Secrets Behind The Mask のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

Monday, October 9th, 7:45 AMThe elevator at Taylor Industries took its merry time as Honey shifted her weight from one boring sensible heel to the other. She was back in her disguise…clothing, wig, and glasses all in place.Monday morning had arrived too quickly, bringing with it the dull ache radiating from her waist where Riley's fingers had left their mark. The bruise, hidden beneath her oversized blazer, throbbed with every movement. She was thankful he had left early this morning so she hadn't had to face him. She had stayed in her room until the last possible moment, but she had watched him leave on the security cameras.When the last person on the lift with her stepped off and she was alone, she checked the five distinct purple marks against her pale skin, a perfect imprint of Riley's grip. The sight made her stomach turn, not from the pain but from the memory of his face twisted in rage, so different from Sir's controlled dominance. Sir would never hurt her like Riley. Yes, h

Her blood ran cold. Before she could process the implications, another text came through.Ben: He's destroying your apartment. I have called the police. Get somewhere safe. There's not a lot they can do because he lives there and you are not home."Joy?" Grayson's voice seemed to come from very far away. "What is it?"Honey looked up, her face drained of color. "I—I need to go.""What's happened?" He stood, alarm creeping into his expression."Nothing that concerns you." She tried to sound calm, but her voice shook. "I just need to—"Her phone rang. Ben again. She answered without thinking. Ben must have been worried when she hadn't replied."Honey, listen to me," Ben's voice was urgent. "Not sure if you saw my messages. Riley's trashing your place. He knows you know. Don't go home.""I saw your messages. I understood." Her voice sounded strangely calm to her own ears. "I have a 4:30 appointment with Katherine Blackwell anyway.""Good. Stay away, go to a hotel if you have to. I'll call

Honey almost choked. Her father's casual comment about Grayson being a better match hit uncomfortably close to recent developments in her life. If only he knew about her encounters with Sir at The Velvet Room or worse, that she'd briefly mistaken Grayson for a cheater at the restaurant. She and Grayson were like oil and water. To think of Grayson as anything other than her boss was, well… unthinkable.Two men who couldn't be more different, one her demanding boss with his unexpected moments of kindness, the other a masked stranger who'd awakened desires she'd never acknowledged.Yet neither knew the complete truth about her. Grayson saw only Joy Smith, the plain, efficient CFO. Sir knew only Red, the passionate woman exploring her sexuality. Neither knew Honey Johnson, the woman reclaiming her identity piece by piece. Now she was getting Riley out of her life.She glanced at the clothes Grayson had sent, so different from what Joy would wear, yet still professional. Maybe it was time

Grayson got another message from Morgan.Morgan: I said you can't just ignore me Grayson. Can we meet?Yes, he could ignore her and he no, he didn't owe Morgan a thing."Mr. Taylor?" Joy's voice.He looked up to find the entire room watching him, again."Personal matter," he said tersely. "Continue, Smith."His Velvet Room phone buzzed:Red: I can't meet before Friday. Too complicated right now. But I wish I could. I need you. The honesty in those words hit him square in the chest. She needed him. Trusted him. Was counting on him to keep her safe.He typed back:Sir: Then Friday it is. And Red? Whatever's happening in your life, whatever complication you're dealing with, you can tell me. I'll help if I can. He hit send and looked up to find Joy watching him with an odd expression. For a moment, their eyes locked across the table, and something passed between them. Recognition? Awareness?Then Joy blinked and looked away, back to her presentation notes."As I was saying," Patricia co

Tuesday, October 10th 7:30 PMGrayson arrived at The Capital Grille fifteen minutes early, securing their usual corner booth and ordering a whiskey. The restaurant hummed with quiet power and dark wood, leather, the kind of establishment where deals were closed and secrets were kept. Where wealthy businesspeople congregated, not always the honest ones.His Velvet Room phone sat heavy in his pocket. He'd resisted texting Red for the last few hours, wanting to save the anticipation for tonight. The promise he'd made… to call her, he might just tell her exactly what he planned for Friday night had his blood running hot every time he thought about it. Phone sex. Something he hadn't done in years.But first, Nate. His best friend since they were five, the man who'd stood beside him through every major decision. The man currently navigating his own personal hell.Nate Young appeared in the entrance, and concern jolted through Grayson. His friend looked rough. The normally impeccable CEO had