Chapter 25

Ethan's POV

I stepped into my office and immediately narrowed my eyes.

Sprawled across the couch like it was his damn living room, was no other than my grandfather looking right at home.

“Well, look who it is” he grinned. “Still working at this very ungodly hour? You ever go home?”

“You showed up because you knew I’d be here,” I muttered, loosening my tie. “What do you want, Grandpa?”

“Can’t I drop by to see my one and only grandson?” he said, strolling around the room like he paid the rent.

“You’re trespassing in a private office.”

“I’m the chairman of the company.”

“I own this space.”

“And I pay your salary.”

“Still not the same thing,” I replied flatly.

He clutched his chest in mock pain. “No hug? No tea? Just attitude?”

“I’m busy.”

“Have David get it then.”

“He’s not your personal butler.”

“He’s practically family.”

I clenched my jaw. “He’s my assistant.”

Grandpa flopped down again. “Where is he, anyway?”

“He went home. Like a normal person.”

Grandpa checked his watch. “It’s nearly ten. You planning to spend the night again?”

“I said I’m busy.”

“Busy, my foot. Burnout doesn’t build empires.”

I kept my hands on the desk to stop them from balling into fists. “Say what you came to say.”

He smirked. “I heard you got dumped.”

“What?”

“Blind date girl ditched you. Said you were too intense.”

My brow twitched. “Did David tell you that?”

“Well, who else?”

“Did he also tell you I’m marrying someone else?”

“He did,” Grandpa said, voice suddenly flat. “Which only makes it worse. You’re telling me a woman agreed to marry you after one meeting?”

“Why is that hard to believe?”

“Because it’s you,” he said instantly. “And if a woman’s willing to marry someone that fast, I don’t trust her.”

“I see your bias is still strong.”

“You’re embarrassed. It’s fine. I already lined up your next blind date.”

My head snapped up. “What?”

“Next week. Creswell Holdings’ daughter.”

I blinked. “You set me up with Ken Bennett’s rival’s kid?”

“They’re reputable. Just like the Bennetts.”

He’s really doing corporate matchmaking now?

“I’m seeing someone,” I said, voice cold.

“Lying to get out of a date? Pathetic.”

“I’ll bring her this weekend.”

One brow lifted. “You serious?”

“Dead serious. Sunday. You’ll meet her yourself.”

“Didn’t you say you were dumped?”

“That was Riley. This is someone else.”

“So there really is someone. You move fast.”

“It was love at first sight.”

He stared. “You. Mr. Calculated. Fell in love at first sight? Sounds like a scam.”

“You asked. I answered.”

We stared each other down.

“…Fine,” he said finally. “I’ll play along.”

I exhaled slowly.

“But—” he added, “if you’re lying, you’ll go on the blind date and start joining me for weekly skeet shooting.”

I flinched.

“I know how much you hate shooting with me,” he chuckled. “Consider it punishment if you can’t deliver.”

“Sunday,” I said, standing. “You’ll see her with your own eyes.”

Grandpa smirked, shaking my hand. “You’d better hope she’s real. Because if you show up alone…”

He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to.

I had four days to make Harper believable enough to fool the most cunning man in New York.

And somehow… convince her to actually show up.

Harper’s POV

“Ugh! That’s the fifth egg—” I groaned, staring at the shattered yolk on the floor. “Are these things allergic to my hands today or what?”

With a sigh, I dropped into my chair and caught sight of my reflection.

One eye looked tired. The other?

Purple. Puffy. Hideous.

“Great. Real cute, Harper. Real. Damn. Cute.” I leaned closer and gently poked the bruise. “My face was all I had going for me.”

My door creaked. Jason walked in, holding a tray of fresh eggs.

“I heard cold eggs work better on bruises than ice. These just came in…” He froze. “Holy crap, it’s worse than yesterday. Are you sure you don’t wanna stay home longer? Or… maybe a hospital?”

I smiled. “Nah. It’s just a bruise. If I went in, they’d give me Tylenol and a \$500 bill. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

He frowned. “Sorry... I shouldn’t have let that stupid plant sit there. I didn’t even know Eric gave it to us until Riley told me.”

Right. The incident.

Chasing Riley with a broom. Knocking over the mop bucket. That bucket taking out Eric’s plant. The pot flying. Hitting my face.

Also bumping my head on the fridge right after.

Honestly, it was impressive I still had a functioning brain.

“It’s fine. I’m a tank,” I shrugged.

Still, he looked guiltier than a kid who’d broken a window.

‘I’m fine, Jason. This isn’t your fault,’ I wanted to say.

But deep down... we both knew who really needed to pay.

Riley. Freaking. Bennett.

‘She’s the real reason I look like a low-budget Halloween raccoon.’

Okay—yes, she’d been working overtime to make it up to me. But still.

DING.

I looked down at my phone and froze.

Jason darted back in. “Sis? Are you okay? Is it your eye?! Should we call someone—?”

“N-No! I’m fine!” I shoved him out. “Just, uh... give me a minute, okay? Restaurant needs you more than I do!”

He left reluctantly.

I stared at the message:

‘Ethan Reynolds:’ Confirmed the meeting with my grandfather for this Sunday. I’ll give you the time and address tomorrow.

I dropped my phone like it was radioactive.

“THIS IS NOT A WORK PROBLEM!” I howled, dragging both hands through my hair. “IT’S A FULL-BODY EMERGENCY!”