Grace Anne - By Kathi S. Barton Page 0,81
her. The doctor and even Cain said it could happen. Plus, the papers are already making it sound as if you’re marrying some lunatic and I know your business deals have slowed.” She tossed him the paper open to the financial page. “Your stock has dropped over eighteen points since this all hit the paper.”
He didn’t even bother looking at it as he threw it in the trash can. “So? You think I care what one paper says about you and me? I don’t. I love you.” He started to come toward her and she raised her hand to stop him. “You’re really going to tell me that all this matters to you?”
“It should matter to you as well. You have a reputation to uphold.” She turned her back to him as she continued. “You should go. I can’t…I won’t marry you. You should simply move on with your life.”
The door closing to the room felt like a shot to her heart. He had to leave. The papers were crucifying him daily and she knew that it would only get worse as the trial started. She sat down hard on the chair and looked out over the parking lot. It was dark by the time she realized how much pain she was in and that she’d not given him back his ring.
She made arrangements to be at the Cunningham building the next afternoon. She didn’t want to go. It was hard enough knowing that she’d have to face him and just wanted it to be over with. Grace tried on five different outfits, none of which fit her well. She’d been losing weight and it was beginning to show. She finally had to borrow one from Lilliane and smiled when she realized it was one of hers.
That was another thing that had suffered. Her designs had simply stopped. She’d not made a single thing, even to think up a design, since this whole thing had happened. Her staff had been working on putting together the orders that were being generated by the new catalogue and she wondered if, after this one, there’d be a Gracie Anne catalogue.
“Good morning, Miss Waite. If you’ll please follow me I’ll take you to see Mr. Gray.”
Grace followed the pretty little secretary, wondering where Mr. Gray’s wife had gone.
“Would you like anything while you’re waiting?”
“No, thank you,” she told the woman as she left the room. Grace tried to sit and, when that didn’t work, she paced. By the time Matt came into the room she was a ball of nervous energy.
“Hello, Grace. You look like shit, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
She nearly started to cry, but clenched her fist and said nothing.
“Michael doesn’t look any better, in case you’re wondering.”
“I wasn’t, but thanks. What is it you need from me, Mr. Gray? I thought all the papers were signed when the deal was closed.” She sat down again when he did. “I tried to tell you several days ago that I don’t want anything from Mr. Cunningham and now—”
“I’m not representing Michael. I called you in here because of another client. Michael doesn’t even know you’re here.” She looked at the door when it opened and she stood. “Trace, have a seat.”
She looked at Matt then back at Trace. “I don’t know what’s going on. Why am I here if this has nothing to do with the Washington building?”
“I wanted to talk to you. Uncle Matt said I could get you here like this so I paid him to be my lawyer.” He looked at her with sad eyes. “You didn’t say goodbye. Are you mad at me because I didn’t protect you?”
Grace felt all the wind rush out of her body. She’d never thought of how this would affect him. She glanced over at Matt then back at Trace before she began. “No. If you had come with me then you would have gotten hurt. The reasons they took me had nothing at all to do with you and I wanted you to be safe.”
“Dad says that you hate him. That nobody could love somebody like you said you did and just let them walk away.” Trace looked at the door before he continued in a lower voice. “He’s been mean since you left. I don’t want to be with him anymore.”
Grace stood. “Did he hurt you, Trace?” He nodded and she turned to Matt. “Where is he?”
Matt stood too. “You don’t need to see him. This is between you and