Semua Bab PerFecT LovE: Bab 21 - Bab 30

~~~The tension in Noah's office had not eased for even a second.Lora was still standing near his desk with her arms fisted, looking ready to explode at the slightest provocation.Noah, meanwhile, looked exhausted already.Near the door, James just forced a fake smile with Grace by his side.Lora's glare landed on Grace instantly.Noah smiled."Good morning, sir," Grace said as she stepped into the office. "You sent for me?""Yes, Miss Bush, I did." Noah gestured toward one of the chairs. "Please, have a seat.""Thank you, sir."Grace sat down and pretended not to notice the woman glaring at her.Although it was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the fact that she looked like she wanted to throw something at her.Near the door, James remained exactly where he was. Technically, he should probably leave and give them privacy.But nope, he stayed there.Noah looked at Grace. "Do you know who this is?" He pointed toward Lora.Grace glanced at the woman. Then back at Noah."No, sir.

~~~That day felt different.Grace's eyes flew open before the alarm could ring.She blinked at the ceiling. Then a smile slowly spread across her face."Oh..."Today was her first day as an official staff member at O.S. Publishing.No wonder she couldn't sleep.She rolled out of bed, humming softly to herself as she stretched.For once, getting ready for work didn't feel like a chore. Standing in front of her wardrobe, she frowned."What do I even wear?"Usually, she would grab the first decent outfit she saw… but not today.After changing twice, she finally settled on fitted white pants, a black turtleneck, and white heels.She faced the mirror. "Not bad."Her hand reached for the hair tie on the dresser.She stopped. A smile tugged at her lips."...No."Instead, she ran her fingers through her long hair and let it fall naturally over her shoulders.Much better. It was a tiny change.But somehow... Today deserved one.She picked up the white handbag that matched her outfit and took o

~~~~A Few Minutes Earlier...James hurried out of Noah's office, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click.The moment he stepped into the hallway, he looked around until his eyes landed on Grace. "There you are."He walked straight toward her, much faster than usual. "Grace!"His voice echoed across the department, making several staff members look up from their desks.James forced an awkward smile."Sorry to interrupt everyone." He waved a hand. "Please... go back to whatever you were pretending to do."A few people coughed and immediately buried their faces in their work.Only then did James stop in front of Grace."I need you to come with me."Grace blinked. "Me?""Yes. Right now."She frowned. "Why?" She glanced toward the president's office. "Does the boss need me already?"James opened his mouth, then closed it again. "No time for questions. Just follow me."Before Grace could protest, he grabbed her hand and started pulling her along."And grab the papers," he added, tap

~~~Grace headed toward the photocopy room with a stack of documents tucked against her chest... There was actually another photocopier much closer to James's office.She knew that.She just wasn't in the mood to spend the next ten minutes answering his questions. A little distance sounded nice.Besides, making copies gave her the perfect excuse to disappear for a while and clear her head. Or so she thought.The moment she stepped into the hallway, she felt someone watching her. Grace slowed slightly and glanced around. Then she found the source.Susan... Great! She was sitting a few feet away; her eyes locked on Grace with the same unpleasant glare she'd been wearing for weeks.Grace frowned.Seriously... What now?She hadn't even said a word, yet Susan looked ready to pick a fight.What was her problem this time?***Susan watched Grace walk down the hallway, and her jaw tightened. Every time she looked at that woman, she became more irritated.How had someone like Grace Bush ended

~~~They settled at a table by the window; Grace leaned back and closed her eyes for a second.A cool breeze drifted in from the river, brushing against her face.She smiled without realizing it. When was the last time I felt this relaxed?She couldn't remember. For the first time that day, it felt like she could finally breathe.A cheerful voice pulled her back. "So..." the shopkeeper said with a grin as he walked over. "What can I get for the two of you tonight?"Grace picked up the menu and glanced through it. "I'll have a beer," she said. "The cheapest one... and something with low alcohol."She smiled sheepishly. "I promised I'd only have one drink, and I plan to keep that promise."The shopkeeper laughed. "Going for the budget-friendly choice, huh?" He nodded approvingly. "I like that."Then he turned to Noah. "And you, Mr. Creed?"Noah didn't even bother looking at the menu. "I'll have whatever she's having." He glanced at Grace with a faint smile. "Oh... and don't forget my usu