Chapter 2

After resting over the weekend, Aaron showed up on time Monday.

He worked as usual, then went to remind Gracie about her meeting.

Through her half-open office door, he spotted Julian holding her and feeding her a cookie he'd already bitten.

Gracie was a germaphobe. Now she smiled, took a bite, and kissed his fingers.

"You wanted something from that bakery yesterday, so I waited in line for three hours this morning," she said softly. "How is it?"

"So good. Not too sweet. Just like before. You used to go all that way for me. But you're a CEO now. Why not send a secretary?"

She stroked his cheek, her eyes warm. "For you? I'd rather go myself."

Julian smiled and pulled her in for a kiss.

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him harder, lost in it.

Aaron's breath caught. His chest ached.

He clenched his fists, knuckles white, nails digging into his palms until they bled.

Minutes passed. The meeting was about to start.

He pulled himself together and knocked.

"Ms. Weinstein, it's time for your meeting."

Gracie started to get up, but Julian pulled her back.

"Don't go. Stay a little longer."

She melted.

"Push it back two hours."

Several major companies in Valdora City were involved in the project. This meeting was crucial to her company's future.

Aaron had to try again.

"The CEOs of Ashford Group, Hawthorne Group, and Sterling Corp are already waiting..."

"Ugh, Gracie. Your secretary's so annoying. Can't he take a hint?"

Gracie's face went cold.

"I said two hours. Julian comes first!"

Aaron's chest tightened. He could barely breathe.

He closed the door and walked away without a word.

Everyone knew Gracie was a workaholic. Even after surgery, she'd worked through recovery until everything was done.

Now she was keeping major business partners waiting over a guy. She'd never done that before.

'Does she love Julian that much?'

Aaron lowered his eyes, shoved his feelings down, and went to apologize to the CEOs.

They were furious, but Weinstein Corp had too much power for them to lash out at Gracie.

So they tore into him.

He kept his head down and took it for two hours.

Then Gracie finally showed up.

Aaron left the conference room, his legs numb and aching. Julian stopped him.

"So you're Aaron? Gracie says you make great coffee. Everyone looks tired. Go make some for the whole office. Mine's iced, no sugar."

Gracie's backing had gone straight to Julian's head. Aaron didn't dare say no.

He spent two hours making over four hundred coffees and carrying them out, cup by cup.

Julian took one sip and hurled the mug at him.

It hit Aaron's forehead, opening a deep cut.

He cried out, clutched his bleeding head, and dropped to the floor.

Julian grabbed more cups and kept throwing.

The blows left bruises. Broken ceramic sliced his skin. Coffee soaked his clothes, dripping onto the floor with his blood.

Aaron could only curl up and shield his head and chest.

The office went silent. Everyone stood back. No one stepped in.

The noise brought Gracie out.

She frowned at the mess and Aaron bleeding on the floor.

"What happened?"

Julian instantly looked innocent. "Gracie, I asked him for coffee. My stomach already hurts, and he put ice in it. Now it's about to cramp."

Gracie's face darkened at his red eyes.

"Four years working for me, and you can't get this right? Or did you do it on purpose because you have a problem with Julian?"

Aaron looked up, pale, and tried to explain. She cut him off and called her assistant, Danny Paine.

"Aaron Austine violated company policy. Dock this month's pay and his quarterly bonus.

"Send a company-wide notice. He'll apologize at next week's staff meeting."

Then she helped Julian walk away.