Chapter 160
Grace's POV
After Sophia left, I found myself packing up early, eager to get home to Alex. I'd taken a few days off to spend time with him before the Zenoria trip, and tonight his grandparents were coming for dinner. I'd insisted on cooking myself, though Alex had arranged for staff to prep most of the ingredients beforehand.
My phone buzzed with a text from Alex: Menu finalized yet? The anticipation is killing me.
I was mentally reviewing my signature dishes when movement in the main office area caught my attention. Andrew was approaching Julie's desk, his tall frame leaning casually against the edge as they seemed to be discussing something.
"Julie," I called out, and she immediately stood.
Andrew straightened, that familiar lazy smile playing on his lips. "Grace," he said, his voice carrying that particular tone that always set my teeth on edge. "You're working Julie awfully hard these days. I can barely get her to agree to a simple dinner."
I felt my expression cool instantly. "Andrew, are you suffering from memory loss? Because I distinctly remember you being warned not too long ago. Do you really want to risk another suspension for harassing female employees?"
"Harassment?" Andrew's eyebrows rose in mock innocence. "That's quite an accusation. I was simply asking a colleague to dinner."
He stretched languidly, then turned back to Julie with that same casual confidence. "Rain check then? Text me when you're free."
As he walked past me toward the elevator, I noticed something different about him today. His usual expensive cologne was absent, and his clothes, while still well-tailored, were more subdued than his typical flashy style.
Once Andrew disappeared into the elevator, I gestured for Julie to follow me. We rode down in silence, but as soon as the doors closed, I cut straight to the point.
"Do you like Andrew?"
Julie's eyes widened. "What? No! We've just... our relationship has gotten less hostile lately."
"Julie, stop getting close to him. Andrew isn't as harmless as he pretends to be."
She fell silent, and I felt my concern deepen.
"Andrew is interested in you," I continued, my voice growing more urgent. "I can see it. Every woman who's caught his attention has ended up regretting it. You need to be careful."
Julie finally responded. "I know."
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Julie's POV
The elevator doors slid shut, trapping us in this small space, Grace's concern hanging in the air like a lead weight.
"Julie," Grace began, but I cut her off.
"Grace, stop." My voice sounded steadier than I felt, but there was steel underneath that I'd kept hidden. "Andrew might be interested in me, but who says I can't handle it? Who says I can't use that to my advantage?"
I watched her expression change, saw the shock and confusion there.
Because she really doesn't understand.
"What are you talking about?" Grace asked.
"You want to know if I like Andrew? No, I don't. But you know what I do like? The idea of him getting what he deserves."
Finally. The words felt like toxins leaving my body—poisonous but necessary.
"Julie, whatever you're thinking—"
"I'm thinking about making him pay," I interrupted her. "For every woman he's hurt. For every time he's used his power to intimidate someone weaker than him. For every damn thing he's gotten away with because he's a Wilson."
For my friend. The words echoed in my mind. She trusted the wrong person and paid with her life.
I could see Grace processing this information, could see her trying to understand how her careful, professional assistant had become someone capable of orchestrated revenge. The truth was, I'd always had this capacity. I'd just never encountered a target worthy of my hatred.
"Andrew is dangerous," Grace said carefully. "If you try to play games with him—"
"Games?" I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Grace, he's already playing games. The difference is, now I'm playing back. And I'm better at it than he thinks."
Much better. I'd been studying Andrew Wilson for a month, learning his patterns, his weaknesses, his habits.
Grace reached out to touch my arm, but I pulled away. I couldn't let her comfort me, couldn't let her kindness weaken my resolve. My skin felt cold, but my blood burned with purpose.
"Julie, listen to me. Whatever he did, whatever you think you can accomplish—it's not worth the risk. Andrew isn't just some privileged rich boy. He's calculating, he's cruel, and if he realizes you're trying to manipulate him—"
"Then what?" I challenged. "He'll destroy me? He'll ruin my life? Grace—my life was already pretty fucked up before I met you people."
Before my best friend died. Before I had to identify her body. Before I had to sit there and listen to the coroner's report say "accident" when I knew—I fucking knew—it was anything but.
The bitterness in my voice seemed to hit Grace like a physical blow. She didn't know these things, didn't know the real reason I was determined to destroy Andrew.
"I didn't mean it like that," Grace said softly. "I mean he might hurt you. Physically. Emotionally. In ways you can't recover from."
"I know the risks. But Grace, you don't understand—he has patterns, weaknesses. I can handle this."
The elevator chimed softly as we reached the parking level, but neither of us moved toward the doors.
"Julie," she whispered. "What did he do to you?"
For a moment, my carefully constructed armor cracked. I felt tears gathering in my eyes, felt my hand trembling as it gripped my purse. Molly's face flashed through my mind—laughing, beautiful Molly, who had trusted Andrew Wilson and paid the ultimate price.
"It's not what he did to me," I finally said. "It's what he did to someone I cared about. Someone who can't fight back anymore."
Someone who will never laugh again, never dream again, never have the chance to see justice done. Unless I do it for her.
"Julie—" Grace started to say, but I couldn't let her finish. Couldn't let her talk me out of this with her kindness and concern.
"Don't." I stepped out of the elevator, pulling my professional demeanor back on like armor. "I know you're worried about me, and I appreciate it. But this is something I have to do."
For Molly. For every woman Andrew has hurt and will continue to hurt if someone doesn't stop him.
I got in my car and drove away, leaving Grace standing in the cold garage.