Chapter 67: Stubborn

\[Gianna’s POV\]

I board the plane in front of me, my ticket in hand and when I reach the flight attendant waiting, I pass it to her.

“This way,” she announces, motioning toward the first class seats.

“What?” I ask, confused. “My ticket isn’t for first class.”

“You’ve been upgraded.”

Frowning, I take in what she has just said and then I start to get a bad feeling.

“Ma’am,” the flight attendant says as I just stand in place. “Please, you’re blocking the other passengers.”

“Oh,” I gasp. “Sorry.”

Unable to get out of what was happening, I start to move in the direction the attendant told me to go and when I see Grant, my suspicion is confirmed.

“Gianna,” he calls, motioning me forward. “Our seats are here.”

For a moment, I stand in place just staring while trying to figure out why this man was bothering when I already made it clear that I didn’t want to be part of his grand scheme.

“Don’t just stand there,” he says. “You’re blocking the other passengers.”

As he speaks, I peek behind me and find a man and woman standing there giving me looks of annoyance.

Sighing, I start to move again and when I reach my seat, I take it in.

“Nice, right?” Grant asks. “Come, come, get comfortable.”

“Why are you doing this?”

The words are leaving my lips before I can stop them, but honestly, this was all becoming a bit much.

I understood that he wanted to use me, but I was just an average woman. There were plenty of others who I was certain would love to play along.

“You’re my employee,” Grant responds, though I know he knows I’m not talking about the first class seat. “I can’t let you sit economy.”

Frowning, I just stare at him while trying to not lose my temper.

“You’re becoming the new face of the company.” He continues when I don’t speak. “We have to make sure that you are treated with the utmost care.”

“Then do that,” I huff, finally dropping into my seat. “But stop giving me special treatment.”

I was certain when this got back to the other models within the company they would certainly start to gossip, not like they already weren’t, but it would just make it worse.

“Do you know how much trouble you’re causing me?”

Ever since his forcing a kiss on me and basically claiming that we were together I was being pulled through the mud.

The models I worked with were treating me like a pariah because they were convinced that I got the shoots I did due to my relationship with Grant.

While I was out and about people were constantly whispering about me and even my mother.

After the banquet incident my mother called me and she didn’t hold back in ripping me a new one for doing something so stupid.

Honestly, I understood her anger, but I didn’t quite understand why she was so against my being with Grant.

Of course, she used the guise of us being family, but we weren’t family. We didn’t even know each other that well.

When I pointed that out, she just continued to attack until I was forced to lie and say that I had something to do.

Since then, she didn’t attempt to contact me again and although I was relieved, I was also slightly worried because I feared that she may very well disown me.

“Do you know how much unneeded stress I’ve suffered because of you?” I continue now. “Do you know the shit people have been saying about me?”

“Would you like me to deal with them?” Grant asks, acting just as fucking cocky as usual. “Just one word and…”

“Don’t you get it!” I snap, my voice rising and drawing attention. “I don’t want you doing anything for me. I want you to leave me alone. Ever since you came into my life you’ve done nothing but cause me trouble.”

I’m being harsh. I know I’m being harsh, but even then I can’t stop myself.

Usually I wouldn’t be so riled up because of an irritant and even I was surprised that I was acting like this, but I guess I could blame it on the hormones.

“I want you to act as my boss and uncle and nothing more.” I say now, trying to reign in my anger. “So, please just do that.”

Finished speaking, I start to get comfortable in my seat while Grant stares at me with an unreadable expression and when it becomes too much, I shoot him a glare.

“Could you not?” I ask. “You’re making me uncomfortable.”

“Seems everything I do makes you uncomfortable.” He murmurs, but to my relief he doesn’t say anything more and he pulls out his phone and starts to scroll through it.

He does this for the entire flight and I realize that he is working from his phone and I can’t help but wonder why he isn’t doing it on the laptop that sits beside him.

Was he afraid that I would see something that I wasn’t supposed to see? And why did that irritate me.

Ugh. This pregnancy was already doing a number on me and I was still just in the beginning. How the hell was I going to last the next eight months?

Well, it wasn’t like I had any other choice but to do just that because I already decided to keep the baby.

I would have to handle whatever came my way including the accusations I would face once the child was born and no father was present.

As I realize this, I peek toward the father beside me while wondering what he would be like as a dad.

I know I shouldn’t even be thinking about it since I didn’t intend to tell him, but even then, I just can’t stop myself.

“What?” He asks me, catching me eyeing him. “Didn’t you say that you wanted me to leave you alone?”

“I did,” I confirm.

“Then why are you looking at me like you want to say something?”