Chapter 1 Mr. Grey
Chapter 1
“Mr. Grey”
POV Hannah
I stand outside the Greystone Enterprises building in my snow boots, wearing a thin white frilly blouse, a flashy skirt and a fur coat that probably belongs to my best friend’s toddler, freezing my ass off.
Emily arranged for this interview to get me off her sofa.
Two large guards stand in front of the building like statues.
Maybe they are statues?
I take a deep breath and start putting one foot in front of the other, slowly walking towards the front doors when one of the statues moves.
“You look lost,” the statue says, towering over me.
“I’m here for an interview.” I click my boots together, wondering if I should run back to the safety of Emily’s sofa.
“Your name?”
“Hannah Swan.”
His eyes glaze over.
“You may go in, Miss Swan.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready.”
I step back.
He pulls open the door, slides his arm around my waist and guides me up to the receptionist, then vanishes like he was never there.
“Name,” the receptionist says, sounding annoyed.
Perhaps she stepped on a Lego.
“Miss Swan.”
“Take the elevator on your left to the 42nd floor. Miss Springs will be waiting for you.”
I walk slowly over to the elevator and just stand there while people get in and out.
I smell the sweet scent of bourbon as I sense a man standing next to me, giving off a strong body heat that makes me want to nestle into him.
“Looks like you’re making a big life decision,” the man beside me says in a sultry voice that gives me butterflies and makes my heart race.
I’m frozen.
Six weeks ago I was Zarek Graves’s secret fiancée.
Then he married another woman and my life fell apart.
Now, who am I?
‘Baby steps,’ Cush, my wolf, says.
I step one foot forward, then the other, and stop.
The man at my side does the same.
“Do you want me to carry you?” the man asks.
‘Say yes,’ Cush coos.
I don’t answer and I don’t move either.
An elevator opens off to the side, and the man loops his arm in mine and takes me in.
Two more huge, unblinking guard statues stand inside the elevator unmoving.
“Which floor are you going to?” the man asks sweetly.
I’m lost in my head.
He taps the top floor button.
I watch the numbers ascend, unable to look at anything else.
The minute the doors open, a blonde, blue-eyed doll stands in front with a huge smile.
“The bet was you had to get her to her interview, Draxton.”
“It’s not my fault, Addison, you picked out a dud.”
“I win fair and square. My guy made it to his interview. Pay up.”
I feel the man’s demeanor change as he pulls his arm out of mine, pulls out his wallet, steps forward and shoves several hundred dollars down the blonde girl’s bra.
“You got lucky. You won’t be so lucky next time,” he barks.
‘What an ass. Totally dodged that bullet,’ Cush chimes in.
A well-dressed man who looks like an assistant walks up with coffee all over his shirt, his hair everywhere and lipstick on his collar.
“Mr. Thorn is waiting in conference room two for you, Mr. Grey.”
“What? Calvin, why didn’t you tell me the meeting was pushed ahead and I wouldn’t have wasted my time…”
Mr. Grey looks down at me.
“On this.”
Calvin steps forward, looks me carefully up and down and raises a brow.
“You’re Hannah Swan, Zarek Graves’s personal assistant, aren’t you?” Calvin recognizes me instantly.
“No, you’ve got me mistaken for someone else.” I forget how to breathe and step back.
“Hannah, I’ve seen you in the papers at Zarek’s side. He just married that girl. What’s her name?”
“Melanie Gates.” A tear spills down my cheek.
“Is that why you’re here?” Calvin laughs like my sad life is the funniest thing he’s ever heard. “Were you in love with him? Did you actually believe he’d marry some lonely assistant?”
I don’t know what comes over me, but I suddenly backhand Calvin and kick him hard in the groin.
“Zarek was my fiancé for six years, you piece of shit!” I growl.
Then I turn to Mr. Grey.
“And you pick on the less fortunate to pass the time. You’re a real piece of work, aren’t you?”
I raise my hand to hit him and stop.
“You’re not worth the effort.”
I turn and walk to the elevator.
It opens and a bunch of executives get out. I step in and survey the scene.
Calvin is rolling around on the floor holding his balls. Addison is standing there shocked, and a look of anger, then guilt, flashes across Mr. Grey’s face.
I give them all the one-finger salute as the elevator doors close.
