Falling from Grace: A Billionaire Romantic Suspense series (The Filth Monger Series Book 1) Read Free

again, was softer, but no less definite. ‘Find somewhere else to be,’ he said, with a sigh. ‘It was always on the cards, I suppose you know that. But quite frankly, we could do without the intrusion, and I’m sure you could do without having to run around after me.’
    I still didn’t speak, just looked at him standing there, calm and unruffled in his crisp, grey suit, and wondered if he’d gone stark raving mad. In fact, I was sure, at the time, he had. What the hell did he think I’d done, for Christ’s sake? I’d done nothing. Nothing to deserve this summary treatment.
    I lifted my chin and turned away, dizzy with disbelief. I was about to walk out of the office when he spoke again. ‘I’m sorry, Grace,’ he said. ‘Really, I am. It can’t be easy. We’ll see you next week, okay?’
    ‘Okay,’ I said, trying hard to keep the wobble from my voice. What the hell was he on about? Why would whatever I’d done be okay next week? Had I made some catastrophic error? Was he covering my back, trying to rectify things, while I was at home, twiddling my thumbs, presumably suspended from duty?
    ‘And you do understand?’ He looked almost beseeching, and reached out to me. For one mad moment, I thought he was actually going to put his arms round me… hug me…. but he didn’t. We both stood there, staring at each other for what seemed an eternity of awkwardness, and it was only when he spoke again that I realised I hadn’t answered.
    ‘You do understand, Grace,’ he repeated. ‘Don’t you?’
    ‘I suppose.’ My reply was almost inaudible. I looked down at the floor. I couldn’t bear him to see the humiliation in my eyes.
    He said nothing else, so presumably the interview was over. I left his office, trying hard to keep my composure, to act as if everything was normal, when it so totally wasn’t.
    Everyone knew, anyway. I could tell the minute I glanced around the office. They were all looking over at me from their booths, several with phones hanging uselessly in their hands.
    Why hadn’t I asked him what I'd done? What had I just stood there and taken it, as if I knew exactly what he was talking about? Why couldn’t I stand up for myself? I looked around for a friendly face amongst all the embarrassed stares.
    Liv! Liv Perry was there, thank God, sitting at her desk. The one person I could depend on. She looked unabashed, but her eyes were just as wide and anxious as Pascale’s had been just a few minutes before. Christ, it felt like a lifetime ago, but it really had been just a few minutes.
    I stumbled over to her desk, and collapsed in the chair next to hers. It wouldn’t be needed for an hour at least. Jeremy was always late. Came in when he wanted, and no one ever asked questions. If only I were already an accounts manager. They got away with anything, if they were good at their job. If I were on their level, I wouldn’t be in this god-awful mess.
    ‘He’s…’ I gulped hard, and racked my brain for an appropriate description. ‘A total dick.’
    Liv put her hand over mine, and gave me a sad smile. ‘He is, hon. A total, total dick. And an idiot.’
    ‘Yes he is.’ I was starting to feel angry now. ‘I do everything for him. He doesn’t know when he’s well off.’
    ‘I know, hon, I know. They never do. That’s the trouble with men.’ She patted my hand. ‘They always think the grass is greener. I should know.’
    I managed a smile, knowing Liv’s dating history. It was a disaster of biblical proportions, but hardly relevant at the moment. I decided to bring the conversation back on track.
    I took a deep breath, knowing my next statement was likely to get me into more trouble, if that were even possible. I hardly cared. It seemed unlikely anyone would overhear, anyway. The phones were practically ringing off the hook. I’d never known a morning like it. A fine day to chuck me out of the office…
    ‘Fucking, fucking Max Flint,’ I declared, in fury.
    ‘Max?’ If Liv had been