to bite me in the ass. It was either that or our competition would sense it and use it against us. Either way, I would be f****d and not in the way I’d prefer to be.

A groan raged from my throat as I stared at the unsigned contract for the umpteenth time that day. First thing I had done the moment I got into the office was call up that air head assistant of his. Waste of time. All she had to offer was ‘Mr Black doesn’t wish to be disturbed’. A waste of space. Of course I knew he doesn’t wish to be, the point was for you to get me across. I didn’t want to use the whole Archer card, but she was going to pay for that.

I slammed the drawers shut harder than necessary. The sun was completely gone, yet going home felt like a disappointment. I didn’t change s**t. But I was going to make someone pay for this mess and I had just the perfect victim in mind.

The drive home was silent as always, just the way it should be. Edwin knew better than to disturb or ask unnecessary questions when I was in a foul mood.

“Leave the car here, you can take the rest of the night off.” I told him as I made my ways into the house.

The moment I stepped through the door, I knew something was off. The room was too quiet. I checked my Rolex to be sure I wasn’t the one who just lost track of time. I wasn’t. It was just a little past four. Not even close to Johnny’s bedtime. He should be running around or playing with his Addie as usual.

I just wanted to get a change of clothes but I guess nothing would be going my way today. I made a detour for Johnny’s room, half expecting and half hoping to see Addie there. No such luck. He was seated in the chair at the centre of his room with a pencil clutched tightly in his small hand and his sketchbook before him, but he wasn’t focused, his gaze was far and worried.

“Hey buddy,” I managed a smile for him.

He rushed my way, I crouched on one knee to match his height, “Daddy! You’re back early!” He wrapped his arms around my torso, or at least tried to, he made it to about one eighth of my width before he was out of arm length.

I ruffled his hair, “Why are you holed up in here? Where’s Adeline?” It was a little strange for Johnny to be alone at this time. It was their game time, one of the few activities I actually was in support of.

The smile on his face dropped, a worried look took its place, his brows kissed in a frown, “Addie hasn’t come outside since morning and her room is locked.” He whined.

“You haven’t had anything to eat all day?” I couldn’t keep the outrage from my voice. Just day one and she was already acting out. She had one purpose in the house and she couldn’t even do just that, why was I bothering with clearing her name then?

“I have!” His tiny voice rushed like he could already sense his Addie was about to get in big trouble. Smart boy. “She made me my favorites but she hasn’t come out to play all day. I knocked on her door, but she didn’t answer.” His eyes welled up with tears. Poor boy probably thought his Addie was angry with him, if only he knew she could never be. I’m at least ninety percent certain that he was part of the reasons she had agreed to the contract.

“I’m sure she just had a bad day.” I wiped the streaks of tears, “are you done with your drawing?”

“Not yet. I don’t feel like drawing again.” He shook his head, his eyes still a little teary.

“That’s fine too. Just try to catch some sleep or do you want to watch SpongeBob?”

“Will Addie join me?” His smile was back.

“I’m not sure for now. I want to go check on her.” Just as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone.

“I would just stay here.” He moved away from the half hug. I let him. I had too much to take care of for now. But first, I had to find out what the issue was with Adeline.

I locked the door behind me and just moved a little down the hall. Adeline’s room was deliberately close to Johnny’s. I knocked on the door. Silence.

“Adeline, it’s Grayson.” I rapped my fist against the door when I was once again met with silence. Against my better judgement and out of pure curiousity, I leaned against the door. I shouldn’t have.

A strange feeling squeezed my gut. Silent sobs filled the silence, the sound like she was trying to muffle it with her arm. I thumped against the wood harder. What the f**k? Was it the blogs? A line of guilt jabbed at my gut. I shouldn’t have fueled them, but it was a necessary evil. We would both benefit from it. She was getting more than just the blogs leaving. I was helping her with even when she didn’t realize she needed help.

I checked my Rolex again, a few minutes past five. It was getting late. I would just have to deal with it later.

I made the detour to my room, changed into a fresh set of clothes, a plain black shirt, a pair of black sweats and some running shoes; easy to assume I was just on a late night run. I got into the Bentley and typed in the address.

It was on the other side of town, then area reserved for failed con artists, aspiring and struggling stars and anyone without the budget for a decent three meals a day. It was the s**t hole of the town. Scratch that, it was the s**t hole of the s**t hole.

Picket fence houses gave way to trailer houses, multiple street lights gave way to at most two lights for a mile till there was hardly any light illuminating the way, and the only light that was there flickered like it was on its last life. Just like Aaron.

I packed the car two streets away from his trailer home and jogged the rest of the way to his trailer home, if it was even worthy of being called that.

I bounced my fist against the rusty door, bile rose up my throat at the sight of it, but worse with the smell that emanated through the windows. The entire place looked like a dump.

“Who is it?!” His gruff voice yelled. I kept quiet, shoved the hood over my head and knocked harder. “What the he-“ The words died in his throat as the door swung open and his face settled on me. Before he could recover I shoved him aside with the door and let myself in.

The lighting, just like everything else, was on its last life, barely illuminating anything, but I’ve spent enough time in the dark of my room that it was basically the same thing.

“Wha-what are yo- what are you doing here? How did you find me?” He rushed all at once, eyeing the windows like he was preparing to bolt at any moment. Like that was going to happen.

I stalked towards him, glared at him with all the annoyance from having to deal with his stupid decisions and worse losing a contract because of his most recent theatrics.

“The only thing you should concern yourself with is how you’re going to tell the truth to everyone.” I hissed and grabbed his arm just as he was about to bolt. He wasn’t even man enough to stand his ground. Pathetic.

“I wasn’t, I mean I didn’t ha-“ I pinned him with a bored look.

“Lying would only make things worse!” I tightened my hold on his arm and shoved him against the nearest couch, the weak thing crashed with his weight, shattering into pieces. I pounced on him, I hadn’t even realized how truly and royally pissed I was till I was looking at his stupid face.

I threw a punch at him, then another, and another, loving the groans of pain that emanated from his lips, the blood that had begun to spill from his bloodied lip. He deserved every bit of it for the troubles he had caused.

“Now listen closely, because I would only say this once,” I twisted his hand backwards, he whined. Like I cared. “You would call your little helpers. I’ve scheduled a press conference. All you have to do is tell the truth, tell them how you staged everything and cooked up the stories that were posted,” I twisted the arm further backwards, “do you hear me?!” I snapped when all he could do was cry like a little b***h. Typical.

“Yes! f**k! Let go of my arm!” He managed to choke out. “I would even tell them how your little b***h f****d me to make me do it.” He spat.

All I saw was red, red hot anger that flooded my senses like lava. I punched his chest, drilled my fist into his stomach, biceps, sides of his torso, places I knew a shirt could easily cover. He cried and begged, pleading for mercy, but I was passed that. I gave him that chance. Satisfied with how impossible it was for him to sit still, I pulled back.

“I thought you might say that. So here’s the deal. Clear up your mess or I would call Advil Carpenter,” his eyes flared at the mere mention of his name. Good. “Take care of it or I would call him and collect on a favour he owes me. You see that little acting career you’re trying so hard to claw onto? Yeah. That would be non-existent.” I made sure he saw the look on my face as I said it.

“You can’t do that. You can’t just mess with people’s lives like that!” He raged. It was pointless. It made me more than happy that he had begun to feel an inkling of my anger.

“How ironic.” I tilted my head to the side.

“You won’t do it!” He yelled out.

“Try me.” I stormed out of his trailer and slammed the door hard, half hoping it would tumble over itself.