Chapter 5 

“Why not? This is $1.8 million! Are you jealous? Don’t worry, I’ll treat you to a fancy dinner.” 

I carried the box through Gray Enterprises‘ entrance. 

Without an employee badge, I faced strict security checks. The receptionist asked me various questions while I held the box with one hand and quickly ended the call. 

“I’ll tell you later.” 

After clarifying the situation, the receptionist told me to take the elevator directly to the top floor. Mr. Gray had given instructions for me to go straight to his office. 

She handed me an elevator card, asking with curiosity and envy which company I worked for, noting that Mr. Gray’s private floor wasn’t accessible to just anyone. 

I smiled awkwardly. The receptionist had a moment of realization. 

“Oh, you must be with Miss Monroe? Hurry up then. Miss Monroe doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” 

Miss Monroe–Vanessa Monroe? 

So the gossip magazines were right. She and Jackson Gray really were close. There were rumors they might get married. I wondered if that was true. 

Whatever. These matters had nothing to do with ordinary people like me. I just needed to deliver my books. 

Shaking my head, I followed the signs to find the restroom first. 

To be honest, as an average working person about to meet Jackson Gray, I felt pretty nervous. 

Taking a couple of deep breaths, I set the box on the sink counter. 

I walked into a stall and had just closed the door when I heard the sharp click of high heels on the floor. 

A young woman’s impatient voice came through the door crack. 

Chapter S 

“He’s still looking? It’s been three years–her bones must be completely decomposed by now. What’s he trying to prove?” 

Another softer voice responded. 

“Just let him be.” 

“Vanessa, I’m upset on your behalf! You and Jackson have been together for how many years, and he’s stringing you along like this? What kind of behavior is that?” 

“Enough!” Vanessa Monroe cut her off sharply. 

“Riley, this is between us. Stay out of it.” 

Riley stomped her foot in frustration. 

“I just can’t stand him.” 

“What’s wrong with him? When Victoria Hawthorne was alive, he couldn’t care less about her. At that party when we humiliated her, he took our side and forced her to kneel and apologize to you.” 

“Now that she’s dead, he suddenly treasures her? Putting on this grief show for who exactly? He’s mentally ill.” 

This Riley seemed pretty outspoken, firing off criticism like a machine gun. 

I listened with fascination. 

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