Bargaining for the Billionaire Read Free Page A

the form of Hannah Miller, now apparently Hannah McKenzie. He’d taken one look at Hannah and the wheels had started spinning. He’d worked alongside Hannah at Bradbury Books for over a year and a half, while on his little mission to recoup his adoptive father’s good name. He knew darn well she and Maddie O’Riley were joined at the hip, and that they now owned a small, eclectic bookshop downtown. In her sweet smile as Christina attempted to persuade him into participating, the opportunity of a lifetime had presented itself.
    He hit SEND on Gchat and lifted his gaze. Cassie stood before him with one hand planted on her hip and one dark brow arched in silent challenge. Short and petite she might be. Never mind that her pixie haircut made her appear as if she were still in college, despite that she was twenty-eight. But when she wanted to be, Cassie could be damn fierce.
    He released a heavy breath, relenting to her inquisition. “I know. I’ll admit it. I may very well have lost my mind by thinking this up, but I’ve been waiting three years for the chance to finally explain myself to her. I can’t let this opportunity pass me by. Not this time.”
    He’d done everything wrong with Maddie. She shouldn’t have had to find out about his charade in the goddamn newspaper. A little over four years ago, rumors had started that he’d gained his position as CEO of Bradbury Books because his father owned the company. There were also those who knew where he’d come from and speculated that he hadn’t gained his position through hard work, but because Arthur had merely taken pity on a poor street kid. It implied, of course, that Arthur had been a soft-hearted, but feeble-minded old fool. That he wasn’t capable of running his own company, and by default, that Grayson was unfit to take his place after his death.
    Arthur Bradbury had been the only man in his life to prove himself worthy of being called father . He’d been a strict, but kind old man, one who’d taken a dirty kid off the streets and given him a home. He deserved better than to be remembered that way, and Grayson vowed to prove them wrong.
    So, he’d set out to earn the trust of the employees and board members. He wanted to prove he’d earned his position by working his tail off and the only way he could think to do that was to show them, by working down in the trenches with them. He’d started where everyone else did—entry level, with the intention of working his way up. Eventually, he’d reveal himself and set his new plans for the company into motion.
    Except his plan backfired. Six months into the charade, someone discovered the truth and leaked the story to a local newspaper for a buck. Maddie discovered he’d lied to her about who he was before he had the chance to tell her. She’d read that newspaper article and assumed the worst, then ended their relationship point blank. In his defense, he hadn’t known at first whether or not he could trust her. And then fear had gotten to him.
    His childhood before he met Arthur wasn’t a story he liked to remember and it wasn’t something he shared easily. Other than Cassie, not many knew the ugly world Arthur had pulled him from. Most people assumed he’d been a runaway. He’d worried about Maddie’s reaction. Would his past matter to her? When he eventually showed her his back, would the scars disgust her?
    He should’ve told her long before that damn article ever printed. For three years he’d lamented his decision. Now he had the chance to fix it. She might very well walk away from him again, but he had to try. The problem was, Maddie wouldn’t give him the time of day.
    “I let fear get in the way last time, Cassie. I can’t do it again.”
    Cassie shook her head, empathy rising in her eyes. She’d been his best friend for fifteen years; she knew the life he’d lived before Arthur found him. She knew as well the shame that life had stained on his soul. He’d worked hard to move beyond the