Page 13 of In A Mood For Mr. Wrong

I smirk, leaning back in my chair. Predictable. Competitive. Just the way I like her.I glance at the clock. She’ll be here soon, walking in with that sharp stride, dressed like she’s ready to conquer the world. She always comes in looking like she’s got the upper hand, except this time, she doesn’t. I grab my coffee and take a slow sip, watching the glass doors toPerfectly Matched. Any second now…There she is.

Navy dress, heels that click purposefully against the marble, hair shining under the office lights. She looksannoyinglygood, like she just walked out of a high-powered CEO fantasy.And the moment she sees me watching her from my office, she slows. Just for a second. Just long enough to let me know she’s noticed.I lift my coffee in a silent toast, smirking.She rolls hereyes and keeps walking. Game on. I turn back to my desk just as Olivia walks in, looking way too pleased with herself.

"We’re set for Elliot’s match," she says, dropping a file onto my desk. "I assume you’re prepared to watch Margot lose?"

I flip open the folder, skimming the details. "More than prepared."

Olivia crosses her arms. "Good. Because something tells me she’s planning something, too, and if I know Margot, she’s not going to play fair."

I grin, tossing the file onto my desk. "Neither am I."

I pull out my phone, fingers hovering over the keyboard, I type:Miss me yet?

A minute later, my phone buzzes.

Margot:Not in the slightest.

I chuckle, shaking my head. Liar.

Time to makemy next move. I glance back at the folder Olivia dropped on my desk. Elliot’s match is scheduled for later this week. That means I have exactly three days to make sure Margot is the one who stumbles first.And I already know how I’m going to do it. I lean forward, tapping Olivia’s desk with the file. "What do you think Margot would do if she thought I wasn’t taking this seriously?"

Olivia tilts her head. "She’d probably throw herself into making sure you fail even harder."

I smirk. "Exactly. So what if we make her think I’ve already lost interest?"

She leans against my desk, intrigued. "Go on."

"She’s expecting me to push back. To fight her head-on. But what if I act like I’m not worried? Like I’ve already won?"

Olivia’s eyes gleam with understanding. "So you’re going to mess with her head."

"I prefer to call it strategic distraction."

She snorts. "Right. And how exactly do you plan to execute thisdistraction?"

I grin, already pulling up my schedule. "Easy. I’m going to take her to lunch."

Olivia blinks. "Excuse me?"

"Lunch," I repeat, standing. "Somewhere nice. Somewhere that will make her question what I’m up to. If I act completely unbothered, she’ll spiral trying to figure out why."

Olivia shakes her head, laughing under her breath. "You are a menace."

"And yet, you’re still helping me."

"Because I want to see how this plays out."

So do I.

I shoot off a quick message to Margot:Hope you’re hungry. I’m taking you to lunch.

It takes less than thirty seconds for her response.

Margot:Excuse me?

Grayson:You heard me. 12:30. I’ll pick the place.

Margot:Absolutely not.

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