Bears & Beauties - Complete by Terra Wolf, Mercy May Read Free Book Online Page B

friends, my family, and especially those of you who gave up your evening to make this event absolutely phenomenal,” he winked in Amber’s direction and she felt her stomach sink as realization dawned.
    That man, Grayson, was the billionaire playboy who’d thrown the party. He was the one she’d just been mocking, openly, to him. He was the one that she’d been griping about and throwing shade at. A wave of nausea worked its way over Amber, and she fell back toward the wall, doing her best to steady herself.
    You idiot , she told herself. You stood there and openly mocked the man who hired your employer. You’re as good as fired.
    As Amber leaned against the wall, she listened to Grayson continue his speech.
    “This night is a wonderful celebration. It’s a celebration of life, of happiness, and, more importantly, of love. This evening marks the fortieth anniversary of my wonderful parents, Mark and Melinda Days.” Grayson motioned toward an older couple near the head of the room, his face beaming with both pride and excitement. “Without their encouragement, without their affection, and without - at times - their steady kick in the rear, I would not be who I am today. It was at my father’s bidding that I went into business for myself, stuck to my guns during the best and worst days, and built my company from the ground up. It was at my mother’s bidding that I treated my friends and employees with the utmost respect and importance. Without these two - without these happy lovers - I would not be who I am today, and nothing you see before you would even exist. Congratulations, Mom and Dad!”
    By the time Grayson finished, Amber was already making her way toward her manager. She had to get out of there before Grayson got down and sought her out. It was one thing to be fired, but something else entirely to watch a billionaire tear into your boss about your disrespectful attitude right in front of you.
    Amber caught up with her manager, pulled her aside and told her that she was feeling sick. Amber’s manager waved her off, told her to go home and get some rest, then went back to overseeing the rest of the crew.
    Just as Amber reached the exit, she saw Grayson Days approaching the manager she’d just left behind.
    Amber’s head was swimming as she strode out into the city lights.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    2
     
    Grayson Days made his way through the gathering crowd, all but ignoring the cheers and applause from his friends and co-workers, as he strode toward the woman he’d just seen Amber talking to. He’d watched Amber approach the woman, then hurriedly leave the party while he gave his speech. The moment he saw her leave, his heart sank. Something was obviously wrong and it more than concerned him. The moment Grayson had met Amber, he’d known, right then and there, that she was his fated mate. In fact, his bear had all but urged him to claim her as his own immediately upon taking in her scent.
    Even dressed in her catering attire, Grayson couldn’t help but be drawn to the ever-so-luscious curves that Amber’s body had presented. That, coupled with her gorgeous emerald eyes and her naturally snarky personality, and it was all he could do to keep from tearing her clothes off. If not for his dedication to his parents and the speech he’d have to give, he’d have stayed by Amber’s side all night and continued their conversation, even if it was at his own expense.
    Instead, though, she’d left. The one woman who he knew would make him feel whole had left, gone, abandoned him just as he’d begun to know her. It was a desperate feeling, and Grayson felt his soul wrenching from his body the longer he was apart from her. Between that and the fury his bear was presenting toward him at leaving her, it was all Grayson could do to put together a few sentences as he finally reached the woman who he finally recognized as Catherine, the owner and manager of the catering company he’d