Regret Came Too Late (Grace and Ethan)

Grace was too weak to fight back. Blood from the gash on her forehead kept trickling down.

Chester had already ripped open her blouse and was about to take it further when a sudden, brutal kick sent him flying. He crashed hard against a sharp corner, and blood spilled from his mouth.

The next second, the men's restroom door was closed. Julian, dressed completely in black, stood guard outside and lit a cigarette. Anyone who came up was turned away with the same line. "Go somewhere else. We've got business here."

Julian had always been a force to be reckoned with, and now, with that half-lidded stare, he looked downright lethal. The moment someone saw who he was, they stepped back quickly.

He took a slow drag, leaning against the wall as he called inside, "Your legs are still recovering. Don't push it."

Inside, Ethan was crouching beside Grace, his hand brushing against her forehead. Meanwhile, Chester-the guy who had just taken the hit-rolled his eyes and passed out cold.

Grace's head throbbed. She instinctively brushed against Ethan's palm.

"Can you stand?" he asked.

She was too out of it to know who had saved her, but she could tell he smelled faintly of mountain snow-fresh and clean.

Grace heard another guy's voice when Ethan lifted her into his arms. "Do you have any idea how many more assassination attempts you'll have to deal with if people find out your legs are healing?"

Her head rested against a warm chest. With the last bit of clarity she had, she realized her head was bleeding. She tried to pull away, not wanting to mess up his clothes.

But a hand gently kept her in place, and a voice-cold but surprisingly soft- murmured, "It's fine. Just lean on me."

After that, she gently drifted off, slipping into unconsciousness.

...

When Yancey and his group came out, they found the hotel suddenly on lockdown. Several hallways were blocked off, supposedly because a "very important guest" had just arrived.

Yancey was irritated. Wasn't everyone supposed to be treated as important in a hotel like this?

Sensing an opportunity, Jessica decided to flatter him. "Mr. Henderson, do you think it could be someone from your family?"

Yancey's first thought was Ethan, but Ethan was notoriously aloof and rarely left home. It probably wasn't him.

He scoffed and looked around. "Where's Grace?"

A nasty glint flashed in Jessica's eyes. Grace still hadn't returned. Could Chester have actually taken her to a room to spend some time with her on the bed?

That would be perfect. Grace would be done for as no man would want her after that. She had always relied on her looks to hook guys, so this served her right.

Jessica smirked. "She's probably still busy chatting it up with the higher-ups. I mean, she did pull off a huge project this time."

The other colleagues snickered one after another.

Yancey said nothing and was about to look for Grace when Jessica grabbed his arm. "Mr. Henderson, don't tell me you actually care about Grace?"

Her question made him freeze. He was so used to Grace chasing after him. How could he be the one to show concern first, especially with her playing hard to get? Besides, he had always bragged to everyone that he'd never have feelings for Grace. He'd look like a fool if he backpedaled now.

"I don't care about her," Yancey said. "I just want to head home. This way's blocked, right? I'll take the path at the end. You guys should head back soon too."

Jessica breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing he didn't care. Grace was getting what she deserved. Even her fiancé, who had grown up with her, didn't give her a damn. How pathetic!noveldrama