Page 68 of In A Mood For Mr. Wrong

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “We need you to make a statement backing Grayson’s leadership.”

Cassian smirks. “Why would I do that?”

Grayson exhales, rubbing a hand over his face. “Cassian.”

Cassian grins. “Oh, relax, King. OfcourseI’ll do it. It’s just sofunto make you beg.”

Beside him, Isabella snorts, adjusting the oversized sunglasses perched on her head. “He just enjoys making people suffer. Ignore him.”

Grayson glares. “I will throw you both out.”

Cassian leans against my desk, completely unfazed. “Eleanor is good. I’ll give her that. But she made a mistake.”

I tilt my head. “What mistake?”

“She’s underestimating the fact that peoplelovea comeback story.”

I blink, realization hitting me all at once. “You’re right.”

Grayson frowns. “Explain.”

I turn to him, excitement bubbling in my chest. “She’s banking on people seeing you asillegitimate. But if we flip thenarrative, if we frame you as someone whobuilt this company from the ground up, despite the odds, suddenly, you’re not the fraud. You’re theunderdog.”

Cassian claps his hands together. “See?Shegets it.”

Olivia is already typing furiously. “We release an exclusive feature. Something big. Somethingsweepingthat reminds the world exactly why Grayson Kingisthe backbone ofPerfectly Matched.”

Grayson exhales slowly, nodding. “Okay. What’s the angle?”

I smile. “We remind them who youreallyare.”

Twelve hours later,the article drops. It’s a full-lengthNew York Timesexclusive, titled:

“The Man Who Built Love: How Grayson King Became the Heart ofPerfectly Matched”

It isdevastatinglyeffective. The article dives deep into Grayson’s history, detailing how he stepped into the company at twenty-two, how he revolutionized the brand, how he builtPerfectly Matchedinto the global empire it is today. There are interviews with satisfied clients, former employees, even industry competitors who grudgingly admit that Grayson isirreplaceable.

The best part? Cassian, in his infinite wealth and influence, makes sure the article iseverywhere.

It trends on every social media platform. It’s on the cover of business magazines. It’s featured on morning talk shows. By noon, #GraysonKingMatters is the top-trending hashtag. Eleanor’s carefully constructed smear campaign? Shattered in less than a day.

The next morning,Olivia bursts into Grayson’s office, barely containing her excitement.

“She’spissed,” she announces gleefully, throwing a stack of printed headlines onto his desk.

Grayson picks up the top one: “Boardroom Battle: WillPerfectly MatchedBetray Its Founder?”

He glances at me, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Looks like we rattled her.”

Olivia nods. “She’s scrambling to regain control of the narrative. She tried to get a counter-article published, but no one is buying it. The board isnervous. We bought ourselves time.”

Cassian claps a hand over Grayson’s shoulder. “Told you people love a comeback story.”

Grayson exhales, his blue eyes flicking to mine. “That was smart, Evans.”

Warmth spreads through me at the way he looks at me, pride, admiration, something softer, something deeper.

I shrug. “Iamthe brains of this operation.”

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