Chapter 16: Filthy Rich Bosses: Chapter 16

I stroll into Gray Smoke’s sleek lobby, my Birks slapping against the polished marble floor. The floor receptionist gives me a bemused look—I’m definitely underdressed in board shorts and a faded T-shirt. But hey, that’s just how I roll.

I might be a silent partner, but I am not about the nine-to-five life. At all. That may be other people’s jam, but it’s definitely not mine.

‘Mr. Cavanaugh,’ she greets me with a forced smile. ‘Mr. Ashford and Mr. Harrington are in a meeting.’

I wink at her. ‘Perfect timing, then.’

Without waiting for a response, I saunter past her desk and head straight for the conference room. Through the glass walls, I can see Cole and Grayson hunched over some papers, looking all serious and important. Boring. So fucking boring.

I burst through the door, grinning as they both jump. ‘Surprise, boys! Your favorite person is here.’

Cole’s eyes narrow. ‘Chase, what the hell are you doing here?’

‘Rescuing you from yourselves,’ I declare, plopping down in an empty chair and propping my feet up on the expensive mahogany table. Grayson winces, but I ignore him. ‘You two have been avoiding the house like it’s ground zero for the zombie apocalypse. Time for an intervention.’

Grayson sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘We’ve been busy with work, Chase. Some of us have responsibilities.’

‘Blah, blah, blah,’ I wave my hand dismissively. ‘We both know that is not the reason. Besides, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And you two are duller than a butter knife right now.’

Cole leans back, crossing his arms. ‘Get to the point, Chase. Some of us have actual work to do.’

I sit up straighter, meeting their gazes. ‘We’re doing something fun together. Tomorrow. Non-negotiable.’

They exchange a glance, and I can practically hear the silent argument happening between them. Before they can protest, I add, ‘Oh, and kitten’s coming too.’

That gets their attention. Cole’s jaw tightens, while Grayson’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

‘Tessa?’ Grayson asks, his voice carefully neutral. ‘Why?’

I shrug, trying to keep my tone light despite the knot forming in my stomach. ‘Why not? She’s part of our lives now, whether we like it or not. Might as well embrace it.’

“Temporarily,” Greyson grumbles.

‘Come on, guys,’ I plead, letting a bit of my frustration seep through. ‘When was the last time we just hung out, the three of us? No work, no drama, just…fun?’

A heavy silence falls over the room. I watch as Grayson and Cole share another look, something unspoken passing between them. Finally, Grayson sighs.

‘Fine,’ he concedes. ‘What did you have in mind?’

I grin, bouncing to my feet. ‘It’s a surprise. Just be ready for anything tomorrow morning.’

“I’ll go if spitfire doesn’t.”

“She’s coming,” I snap. “And so are you.”

As I saunter out of the conference room, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. Tomorrow’s going to be interesting, that’s for sure.

We need this. They might see me as spoiled and lazy, but I’m the glue. Without me, these two would have lost themselves years ago. It’s why I moved in with Grayson after Sarah died. And it’s why they’re agreeing to this even when I know they don’t want to.

We need this. And I’m making it happen.

The next morning, I’m practically vibrating with excitement as I pull the Rover around the driveway. The sun’s barely peeking over the horizon, casting a warm glow on the sleek black SUV. I honk twice, grinning as I see Grayson emerge from the house, looking impeccable as always in his tailored slacks and button-down.

‘You’re chipper,’ he grumbles, sliding into the passenger seat.

I wink at him. ‘It’s gonna be a great day, Gray. You’ll see.’

Cole comes out next, slightly more rumpled but no less grumpy. Tessa’s last, and I can’t help but notice how she hesitates before climbing in, her eyes darting between the three of us.

‘Morning, sunshine,’ I chirp, meeting her gaze in the rearview mirror.

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile. ‘This better be good, Chase.’

As we drive, the tension in the car is palpable. I try to lighten the mood with some of my patented Chase charm, but even I can feel it falling flat. Finally, we pull up to the airport, and I watch with amusement as confusion ripples through the group.

Grayson frowns, leaning forward. ‘Chase, what are we doing here? I didn’t ready the jet.’

‘You have a jet?’ Tessa’s voice is a mix of disbelief and something else…maybe a touch of awe?

I chuckle, turning off the engine. ‘We’re not taking the jet, guys. Come on, adventure awaits!’

As we climb out of the car, I can’t help but feel a flutter of nervousness. I’m taking a big risk here, pushing them all out of their comfort zones. But as I look at their faces—Grayson’s careful mask of indifference, Cole’s poorly hidden curiosity, and Tessa’s wary excitement—I know it’s worth it. These people mean more to me than they realize, and it’s time we started acting like the family we could be.

That includes Tessa. And they need to get on board with that.

We round the corner of the building, and there it is—a massive sign for ‘Skydive Thrill Seekers’ looming over us. I wave my hands with a flourish and a “ta-da!” The reaction is immediate and exactly as I expected.

‘Absolutely not,’ Grayson says, his voice flat.

Cole shakes his head vigorously. ‘No way in hell, Chase.’

Tessa’s eyes are wide, a mix of fear and excitement dancing in them. ‘Are you insane?’

I can’t help but grin, spreading my arms wide. ‘Come on, guys! Where’s your sense of adventure?’

‘Safely on the ground,’ Cole mutters.

I roll my eyes, adopting my best pouty face. ‘You’re all being babies. It’s perfectly safe!’

Grayson crosses his arms, looking every bit the stern businessman. ‘Chase, this is ridiculous. We’re leaving.’

‘Nope!’ I declare, grabbing Tessa’s hand and tugging her toward the entrance. ‘We’re doing this. Non-negotiable, remember?’

As we approach the door, I can feel the resistance in Tessa’s arm. I turn to face them all, my expression softening. ‘Look, I promise it’s not what you think. Trust me, okay?’

There’s a moment of hesitation, and I hold my breath. Finally, Grayson sighs. ‘Fine. But if I die, I’m haunting you for eternity.’

I laugh, relief washing over me. ‘Deal! Now come on, you big scaredy-cats.’

As we step inside, I watch their faces transform from fear to confusion. Instead of parachutes and planes, they’re greeted by the sight of a massive wind tunnel.

‘Welcome to indoor skydiving!’ I announce, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice. ‘All the thrill, none of the altitude.’

The relief on their faces is palpable, and I can’t help but chuckle. We suit up, and I watch as Tessa’s initial apprehension melts into curiosity. Her eyes sparkle as she listens to the instructor’s explanation, her fingers fidgeting with the zipper of her flight suit.

‘Ready?’ I ask, nudging her gently.

She looks at me, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. ‘As I’ll ever be, I guess.’

One by one, we take our turns in the wind tunnel. Cole goes first, his usual stoic demeanor cracking as he lets out a whoop of joy. Grayson follows, his movements stiff at first but gradually relaxing into the experience.

Then it’s Tessa’s turn. As she steps into the tunnel, I find myself holding my breath. The wind catches her, lifting her off her feet, and for a moment, she looks terrified. But then something shifts. Her face breaks into a genuine smile, laughter bubbling up from her chest as she floats.

‘Look at you go!’ I call out, unable to keep the grin off my face.

As I watch her, I feel a strange tightness in my chest. There’s a lightness to her that I’ve never seen before. She thinks she hides it, but I catch glimpses of something darker at times. A shadow that flits across her face when she thinks no one’s looking.

I wish I didn’t recognize it, but I do. It’s the same shadow I’ve seen in Cole’s eyes when he thinks about the past, in Grayson’s when he thinks about his late wife. It’s a familiar darkness, one that speaks of past pain and carefully guarded secrets.

As Tessa finishes her turn, stumbling out of the tunnel with windswept hair and flushed cheeks, I’m hit with a sudden realization. I want to know her— really know her. Not just the sarcastic, tough exterior she shows the world, but the person underneath. The one who laughs freely in a wind tunnel.

I gather Cole and Grayson, the adrenaline from our adventure still buzzing in our veins. Tessa’s gone to freshen up, giving us a moment alone.

‘Let’s grab a drink,’ I suggest, nodding toward the bar. Because nothing says sanity like drinking and indoor skydiving. ‘Just us boys.’

They exchange a glance but follow me without protest. The bar is brightly lit, all chrome and red leather. We settle into a corner booth, nursing our drinks.

‘All right, Chase,’ Grayson says, his piercing blue eyes fixed on me. ‘What’s on your mind?’

I take a sip of my whiskey, letting the burn ground me. ‘I’ve been thinking about us. About Tessa. About…everything.’

Cole leans forward, his brow furrowed. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean,’ I pause, searching for the right words, ‘we’ve been through a lot together. But lately, it feels like we’re drifting apart.’

The silence that follows is heavy. I can see the guilt in Grayson’s eyes, the tension in Cole’s shoulders.

‘I know I’m not usually the one to get all deep and meaningful,’ I continue, ‘but I miss us. And I think…I think Tessa could be good for us. If we let her in.’

Grayson’s hand tightens around his glass. ‘Chase, you know it’s not that simple.’

‘Isn’t it?’ I challenge, feeling a rare surge of frustration. ‘We’re all carrying our own baggage. But maybe it’s time we stopped letting it define us.’

“She’s temporary, Chase. Her contract is only for the month. And she’s two weeks into it now.”

“She’s not temporary. Not for me.”

“Chase,” Cole is using that voice he thinks is gentle. “She’s not like your other flings. She’s not going to understand when the luster wears off and you move on to the next shiny thing.”

I try not to flinch at Cole’s words, but damn if they don’t sting. I force a smile, hoping it hides the knot tightening in my chest. ‘Wow, Cole, thanks for the vote of confidence. Glad to know you think so highly of me.’

Cole sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “That’s not what I’m saying,” he amends, like he’s trying to be the voice of reason. But all I hear is judgment. “I’m just trying to protect you—from yourself, mostly.”

I can’t help the bitter laugh that escapes. “Right. Because I’m such a mess, huh?” I knock back the rest of my drink, the whiskey burning all the way down. “You think I need protecting? Maybe it’s you two who are too scared to actually let someone in for once.”

Grayson shifts uncomfortably, staring into his glass like it holds all the answers. I’m tempted to push harder, to force them to see what I’m saying, but I bite my tongue. It’s not like they ever take me seriously anyway.

“I’m not like you,” I add, my voice dropping. “I’m not afraid to take a risk. Maybe Tessa’s just a fling to you, but she means something to me.”

Cole shakes his head, looking at me with that pitying expression I hate. “You always think the next one’s different, Chase. But it’s the same story every time. You get bored, and you move on.”

My chest tightens, but I won’t give them the satisfaction of seeing how much that hurts. I force a grin, leaning back in the booth. “Maybe I’m just looking for something worth sticking around for. You ever think of that?”

They don’t answer, and the silence feels like a goddamn verdict. I swallow down the frustration, wondering why I even bothered to say anything at all.