Chapter 66: Stay Away

\[Grant’s POV\]

I wait while my brother stares at me, his gaze screaming that he doesn’t quite believe what I’m saying and honestly I can’t blame him.

We were both raised the same, so he knew as well as I did that even if you tried to protect someone from the politics of business and high class people sometimes it just didn’t work out the way you wanted it.

“This time is different,” I say, wondering if he is thinking about the same woman I am. “I won’t let anything happen.”

“You won’t,” Anthony chuckles, pulling out his phone. “And what about this?”

As he speaks, he places his phone on the desk and then slides it toward me so that I can take in the forum on it.

Frowning, I scan the comments to an article talking about mine and Gianna’s relationship and when I come across an anonymous one, I feel anger start to move through my veins.

Anonymous Posted 10hrs ago

Do we really believe that Gianna managed to get to where she was without the help of someone with connections? I mean, seriously. She isn’t even that pretty and she isn’t all that great, but I guess now we know how she did it. She had a backer this whole time while trying to act like she was so innocent and hardworking. Come to find out she was fucking her way up.

“Do you see?” Anthony asks as I stare at the phone. “This is the consequences of your actions with Gianna.”

“I’ll handle it.” I tell him, pushing the phone back. “And I’ll handle this comment business.”

“Whether you handle it or not, the damage is already done.” Anthony tells me. “You’ve already made Gianna the center of attention, do you really think that our stepmother and Austin will just sit aside and do nothing now that they have something to use against you, and Rachel…”

“Rachel has nothing to do with it.” I sigh. “And if she does, then she deserves to be taken down too.”

“Grant,” Anthony hisses. “How can you say something like that?”

For a moment, I don’t speak as I stare at my brother’s worried expression.

How the hell could he stand there looking like that when he had a wife now? Was Tonya simply being used to help him forget about his first love? And if she was… What would become of her when Anthony couldn’t forget Rachel?

“More like how can you still care about that woman.” I sigh.

The whole reason Anthony was no longer allowed to take over as CEO of father’s company was because of Rachel. She betrayed him and led him down a path of destruction because our stepmother asked her to and yet, here was Anthony still protecting her.

“Anyway, I’m quite busy and don’t have time to discuss pointless things.” I continue when Anthony doesn’t speak. “I’ve already promised you that I will handle anything that comes Gianna’s way and I will handle that anonymous poster. Now that you’ve had some reassurance, you should go.”

“I’m not leaving until you promise to stay away from Gianna.” Anthony says, standing firm.

“I can’t make that promise.” I tell him. “And really the person who can determine whether or not Gianna and I have anything to do with each other is Gianna.”

“Has she openly said she wants to be with you?” Anthony asks now.

At his question, I remember Gianna’s angry face the last time we were together and I can’t help but smirk a little bit.

It was adorable, like an angry kitten and that hit…I lift a hand and touch my cheek where she hit me and wince a bit due to the fading bruise there.

“I’m sure she will once she gets to know me.” I slowly respond. “After all, we are still in the early stages of our relationship.”

At my words, Anthony gives me a look that screams he doesn’t believe what I’m saying, but he doesn’t speak and I wonder if he knows something I don’t.

“I guess Tonya and I can just her directly.” Anthony says, slowly rising. “She will be stopping by for dinner since we didn’t get the chance to do it last time.”

“Dinner,” I repeat.

“You’re not invited.”

I let a laugh escape me at my brothers words, because honestly the way he was acting like a protective father was hilarious, but I wasn’t necessarily surprised.

Even in the past he would always do whatever he could to protect me, especially when our stepmother would attempt to punish us.

It had been a while since I saw this side of him and I had to admit it was nice, but I didn’t appreciate the way he was making me out to be this horrible person.

“That’s harsh,” I say as Anthony waits for my reply to his blunt announcement. “I thought we were brothers.”

“We are,” Anthony tells me. “And that’s why I’m telling you that the best thing you can do for yourself is leave Gianna alone.”

Finished speaking, he turns and starts to head out of my office and when he is out of sight, I find myself deflating.

“Stay away,” I mutter, turning on my monitor where Gianna’s modeling profile sits. “That’s going to be difficult since we are about to be taking a little trip.”

Smirking, I lift the paper in front of me that contains Gianna’s latest project which would be taking place on the west coast.

A swimwear company in California had reached out in regards to having Gianna model their latest line and Gianna had already agreed.

I was certain that she did it because she thought that it would get her far away from me since it wasn’t common for the CEO to go with the model on their projects, but since I had to meet with some investors in the area, I was going along.

This was the perfect opportunity to convince her to agree to going along with me proposal and if she didn’t, well, I had time to spare.