Beneath the suit

Chapter 4: The Fragile Shield

The marble lobby felt huge and quiet like a tomb. The city sounds outside. Cars hissing on pavement horns honking. Seemed to be from a different world. Inside the air was thick with tension making it hard to breathe.

Grace stood still, her fingers lightly touching Leo's forest shirt sleeve. The fabric felt normal. The man wearing it looked foreign. His slouch was gone, replaced by a military posture that made him seem taller. Her forearm throbbed where Richards' fingers had clamped down. That ache was nothing compared to the confusion swirling through her mind.

Richard Henderson, the man who had helped her after her dad died was trembling. He wasn't just angry; he looked sick his eyes darting from Leos face to the blinking screen of the courier's digital pad.

"Get out of this office Richard " Leo said. His voice was low and calm without the energy of a public argument. "Go upstairs pack a small box and wait for the compliance team to arrive. If you try to access the network the security team will remove you in handcuffs."

Richard swallowed hard his face turning gray. He opened his mouth to protest. When he met Leos gaze he lost his courage. He took a step back turned and headed toward the elevators. He didn't look back at Grace. Say a word.

The courier at the desk looked between Leo and the heavy sealed envelope his hands shaking slightly. "Uh... Sir? Do I leave the package here or...?"

"Leave it with the head of security " Leo instructed. He looked at the guard, who nodded. "Keep it in the vault until the audit team from Manhattan arrives tomorrow morning. No one touches it."

The guard took the heavy cardboard sleeve. Leo turned to face Grace. The authoritative mask he wore began to fracture his brow furrowing with concern. He reached out his hands hovering near her arms. Didn't touch her. "Are you alright? Your arm. Let me see."

Grace didn't move. She stared at him her eyes wide searching his face for the temp worker she thought she knew.. That man felt distant now.

"Who are you?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "Richard looked at you like you were his executioner.. You just gave orders like you own the building. Leo please. What is happening?"

Leo closed his eyes a sigh escaping his lips. When he opened them the corporate steel was gone, replaced by vulnerability. "Let's get out of the lobby, Grace. Not here. Come with me."

"No " she said, taking a step back. "No I am not going anywhere with you until you tell me the truth. I have spent three years dealing with secrets and people pretending to be something they're n't. I can't do this again. Just tell me."

Leo looked around the lobby noticing the glances from office workers. He knew he couldn't keep the truth hidden. The risk to her safety and career was too high.

"My name is Leo Vance " he said softly. "I am the Chief Executive Officer of Hayes Global Enterprises."

Grace froze. Her heart felt like it had stopped beating. The name was on every memo she filed on the glass doors of the New York headquarters. It belonged to the wealthiest man under thirty-five in the country.

She looked at his shirt and messy hair. "You... You're a temp " she stammered. "You came from the agency."

"I falsified the entry " Leo explained, his voice full of regret. "I used a master administration override to place myself in the system under my name Alexander. I came here to see the ground reality for myself."

Grace felt anger pierce through her shock. "An investigation " she said, her voice rising. "You came here to spy on us. You sat at my desk drank my coffee and listened to me complain while you were secretly evaluating us?"

"No, Grace that's not why I stayed " Leo stepped closer his expression desperate. "I found out Richard was embezzling millions. He used your digital signature keys to authorize transfers. He set you up to take the fall for a crime."

The room seemed to tilt. Grace reached out her hand finding the reception counter to steady herself. The pieces of her morning began to collide.

"He told me it was an expansion fund " she whispered, tears spilling over her lashes. "He said New York had approved the upgrades. I trusted him. He was my dad's friend."

"I know " Leo said, his voice gentle. "I ran the network diagnostics myself. I know you didn't do this Grace. I saw the file metadata. I know he manipulated your credentials."

Grace looked down at his hand touching hers. The warmth was the same. Everything else was a lie. He wasn't a fellow worker; he was the king inspecting his peasants.

"You should have told me " she said, pulling her hand away. "The moment you knew I was being framed you should have told me the truth."

"I wanted to protect you from the fallout until I had proof to clear your name " Leo argued, his blue eyes searching hers for forgiveness. "If I had told you earlier your behavior, around Richard would have changed. He would have known something was wrong."

"Everyone plays a role " Grace said bitterly. She was clearly emotionally drained from the twenty-four hours. Her professional composure had finally cracked. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. Her jaw tightened.

"Julian played the role of the fiancé until I lost my money. Richard played the role of the mentor while he stole millions using my name.. You... You played the role of the sweet broke temp who cared about my feelings when really you were just managing a crisis."

Leo spoke up. His voice cracked with intensity. He seemed surprised by his emotions.

"Grace, what I said to you yesterday at the diner. About your worth and Julian. That wasn't part of a strategy. I have spent years surrounded by people who only see my title and my fortune. Being with you yesterday just being 'Leo' to someone who didn't want anything from me... It felt really genuine. Please believe me."

Grace looked at him for a time. She seemed to be processing her thoughts. Her world had changed for the first time in three years. She felt lost.

"I need to go Mr. Vance " she said softly. She used his title like a barrier between them.

Leo winced at the formality.

"Grace the audit team will be here tomorrow. I need you to stay safe. Richard is desperate. If he realizes what I have on him he might try to contact you."

Grace straightened her coat.

"I can handle my life. I've been doing it without a billionaire CEO's protection for a time. I’m going to go to my apartment. I’m going to call my mother.. I’m going to figure out how to hire a lawyer who doesn't cost a fortune."

She walked away. Leo watched her go. His hands were clenched at his sides.

By nine o'clock that evening it was raining in Boston. The rain was hitting the windows of Grace’s apartment.

The apartment was modest. There was a bedroom with a combined kitchen and living space. It smelled of wood and lavender tea.

Grace sat on the sofa. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The TV was on. The volume was muted.

Her phone was next to her. It had vibrated six times in three hours. There were three calls from Ruby and three text messages from a number. Leo Vance.

"Grace please let me send a car to secure your building."

"Grace the compliance files are clean. Your name is clear in the system."

"Just let me know you're safe."

She hadn't answered any of them.

A sudden knock on her door broke the silence.

Grace flinched. Her heart was racing. She looked at the door.

It wasn't Richard or Leo. It was Julian Cross. He was standing in the hallway. He was holding an umbrella. His expression was a mix of irritation and impatience.

* "Julian? What are you doing here? How do you know where I live?" Grace asked.

Julian chuckled.

* "It takes a phone call to find an address in this city. Unhook the chain. It’s freezing outside."

Grace hesitated. She. Unlatch the chain. She opened the door fully. Stood in the center of the frame.

* "State your business, Julian. I am having a day. I am not in the mood for games."

Julian stepped into the entryway. He looked around her apartment with disdain.

* "I came because I’ve been hearing rumors from the district. Apparently, your boss was caught running a fraud ring. They say he’s done for.. They say his executive assistant is right at the center of the investigation."

Grace’s defensive walls went up.

* "The compliance team verified the files. I had nothing to do with Richards accounting."

Julian smiled.

* "Maybe not.. The police don't always look at details first. A scandal like this... It ruins a reputation permanently. If your name is attached to an embezzlement case you’ll never get a job higher than a retail cashier in this state again. Your father’s legacy will be buried under mud."

Grace snapped.

* "Why do you care? You made it clear eight months ago that my reputation and my father's legacy were no longer your concern. Go back to Sophia."

Julian waved his hand.

* "Sophia is fine.. Sophia doesn't have the history I have with you, Grace.. Frankly, when I saw you in that lobby today... You looked different. You had some fight in you.. That boyfriend of yours—Leo was it?" Julian’s eyes narrowed.

* "I had my assistant run a search on 'Leo Alexander' in the corporate tech databases. Nothing came up. No consultant matches, no profiles. He’s a nobody, Grace. A fraud you hired to look good in front of me."

Grace had to suppress a laugh.

* "So I came to offer you a deal " Julian said.

* "The gala is Saturday. Everyone who matters in Boston will be there. My family is announcing a real estate venture, with the city council. If you show there alone with a corporate scandal hanging over your head you'll be a pariah."

* ". If I don't go?" Grace asked.

"Then you prove me right " Julian said with a smile. "You're stuck. You gave up.. If you come with me I can help you get a job at Cross Holdings. My family can protect you. I can make things right for you socially before the press finds out."

Grace stared at him shocked by his offer. He wanted to save her. Only to control her. He wanted her to be grateful and dependent on him.

"Julian what about Sophia?" Grace asked calmly.

"Sophia gets business " Julian said. "A relationship is like an investment.. I want to invest in you but you have to drop the act with the temp guy and admit you need my help."

The intercom buzzed, interrupting them. Julian frowned. "Do you have someone coming over?"

Grace didn't answer. She went to the intercom. Pressed the talk button. "Who is it?"

"Grace it's Leo " a deep voice said. "I'm downstairs. The front door was open so I'm on my way. We need to talk."

Julian's face darkened. He opened the door. Stepped out into the hallway.

"He's here " Julian called out. "You're wasting your time. I'm talking to Grace about her future. It doesn't involve some guy who rents his suits."

The sound of footsteps echoed up the stairs. Leo appeared on the landing. He was wearing a Tom Ford suit and a Rolex. He looked powerful and in control.

Julian was speechless. Leo didn't even look at him. He just stared at Grace.

"Grace I told you I'd take care of you " Leo said. "That includes getting rid of people like him."

Julian found his voice. "Who are you? What's going on?"

Leo looked at Julian. "I'm Leo Vance.. If you don't leave now my lawyers will make sure your family's project with the city council is stuck in court for a long time."

Julian paled. He looked at Leo's face and his Rolex. He realized who he was dealing with. The hallway was silent, with Julian standing unsure of what to do.