James's POV
Samuel called at 9 PM with information that made James's blood go cold.
"Marcus Webb is definitely orchestrating everything," Samuel said without preamble. He was in full business mode. Full information-gathering mode. The kind of focus he got when he was hunting for answers. "He's been planning this for months. He leaked the doctored documents to the news. He's been reaching out to every client Grace has ever worked with, telling them that she was his partner in the embezzlement."
James was in his study, pacing like a caged animal.
"What's his endgame?" James asked.
"Destruction," Samuel said flatly. "Complete destruction of her reputation. He's banking on the fact that she'll be so focused on defending herself that she won't be able to prove he fabricated anything. He's betting that by the time evidence comes out proving his lies, her business will already be dead and her name will be permanently associated with criminal activity."
James stopped pacing.
He understood suddenly what it felt like to be cornered. Really cornered. Not in a business sense where you could negotiate or buy your way out. In the sense where someone was systematically trying to destroy the person you loved and there was no obvious way to stop it.
"I'm going to help her," James said quietly.
"I know," Samuel replied. "The question is how. And more importantly, how do you help her without making it worse?"
After they hung up, James sat in his study and made a decision.
It was the kind of decision that would have made sense five years ago when he thought money and power could solve everything. But he'd learned something in the past week of living with Grace. He'd learned that some things couldn't be purchased. Some problems couldn't be controlled.
But some could be strategically managed if you were smart about it.
James pulled up his contacts and found the one he needed. David Morrison. Partner at Morrison & Associates. One of the most powerful law firms in the country. The kind of firm that specialized in cases that other firms were afraid to touch.
David picked up on the second ring like he'd been waiting for James to call.
"James Sullivan," David said with genuine warmth. They'd done business together before. Serious business. The kind that required absolute discretion and results that money couldn't buy. "It's been a while."
"I need your help," James said without wasting time on pleasantries. "And it needs to be completely anonymous."
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
"This isn't about your company," David said. It wasn't a question.
"No," James confirmed. "It's about protecting someone. Against accusations that are completely false but are being weaponized to destroy her reputation."
"Tell me everything," David said.
James did. He explained the embezzlement situation. He explained how Marcus had doctored documents. He explained how Grace had discovered the theft and turned him in herself. He explained how Marcus was now twisting everything to make her look guilty.
When he finished, David was quiet for a moment.
"I can help her," David finally said. "But only if she agrees to it. I won't represent someone without their knowledge, James. That's not how we operate."
James had been afraid of that answer.
"Can you help her without her knowing it's me?" James asked carefully. "Can I set it up through a foundation or something? Can I arrange protection for her without her understanding where it's coming from?"
"Technically yes," David said slowly. "But that's not honest work, James. And when she finds out, and she will find out, it's going to look like you were trying to control the situation. It's going to look like you didn't trust her to fight her own battle."
James closed his eyes.
Samuel had said something similar. That helping from the shadows was control, not care. That real support meant standing beside someone, not behind them.
But if he told Grace he was helping, she would refuse it. He knew her. She was too proud. Too determined to prove she could survive alone.
"Do it anyway," James said quietly. "Set up the legal representation. Use the Sullivan Foundation. Make it completely untraceable to me. But do it."
"James—" David started.
"Please," James interrupted. "Just help her. I'll deal with the consequences later."
After they hung up, James felt marginally better. Grace would have protection. She would have legal representation that was powerful enough to fight Marcus and expose him. She would have armor even if she didn't know she had it.
He was still telling himself this was the right decision when he found her on the terrace at midnight.
She was sitting on the railing looking out at the ocean. Looking exhausted. Looking like someone who'd been fighting and fighting and was finally starting to understand that the fight might never end.
James almost walked away. Almost left her alone with her thoughts and her exhaustion.
But he didn't.
He walked out onto the terrace and sat down on the bench near where she was standing.
Grace didn't turn around. Didn't acknowledge his presence. Just kept staring out at the dark ocean like it held answers to questions she was afraid to ask.
"The legal team Samuel mentioned," Grace said after a long silence. "The one you hired. I know that was you. I know you set it up without telling me."
James's heart actually stopped.
"How did you know?" he asked quietly.
"David Morrison called me an hour ago," Grace said. "He told me that the Sullivan Foundation was providing his legal services. He told me that someone had hired him anonymously but that he'd traced it back to you. He wanted to make sure I was comfortable with the arrangement before he proceeded."
She turned to look at James then.
And what he saw in her face made him understand finally what he'd done.
She looked betrayed.
Not grateful. Not relieved. Betrayed.
"I was trying to help," James started, but Grace was already shaking her head.
"I know what you were trying to do," she said, and her voice was so tired it broke his heart. "You were trying to save me. You were trying to fix my problem without me knowing about it. You were trying to control the narrative and keep me safe without asking if I wanted to be kept safe."
"Grace—"
"This is why we didn't work," she continued quietly. "This is exactly why. You see a problem and you solve it with money and power and resources. You don't ask. You don't collaborate. You just act. And then you expect gratitude."
James stood up because sitting felt impossible.
"I hired the best legal team in the country because I love you and I couldn't stand watching you get destroyed," he said, and he could hear the desperation in his own voice. "I set it up anonymously because I thought you wouldn't accept help if you knew it was from me. But you're right. You're absolutely right. I should have asked you. I should have been honest about it."
Grace looked at him for a long moment.
"The worst part is that I need the help," she whispered. "The worst part is that Marcus is winning and I can't fight him alone and I hate that I need you. I hate that I have to depend on you to survive this."
"You don't have to depend on me," James said. "The legal team is there. The lawyers are good. They'll handle it whether I'm involved or not."
"But you are involved," Grace said. "And now when I win this case, I'm going to know that I won because you spent your money and used your power and called in your favors. I'm going to know that I didn't do it myself."
Before James could respond, his phone buzzed.
Then it buzzed again.
Then it kept buzzing.
Samuel's name appeared on his screen along with a message that made James's blood freeze.
It said: James, we have a serious problem. Marcus Webb just contacted me directly. He has something. Something that will destroy both you and Grace. He's demanding money or he's going public. He's giving us twenty-four hours to pay him five million dollars or he releases what he has. I don't know what it is, but he sounded confident. He sounded like he actually has something that can hurt both of you.
James looked at Grace.
Grace was looking at her own phone.
She was pale. Shaking.
"I just got an email," she said, her voice barely audible. "From Marcus. He says he has evidence. Evidence that James's company benefited from the embezzled money. Evidence that connects you to the theft. Evidence that proves you were my partner in this."
She looked at him with something that looked terrifyingly close to doubt.
"He says he has proof," she whispered. "James, what if he's not lying? What if there's something in your company's records that actually connects to the money he stole? What if helping me is actually implicating you in a real crime?"
"That's impossible," James said immediately. "My company has nothing to do with this. The money has nothing to do with us."
"But what if he's fabricated something?" Grace asked, and her voice was shaking now. "What if he created fake connections between your company and the theft? What if he made it look real enough that it would stand up in court? He's already proven he can doctor documents. He's already proven he's capable of lying on a massive scale."
James wanted to tell her it was going to be fine. Wanted to promise her that they could fight this together. Wanted to believe that having the best legal team in the country would be enough.
But he could see it in her eyes.
She was starting to understand that they'd both been played.
And that the worst part was only just beginning.