The 1st missed setup
Grayson tossed another neatly folded shirt into his suitcase, sighing as he eyed the half-packed contents. The trip to New Mexico was supposed to be a relaxing getaway, a much-needed break from the chaos of work, but instead, it had turned into an orchestrated setup by Daniel. He wasn't opposed to meeting someone new, but he wasn't exactly thrilled about it either. The last thing he needed was his best friend playing matchmaker.
Still, it had been six months since he'd last seen Daniel. That alone made the trip worth it. Boston felt a world away from where Grayson lived, and even though they texted often, there was no substitute for an in-person reunion. The late nights catching up, the beers over old college stories—it was something he was genuinely looking forward to.
He zipped up his suitcase, glancing around his large home to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything important. His flight was in a few hours, and while he wasn't in a rush, he also wasn't lingering. The sooner he got on the plane, the sooner he'd be at the resort, meeting Daniel's girlfriend Haley for the first time and—unfortunately—getting introduced to whoever Daniel had decided was perfect for him.
Grayson had heard about Haley plenty. Daniel had been smitten from the beginning, and Grayson couldn't help but be happy for him. If anyone deserved a great relationship, it was Daniel. But the idea of being pushed toward someone just because they were both single? That didn't sit well with him. He preferred things to happen naturally, without expectations.
More than anything, he was going on this trip to be there for Daniel. His friend was in a serious relationship now, and Grayson knew how much that meant to him. This wasn't about finding someone for himself—it was about showing up, supporting his best friend, and enjoying the trip for what it was. If he had to endure a few awkward introductions along the way, so be it. But he wasn't going to let that be the focus of his trip.
Still, he wasn't going to let that ruin his trip. He had every intention of enjoying the resort, spending time with his friend, and avoiding any forced romantic encounters as best as he could.
With one last glance at his packed bag, he grabbed his phone and keys. Time to go.
As he stepped out the door, he spotted a familiar car pulling into the driveway. His mother. She hadn't mentioned she was stopping by, and he couldn't help but wonder what brought her here now. With a sigh, he adjusted the strap of his bag and waited as she parked, bracing himself for whatever conversation was about to unfold.
She stepped out of the car, dressed in black slacks with low heels and a black and white polka-dot blouse. Her salt-and-pepper hair was cut neatly to the nape of her neck. With a warm smile, she walked up to him and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
"My handsome boy," she greeted. "Off somewhere exciting?"
"New Mexico," he answered. "Just a trip."
She nodded, her eyes twinkling with something mischievous. "Well, before you go, I need a little favor."
Grayson narrowed his eyes. "Mother, I know you're up to something. What are you doing at my house again?"
She gasped, placing a hand over her chest in mock shock. "Grayson Preston Steele! I am appalled!" Then, she giggled, putting her hands up in surrender. "Okay, you caught me."
Grayson folded his arms. "Let's hear it."
"I need to borrow your house again this weekend," she admitted, tilting her head with a sweet smile.
He sighed. "Mother! You do have a home you can use. What's wrong with yours?"
She merely smiled wider. "Grayson Preston Steele."
Grayson exhaled heavily. He knew he had lost the moment she used his full name. He took a deep breath and rubbed his temples. "Okay, let's start again. Why do you need it this time?"
She grinned, clearly pleased with herself. "I need it for my book club reunion party."
Grayson arched a brow. "Book club reunion? Since when do book clubs have reunions?"
"Since my friends and I decided we missed each other and wanted to catch up in style," she replied smoothly. "And your house is perfect for it. Plenty of space, a beautiful view, and most importantly, none of my friends have to worry about their husbands getting in the way."
Grayson sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Mother..."
"Oh, don't be like that," she waved him off. "We'll be clean, respectful, and you won't even know we were here."
He shook his head. "I don't know why I even pretend to resist you anymore."
She patted his cheek. "That's my boy. So, it's a yes?"
Grayson groaned. "Fine. But I expect the place to be spotless when I get back."
"Of course, darling," she said sweetly, already turning toward her car with a triumphant smile. "Have a wonderful trip!"
Grayson shook his head, letting out a heavy breath. He climbed into his car and shut the door, resting his hands on the steering wheel. He closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply before exhaling slowly. He needed a breather. His mother always had a way of steamrolling him, and despite his best efforts, he always caved. A small chuckle escaped him.
As he merged onto the road, his phone rang. "Sir, we have a problem," George, his assistant, said tensely. "Some of the documents for the European acquisition have turned up missing."
Grayson exhaled sharply. "Book me a flight to New York immediately."
Grayson sat in his New York office for hours, his jaw tight as he sifted through endless reports, emails, and legal documents. The floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the city skyline, but he barely noticed the view. His office was a testament to his meticulous nature—sleek, modern, and impeccably organized. The deep mahogany desk at the center of the room was covered with neatly stacked folders, scattered notes, and a laptop flashing urgent notifications. A polished glass conference table sat in the corner, accompanied by high-backed leather chairs, untouched except for a single half-empty coffee cup sitting beside a forgotten legal pad.
Built-in bookshelves lined one wall, filled with law books, financial reports, and a few personal mementos—a framed picture of him and Daniel from college, a watch his father had gifted him, and a small sculpture he had picked up on a trip to Paris. The soft hum of the city traffic below barely reached the thick glass windows, but the tension inside the office was palpable.
A sharp knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. George, his assistant, entered, carrying a fresh cup of coffee. "Sir, I have the latest report from legal," he said, placing the file in front of Grayson.
Grayson exhaled heavily, rubbing his temples before reaching for the file. "Tell me there's some good news."
George hesitated. "We're still tracking down the missing documents. The legal team is doing damage control, but if we don't recover them soon…" He let the words hang in the air, knowing Grayson already understood the implications.
Grayson leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment before focusing back on the paperwork. His fingers drummed against the desk, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. The stakes were too high to let this slip through his fingers.
"I need options," he said finally, his voice edged with determination. "Get me everyone who had access to those documents in the last seventy-two hours. I don't care if they're in the office, at home, or on vacation—find them."
George nodded. "Understood, sir."
As his assistant exited, Grayson allowed himself a rare moment of frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose before taking a deep breath. He had to fix this, and fast. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him, but he had no choice but to fix this, and fast. His phone beeped, snapping him out of his thoughts. A text message from Daniel appeared on the screen.
Daniel: "Hey man, just landed in New Mexico. Where are you?"
Grayson sighed, running a hand over his face before responding.
Grayson: "Hey, I'm in New York. Had to deal with a work emergency. Sorry for bailing on the trip."
A few seconds later, Daniel's response came in.
Daniel: "Seriously? You couldn't have handled it remotely? You were supposed to meet Haley."
Grayson: "I know. Trust me, I wanted to be there. But some critical documents went missing, and if I don't fix this, it could tank the deal."
Daniel: "Damn. That bad?"
Grayson: "Yeah. This is one of the biggest acquisitions we've worked on. If I don't get ahead of this, it could ruin everything."
There was a pause before Daniel replied.
Daniel: "Alright, I get it. Just sucks you're missing out. Haley was looking forward to meeting you."
Grayson: "I'll make it up to you guys. Maybe a dinner when I'm back?"
Daniel: "You better. And don't work yourself to death."
Grayson: "No promises."
Daniel: "If you break your promise, I'm telling your mom all the college stories you prayed she'd never hear."
Grayson smirked, shaking his head.
Grayson: "You wouldn't."
Daniel: "Try me. I still remember the time you—"
Grayson: "Fine! Dinner when I'm back. Now delete whatever embarrassing memory just popped into your head."
Daniel: "Too late. It's in the vault now. See you soon, buddy."
Grayson set his phone down with a sigh, rubbing his temples. He appreciated Daniel's understanding, but the guilt still lingered. Shaking it off, he turned back to his work, determined to fix the mess before it spiraled further out of control.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
By 3 a.m. Sunday morning, Grayson had finally completed his task. The missing documents had been recovered, the necessary reports finalized, and the crisis had been averted. Exhaustion crashed over him like a tidal wave. With no energy left to drag himself home, he collapsed onto the leather couch in his office, his body sinking into the cushions.
His normally pristine suit jacket was draped over the armrest, his tie long discarded on the floor. His hair was disheveled, and a faint five o'clock shadow darkened his jawline. The dim glow of his laptop screen cast long shadows across the room, highlighting the chaos of the weekend's work.
By Sunday evening, he was still there, half-asleep when his phone vibrated again. Another text from Daniel.
Daniel: "Dude. Just got back from the spa resort. It was amazing. Best weekend ever."
Grayson groaned, rubbing his forehead, already regretting reading the message.
Daniel: "The hot springs were unreal. And Haley's friend? You totally missed out, man. She's awesome."
Grayson: "That's great, Daniel. So happy for you. Truly. Now, if you don't mind, I'm running on fumes and don't have the energy to pretend to be excited."
Daniel: "Oh, come on. You could at least act a little jealous. The food was top-tier. Haley's friend is gorgeous. You could've been here relaxing instead of rotting away in your office."
Grayson: "Rotting away is exactly what I feel like right now. If I close my eyes for too long, I might become one with this couch."
Daniel: "Haha! You sound like an old man. This is why you need a vacation."
Grayson: "I'll take one when I don't have to worry about an entire company imploding."
Daniel: "Excuses, excuses. Just admit it—you're afraid you'd have too much fun."
Grayson: "Yes, Daniel. That's exactly it. I live in fear of spa resorts."
Daniel: "See? I knew it. You're a lost cause. Fine, I'll let you go, but don't think this means you're off the hook. Haley's friend is still single."
Grayson: "Good night, Daniel."
Daniel: "Good night, Grandpa Prez."
Grayson smirked weakly, tossing his phone onto the couch beside him. He leaned his head back, exhaling deeply. The weekend had drained him, but he took pride in knowing he had handled the situation. Leaning back into the couch, he let out a deep breath, allowing himself a rare moment to appreciate his hard work before finally closing his eyes.