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I grab Dina and yank her into the alley.

She squeals. “What the hell?”

“My brother is here,” I whisper, and she blinks.

“So?”

I let out a breath. “You don’t understand. This job is... it’s a new start for me. My parents are really controlling, and Grayson doesn’t know that I have this job.”

“Will he rat you out?”

I groan. “I’m not sure. I should have known this would happen. He and Logan were best friends when we were kids.”

Her eyes widen. “And he was okay with you dating his best friend?”

I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. “He never knew.”

Dina chuckles. “The plot thickens.”

I clutch at her sleeve. “You can’t say anything. Please, you don’t understand how much this job is a new start for me. If he finds out Logan and I used to?—”

Dina looks offended. “I’m not going to say a word. What kind of friend do you think I am?”

I let out a breath of relief. “So, should I just hide out here?”

She takes my hand. “I think he’s going to find out about the job either way. So, why don’t we just go inside, and you can explain?”

I nod, even though panic is rising in my throat.

Grayson and I have always been close, but he’s also been a pain in my butt. It’s possible he’ll out me to my dad, but maybe I can convince him not to.

When I walk inside, Grayson turns, his eyes wide.

“Meredith? What are you doing here?”

I open my mouth to speak, but Logan beats me to the punch. “She’s my office manager.”

“You got ajob?”Grayson sounds as if I’ve just told him I have a venomous snake as a pet.

My shoulders stiffen. “Yeah, is that a problem?”

“No, but if you wanted a job, you know you could have come to me.”

“I didn’t want to. And I don’t want to work for Dad, either.” I pause, taking a deep breath. “I want to do this on my own, Grayson.”

He looks at me for a moment longer, but then smiles. “Well, okay, then. I suppose having your old friend as a boss isn’t a hardship.”

I grit my teeth but nod, and Logan looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind.

But Grayson doesn’t know my history with Logan, and I want to keep it that way.

I’m worried that Logan will say something, but he remains silent, taking Grayson on a tour of the place as I follow behind.

Finally, Logan heads outside to talk to the contractors, and I have a moment alone with my brother.

I take his arm.

He turns to look at me, smiling. “So, you haven’t told Mother , huh?”