Page 2 of Grumpy CEO
Jade
T railing fragments of white tulle and lace , I stride through the hotel lobby, my bare feet padding against cool marble. The eyes of strangers linger, taking in the spectacle, but I remain encased in my own world. I pull my phone from the clutch that’s miraculously stayed with me through my escape, and my fingers dance over the screen, messaging my sister, Alexis.
Me: At my favorite place. Going off the grid for a bit.
Vague, but she’ll understand. With a final glance at my phone, I power off the device, eject the SIM card, and slide it back in my bag.
The elevator ride to my room feels like an ascent from one life to another. Once inside my hotel room, I work quickly, peeling away the remainder of the now-ruined dress. It drops to the floor with a soft thud, an ivory heap of broken dreams and expectations.
I pull on a tube top and step into my overalls, the denim familiar and comforting against my skin. These clothes are me—Jade Allerton, potter, artist, dirt-under-the-fingernails realist. I tie my hair up, away from my face, ready to go to my studio and lose myself in clay and creation, rather than champagne flutes and forced smiles at the San Francisco Club, hobnobbing with everyone important to Allerton Mining, my family’s company for eight generations now. A wry grin lifts the corner of my mouth as I think about the reception. Will it be happening without me? They’re probably still wondering why I bolted. But it doesn’t matter. Now, in this attire, I feel more myself than I have all day.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Cooper Waldorf,” I whisper to my reflection as I wipe the layers of makeup away.
Perched on the balcony, I sit back and enjoy the cool breeze from the San Francisco Bay. At first, I barely notice the hum of life below—runners pounding the pavement, dogs yipping happily, waves rolling against the shore. It all feels distant, like a scene from someone else’s life. I sit for hours, feeling numb.
But as the sun eventually dips lower, streaking the horizon with fiery oranges and dusky pinks, something shifts. My toes twitch against the air, tapping an unconscious rhythm. The runners seem less like actual people and more like a beat I can almost feel. I lean into the breeze, its cool insistence stirring something I can’t quite name.
If I hadn’t run away, right now, I’d still be swathed in silk and people. My face would hurt from all the smiles. The mere thought twists my stomach into knots. Then I’d probably see Cooper—glassy-eyed and reeking of pot—slumped into a velvet chair, oblivious to me and any of our guests. Afterward, we may or may not have consummated our marriage. Likely, he’d be too inebriated to perform and would pass out, leaving me to pack for a Tanzanian safari and my father’s private plane.
No, it’s much better to hide in this hotel, far away from that farce.
My mind flashes to the moment that shattered everything. Elise on her knees, and Cooper’s voice cutting through the air. “Every time I touch Jade, I’ll think of you.” The memory claws at me, each word a fresh wound. Elise—his choice for a bridesmaid—has been a fixture in our lives for years. How had I not seen the signs? My gut churns with guilt and anger, directed as much at myself as them. How could I have been so blind?
Back inside, I start a bath, watching as steam curls up from the water’s surface, fogging the mirror and promising warmth. As I sink into the tub, the water envelops me, but it does nothing to thaw the ice in my veins. The fact that I can’t cry, won’t cry—it’s a sign, isn’t it? A testament to how little that man actually meant to me, to the relief that floods through me, now that I’m free from being Mrs. Cooper Waldorf.
Along with my mother, I’m sure my father and my older half-brother, JP, are upset that the marriage didn’t happen. The rest of my messed-up family is probably indifferent, but those three were looking forward to a piece of land that the Waldorfs had promised to sell them with our union. They’ll have to figure that out without me.
Time slips by, measured in ripples and the soft sound of water lapping against porcelain. It’s only when my fingers prune and the water cools that I realize I’ve been sitting here for far too long. I stand, letting the lukewarm water drain away.
Wrapping a towel around myself, I open the bathroom door to find Alexis waiting for me. She opens her arms, and I fall into them without hesitation.
“Jade,” she whispers, her voice fierce and tender all at once. “You’re so brave and stronger than you know.”
In her embrace, something inside me settles. I don’t need to carry the weight of my family’s expectations or Cooper’s betrayal.
“Thank you,” I murmur against her shoulder. “For being here, for believing in me.”
“Always,” she replies, pulling back to look me in the eye. “And remember, you’re better off without that loser.”
Her words soothe the raw edges of my spirit. With Alexis here, I feel a glimmer of hope. I’m not alone, even in this situation.
I sink onto the edge of the bed, and Alexis sits beside me, her hand finding mine, grounding me in its warmth.
“I’m sorry I bolted like that,” I begin, my voice wavering slightly. “I should’ve said something to you. But after seeing Cooper with Elise…” I pause, the image flashing before my eyes again, ugly and raw. “And then Mom… She just told me to get over it. Said it was business, not love. Telling me all men cheat and I should expect it.”
Alexis squeezes my hand. “All men don’t cheat. Cheaters are the exception. Bryant told me that.”
Bryant Ashland is my sister’s husband. She was introduced to him to help our family business. His family is big in oil and gas. But they fell in love. That wasn’t the case for Cooper and me.
She gives me a side hug. “You don’t have to apologize for escaping that mistake. You did what you needed to protect yourself.”
A chuckle escapes as I recall the absurdity of my exit. “I guess I really lost it for a moment there. I jumped into some guy’s sports car, face first, and yelled at him to drive.” The memory is surreal.
“I saw the look on his face as he peeled away. Priceless,” Alexis adds, laughter bubbling in her voice. “You should’ve seen it—the shock, the confusion. It was hysterical.”
“Really?” I say, a smile breaking through. “He was really good to me.”
“Trust me, that was one for the books.” Her voice turns serious. “But you know Dad’s not laughing. He was livid.”
“Let him be angry,” I reply, my smile fading. “It’s not like he ever cared about what I wanted. It was always about the deal, the merger…” My voice trails off. Even now, it’s hard to accept how transactional my life had become.
“Hey…” Alexis nudges me gently. “You’re free now. Free from Cooper, free from the expectations. You’ve been laying the groundwork for this for a while now. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you.”
I’m free. And with that freedom comes the chance to continue discovering who I am, beyond the Allerton name.
I slump into the couch, my legs feeling heavy, like they’ve absorbed the weight of everything I walked away from.
“Dad’s blaming you for not keeping Cooper in line,” Alexis says after a moment. “As if anyone ever could. This was never about love for him. Just another transaction.”
Her words are a quiet echo of my own thoughts, but hearing them aloud solidifies the truth. “It’s not like Dad’s wives ever kept him in line. Let him blame me,” I say, my voice steadier than I expect. “I’d rather face his anger than spend another second trapped in their deal.” I scoff. “Cooper must be relieved. He and Elise can do whatever they want now.”
Alexis shakes her head. “Cooper was angry. And his father looked like a cartoon character with a red face and steam coming out of his ears.” She sighs. “He’s just like Dad—stuck in the dark ages, thinking women should smile and nod and put up with whatever crap their husbands pull.”
“JP must be thrilled with me then,” I say dryly. His lips have been surgically attached to Dad’s ass since he figured out that’s the only way he’ll get to run the company one day.
“Thrilled is one word for it,” she replies. “The Waldorfs have frozen the deal, and JP insists he needs that land for our logistics—shipping and train lines. He’s like a bull in a china shop right now.”
I just shake my head. I really don’t care about JP’s temper or the family’s empire at this moment. All I feel is a profound sense of detachment. “Dad will never retire, and JP’s a fool to keep chasing that carrot. One wrong misstep, and Dad will write him out of his will. He’ll get nothing.”
The room grows quiet as the night deepens, and Alexis glances at the clock before turning back to me. “It’s late, Jade. I should go. But stay here as long as you need to. I won’t say a word to anyone.”
“Can you…stay with me tonight?” The request spills from me in a whisper. I’m not sure if it’s the comfort of her presence I seek or if I just can’t bear to be alone.
“Of course,” she says without hesitation, wrapping me in an embrace. “Anything you need, I’m here. Let me just call Bryant.”
I thank her, my heart swelling with gratitude for the one person who seems to understand. A little while later, we curl up in the bed and try to sleep. Yet even with her near, rest eludes me. Eventually, I push off the covers and slip out to the living area to watch the impending sunrise.
The world is still as I lean against the window, the pre-dawn chill wrapping around me. The horizon begins to blush with the first hints of sunlight, painting the sky in strokes of orange and pink. I watch silently, absorbing the peace of the sunrise, embracing the solitude that allows me to be untethered and alive.
I step outside to watch the early risers below—joggers with their steady rhythm, walkers wrapped in thought, and dog owners trailing behind their energetic companions. I smile, unbidden, as I recall my moment of wild abandon.
I almost laugh out loud, thinking about the hot guy with the car. The memory sparks a rare flicker of mischief in me. I’m not usually impulsive, yet here I am, retreating from what should have been my big day, reminiscing about a stranger whose name I never caught. And honestly? It feels exhilarating.
“Maybe it’s for the best,” I mutter to myself, imagining him making up for shortcomings with that fancy ride. But damn, he was attractive…
A shiver runs through me, and not just from the cool morning air. With a last glance at the awakening boardwalk, I retreat inside. The suite seems too large, too silent, but I shake off the emptiness, reaching for the phone to dial room service. “Coffee for two, please. Just black,” I order.
The coffee arrives quickly at this hour. As the scent fills the room, Alexis stirs, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. “What’s next for you?” she asks, her voice thick with sleep.
I wrap my hands around the warm mug, letting the steam curl into the air. “I don’t know,” I answer. “I guess I’ll go to work. Before all of this—” I wave toward the discarded remnants of my wedding attire “—against Cooper’s unwanted advice, I took on a big commission. Over eight hundred pieces for a restaurant’s fall menu.”
“Wow.” She whistles softly. “That’s huge, Jade. What restaurant? When do you start?”
“Under the Sea. It was a referral from Roy over at Madcap restaurant. I’ll probably start now since I no longer have safari plans,” I reply. It’s the one thing tethering me to normalcy, a project that is mine and mine alone.
“Good for you,” Alexis says with a yawn, standing and stretching. “You’ve found a way to support yourself. That’s more than any of the rest of us.”
“It’s not like I was ever made to sit behind a desk,” I say, offering a half-hearted smile.
“Are you going to move back to your loft?”
I trace the rim of my coffee mug, watching the light play across its smooth surface. “Maybe in a couple of months. For now, I think I’ll stay here,” I murmur. “I sold most of my furniture, and it’s awfully hot at the loft when the kiln is going.”
“You’ve got plenty of time to figure something out,” Alexis confirms.
I nod, a plan taking form. “I’m going to use my time here to figure out the designs.” My hands itch for the feel of wet clay between my fingers, the promise of creating something new from nothing—a fresh start. “The restaurant has sent over their fall menu concepts.” It’s an array of flavors and textures that now dance in my mind, begging to be translated into tangible form.
“That sounds perfect for you,” Alexis says encouragingly.
“Cooper hated the idea of me continuing to work,” I confess, a rebellious spark lighting within me. “Said it wasn’t becoming to play with mud.”
Alexis snorts, rolling her eyes. She leans back against the plush cushions of the couch. “You’re free to do whatever you want.”
“Exactly.” I let the freedom sink in, relishing it. “I need to think about what the pottery should do for each item on the menu.”
“Sounds exciting.” Her words are simple, but they ground me, reminding me of the passion I have for my craft.
“Will you come with me to the launch?” I ask suddenly. “I know it’s six months away…” The prospect of sharing my art with her, of having her by my side, feels right.
“Try and stop me.” Alexis grins. “I want to see all those snooty food critics eating off your plates. And Roy tells everyone he got his Michelin star because your dinnerware made the food stand out.”
I roll my eyes. “You know he’s exaggerating. But I’m glad you’ll come with me. It’s a deal.”