Filthy Rich Bosses: A Billionaire Reverse Harem Romance (Filthy Rich Harems)
Filthy Rich Bosses: Chapter 31

‘You can’t fire me!’ Juniper shrieks, her face flushing a deep crimson that clashes with her auburn hair. ‘I’ve done everything for you, Grayson!’

Suddenly everything stops. Douglas glides in, his impeccable suit a stark contrast to the disheveled state of the room. His eyes sweep over the scene, taking in the general disarray. We all thought he had left for the day as Grayson instructed, but he obviously had not.

As Douglas surveys the room with his impassive gaze, I can’t help but wonder what’s going through his mind. Is he judging us all? Planning his escape? Contemplating early retirement? His face gives nothing away, and the silence stretches on, thick and uncomfortable.

I hold my breath, waiting for someone to break the tension. In this moment of suspended animation, I realize how ridiculous we all must look—grown adults acting like children in a playground brawl. A hysterical giggle threatens to bubble up in my throat, but I swallow it down. Something tells me laughter isn’t the appropriate response right now, even if this whole situation is absurdly comical in its intensity.

Douglas’ eyes finally land on me, and to my surprise, they light up with amusement. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he addresses me. ‘Miss Tessa, your belongings have been returned to your room. And, I’ve taken the liberty of ordering a California King to replace the measly Queen bed. Clearly you will be needing it.’

My cheeks heat up at his implication, and I can’t help but glance at Grayson, Cole, and Chase.

Douglas then turns his attention to Juniper and Morgan, his expression shifting to one of cool disdain. He looks at Grayson and asks, in his crisp British accent, ‘Sir, would you like me to take out the trash?’

I can’t help it. A snort escapes me, and I hear Chase echo the sound. The absurdity of the situation, coupled with Douglas’ perfect timing and dry wit, is just too much.

Grayson, looking utterly exhausted, rubs a hand down his face. ‘Douglas, please,’ he says, his voice strained. ‘Just take Zeus out to his kennel so we can finish this.’

I watch as Douglas nods, moving with graceful efficiency to lead Zeus away. As he passes me, he gives me a subtle wink, and I have to bite my lip to keep from grinning.

The moment Zeus is out of sight, the tension in the room snaps like a rubber band.

I watch, stunned, as Juniper launches herself at Grayson, her hands clawing at his perfectly tailored suit jacket. The move is graceless and wild, so out of character for her that it feels almost surreal.

Grayson stiffens, his jaw tightening as she grabs at him. His hands rise, not to push her away but to carefully grasp her wrists.

“Juniper,” he says, his voice calm but carrying an edge of warning. “Let go.”

“No!” she snaps, her desperation palpable as she grips him tighter. “You don’t understand. I’ve been by your side this whole time—through everything! You can’t just throw me away for…for her!”

Her eyes flick to me, venom flashing in their depths. I shrink back instinctively, but Chase steps in closer, his presence a reassuring wall between me and her wrath.

“It was supposed to be us. Us! You’re mine. She’s just some trashy bitch who is using you for your money. I don’t understand how you can even—”

“Juniper!” Grayson snaps. He exhales slowly, his patience clearly wearing thin. “Juniper,” he repeats, his voice dropping an octave. “This ends now.”

For a moment, she hesitates, her lips trembling as though she’s trying to formulate another argument. But when Grayson gently but firmly removes her hands from his suit, the rejection seems to snap something inside her.

“I do not belong to you. You are my assistant—one who has crossed far too many lines—and nothing more.”

Juniper stumbles back a step, her chest heaving as tears well in her eyes. “You’ll regret this,” she says, her voice trembling. “I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you, Grayson.”

Grayson doesn’t flinch. His expression is impassive, his blue eyes cold as ice. “Go home, Juniper. We’ll talk when you’ve calmed down.”

My heart races, torn between intervening and staying out of this mess. But before I can decide, a blur of blonde hair and fury catches my eye. Morgan, Cole’s ex-girlfriend and certified psycho, lunges at me with a snarl.

‘This is all your fault, you little homewrecker!’ she screams, her eyes wild and unfocused.

I dodge her attack, my rescue-honed reflexes kicking in. ‘Whoa there, Cruella,’ I quip, trying to mask my fear with sarcasm. ‘Shouldn’t you be off abusing some puppies right now?’

Morgan’s face contorts with rage, and I brace myself for another assault. The room feels like it’s spinning, a whirlwind of anger and hurt feelings. I catch Cole’s eye across the chaos, silently pleading for help.

‘You think you can just waltz in here and take what’s mine?’ she snarls.

My heart races, but I stand my ground. ‘I haven’t taken anything that was yours,’ I say, my voice steady despite my trembling hands. ‘And from what I’ve heard, Cole hasn’t been yours for a long time.’

Morgan’s face contorts with rage. ‘You don’t know anything!’ she shrieks, launching herself at me again.

I brace myself for impact, but Grayson steps in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking Morgan’s path. ‘That’s enough,’ he says, his voice low and dangerous. ‘Chase, call the police.’

As Chase pulls out his phone, I peek around Grayson to see Juniper standing off to the side, her face pale and her eyes wide. She looks torn between fleeing and staying to see how this plays out. Morgan thrashes against Grayson’s unyielding presence, her shrieks bouncing off the walls like nails on a chalkboard.

‘You can’t do this to me!’ she wails, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an ally. When none appear, she turns her desperation into fury.

Juniper, still standing off to the side, looks as though she might faint. Her face is pale, her earlier bravado completely gone.

Morgan tries one last time, twisting toward Cole with tears streaking her face. ‘Cole, please. Tell them! Tell them about us!’

Cole’s jaw tightens, his eyes hardening. He steps forward, his voice cold and resolute. ‘There is no us, Morgan. There hasn’t been for months. This obsession of yours? It needs to stop.’

Her expression crumbles, and a sob escapes her as the sound of sirens wails faintly in the distance.

Grayson, ever the calm in the storm, leans toward Morgan, his voice low but sharp. “The authorities will handle this now. You’ve made your choices—deal with the consequences.”

The sound of sirens grows louder, and just as Morgan’s shrieking hits a fever pitch, Douglas reappears in the doorway, looking entirely unruffled despite the chaos around him.

“Gentlemen,” he says crisply, gesturing to the two officers following him. “Welcome to the madhouse. I trust you’ve brought tranquilizers or, failing that, a very sturdy straightjacket?”

The officers exchange glances, clearly unsure whether Douglas is being serious.

“This way, please,” he continues, not waiting for a response. He steps aside with a flourish, gesturing toward Morgan, who is now halfway through a spectacular meltdown. “You’ll replace the rabid one over there. Careful; she tends to bite.”

Morgan glares at him, her face contorted with rage. “Who the hell do you think you are, Douglas?” she screeches.

Douglas doesn’t miss a beat. “The butler, madam. Though I prefer to think of myself as a professional problem-solver. And tonight, the problem is you.”

Chase chokes on a laugh, and even I have to bite my lip to keep from smiling.

“Douglas,” Grayson says, his tone sharp but tinged with amusement.

“Apologies, sir,” Douglas replies smoothly. “I’ll save my commentary for after the removal of the pests.” He casts a withering glance at Juniper and Morgan before turning to Grayson. “Shall I prepare celebratory drinks once the premises are vermin-free?”

The officers step forward, one addressing Morgan while the other approaches Juniper, who has gone deathly pale.

Chase quickly explains the situation, pointing to Morgan and Juniper. “She attacked my fiancée,” he adds, gesturing to me with a protective edge in his voice.

Fiancée? My eyes dart to Chase, my mouth parting to protest, but his slight smirk tells me it’s part of his usual charm—protective and a little cheeky in the face of drama.

The officers separate Morgan and Juniper, questioning them briefly before cuffing Morgan. Juniper, though not cuffed, looks utterly defeated as an officer escorts her toward the door.

As the women are led out, the weight of the room seems to lift, leaving behind an uneasy quiet.

Cole sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Finally. I’ll call my lawyer first thing tomorrow. This is more than enough to file a restraining order.”

Grayson nods in agreement, his face still impassive but his mind clearly working a mile a minute. “Good. Juniper needs to be investigated. If she’s capable of undermining me and doing this to Tessa, who knows what else she’s been doing under my nose.”

I glance at Grayson, my heart skipping a beat at his unwavering support for me.

He turns to Douglas, who reappears from the hallway as if summoned. “Douglas, change the security codes tonight. Remove Juniper from the access list and get a locksmith here first thing in the morning. I don’t want her able to step foot on this property again.”

“Of course, sir,” Douglas replies smoothly, his calm demeanor a balm after the whirlwind of events.

I finally exhale, the tension in my chest loosening as I glance around the room. Cole catches my eye and gives me a reassuring smile, while Chase moves closer, his arm brushing against mine in quiet solidarity.

Grayson’s gaze lingers on me for a moment before he steps forward, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. “Are you alright?” he asks softly, his voice holding a rare tenderness.

I nod, though my voice wavers slightly. “Yeah, I think so. Just…a lot to process.”

“We’ll handle it,” he assures me, his tone steady and confident.

For the first time since this whole mess began, I feel a glimmer of hope. The storm might not be over, but at least now, we’re standing on solid ground.

The house finally begins to settle as the police escort Juniper and Morgan off the premises. The guys handle the rest of the aftermath downstairs while I retreat to my room, feeling like a storm survivor stumbling into the eerie calm that follows a hurricane.

When I open the door, it feels…different.

Douglas, true to his word, has had all my belongings returned, but the space is devoid of warmth. The walls are blank, the shelves bare, and the scattered personal touches that once made it mine are conspicuously absent.

I wander in, sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed. The sheer enormity of everything that just happened presses down on me. My hands replace the soft fabric of the comforter, and I cling to it like a lifeline, letting out a shaky breath.

A soft knock breaks the silence.

Grayson steps in, his presence instantly filling the space. He’s discarded his suit jacket and tie, the top buttons of his shirt undone, leaving him looking both disheveled and devastatingly handsome.

“Mind if I join you?” he asks, his voice quieter than usual, almost tentative.

I nod, and he closes the door behind him before crossing the room. He sits beside me, close enough that our shoulders brush. For a moment, neither of us speaks.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened tonight,” he finally says, his voice low and filled with regret. “You didn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess. How are you holding up?’

I turn to face him, suddenly aware of how close we’re standing. ‘I’m…I don’t know. It’s been a wild night.’

His eyes soften. ‘That’s an understatement if I ever heard one.’

‘I still can’t believe Juniper tried to…well, you know.’

His jaw tightens. ‘I should have seen it coming. I let her get too comfortable, too close.’

I reach up, placing my hand over his on my shoulder. ‘Hey, you couldn’t have known. None of us did.’

Grayson’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see a flicker of vulnerability in those piercing blue depths. ‘Still, I should have protected you better.’

‘You did protect me,’ I insist. ‘You all did.’

He presses closer, and suddenly the air between us feels charged. ‘Tessa, I…’

My heart races as Grayson leans in, his lips brushing against mine. The kiss is soft at first, almost hesitant, but then it deepens. I melt into him, my hands replaceing their way to his chest.

When we finally break apart, both slightly breathless, Grayson rests his forehead against mine. ‘I want you to stay,’ he murmurs.

‘Stay?’ I echo, my mind still fuzzy from the kiss.

“We’ll talk tomorrow,” he murmurs.

“Tomorrow,” I echo, a small smile tugging at my lips.

Grayson stands, his hand lingering on mine for a moment before he steps away. “Get some rest, Tessa. I’m happy you’re here.”

As the door clicks shut behind him, I lie back on the bed and stare at the ceiling, my mind a tangle of thoughts and emotions.

Stay? Can I do that?