Page 109 of Seeing Grayscale

He nods grimly and angles the tablet towards me. I heave again, just barely turning my face in time.

Another photo, deeper into the article on thethirdpage, is of Gray waving at the camera from inside my house. My knuckles blanch as I hold the trash can for dear life.

“You have afelonliving with you? According to this…forweeks?”

I can’t answer her. I can’t stop retching. Somewhere in the distance, my phone rings, and I want to crawl into a hole and die.

“We will call you,” Alex tells her. “For now, please…do not speak to the press.”

I vaguely hear a mumbled agreement, then high heels clicking as she exits. My chin trembles as I try to clean my face again. “The article doesn’t indicate any sort of romantic relationship,” Alex offers.

Nodding, I straighten, my legs wobbling under me. Alex grabs my arm to steady me, and I mumble, “Thanks.”

“We can spin this in our favor. It’s not so bad. Sure, Gray being anex-conisn’t ideal but—”

“I’ll handle it.”

He blinks at me, dark blue eyes fluttering behind his thin glasses. “If you’ll let me finish, I was going to—”

“I said I’ll handle it!” I roar, tearing my arm away and rushing to where my phone sits on the long table.

“Hunter. You’re freaking out.”

“Don’t you think I know that?”

My hands shake as I spot the two missed calls from my dad and several texts. Wave after wave of nausea hit, but I force myself to open the texts. With one hand holding the phone, the other rips at my hair, my fractured psyche welcoming the sting.

Dad: Answer your phone.

Dad: Hunter Everett Kade, answer the phone.

Dad: Your mother is upset. The media is already contacting me for a response. What are you doing? Do you realize howbadthis makes me look?

Dad: I expect you to be home no later than 5 pm.

My eyes well up, my stomach bottoms out, and I see a new one from Gray that came in about thirty minutes ago.

Sweetheart: I passed the test! I did it!

I drop my hand to the table, hang my head, and bite down on my lip to stifle the sob rushing out. Alex gently takes my phone and looks through the texts from my dad. When he blows out a rough breath, I cry harder, shattering completely.

“Hunter,” Alex says gently.

I shake my head, shoulders trembling. “I should’ve listened to you.”

“Well, yes, but it’s too late for should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. We need to come up with a plan. Xavier got these photos and released them to the media, but the way I see it, this is a game to him. If he was going in for the kill, he would’ve gone after Ed, not you, and certainly not Gray. He’s playing with you, flexing his big villain dick. Don’t let him win,” he urges and touches my shoulder.

My voice cracks as I whisper, “He already has.”

Like a switch has been flipped, I snap up, grab my phone, and march out of the meeting room. My legs swiftly carry me down the hall and into my office. From there, I grab my things while Alex is hot on my heels. When I reach the elevator, pounding on the button to call the car, I growl at him to back off.

“Let me help,” he insists.

“I’ll handle it,” I repeat for what feels like the millionth time.

The car reaches the top, and the doors slide open. I step inside, shake my head when he tries to come with me, and as they slowly close, I realize I have no idea how to handle it. I’m not sure that I can. Leaning against the cool steel, I grab my hair repeatedly, squeezing the handle of my briefcase like it’ll keep me grounded.

What thefuckam I going to do?

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