Demon CEO's Hidden Love: Mr Grayson Stole Me From My Abusive Husband-Chapter 34: His Lover’s Cooking

The person who had held back Tara was none other than Hannah, who had just finished an important call and noticed the kitchen in turmoil.

Staring at the red mark on Brooke’s face, Hannah felt a surge of anger towards Tara.

"Everyone get out for now; all this smoke is dangerous to inhale," Danny announced as he stepped into the kitchen.

Tara withdrew her hand from Hannah’s and hissed as she left. Jess followed, stealing worried glances at Brooke.

"Are you alright?" Hannah crouched down to Brooke’s level, examining her for any other injuries.

Thankfully, there were none.

Brooke remained silent until they were outside in the garden area.

"I’m sorry," she winced. "I shouldn’t have fallen asleep!"

Hannah sighed. "That’s right, but that’s not what’s important right now. We have to get a doctor to check you. I’ll go alert Master Grayson—"

"No!" Brooke begged. "I don’t want to bother him over something so trivial. I’m already embarrassed enough after my mistake; I can’t burden him anymore."

Hannah wanted to explain that she wouldn’t be a burden, but their conversation was cut short by a fuming Tara.

"I can’t believe you’re hiding out here and playing the victim while Lance and Danny clean up your mess. The least you could do is help out," she spat, approaching them.

Hannah stood defensively in front of Brooke. "I suggest you mind your language; you are a guest staying here—"

Tara interrupted, "I’m part of Thane’s team; she’s just a client we’re servicing. I think she ought to learn her place. I have to let Thane know that this woman is getting too comfortable in his home. I mean, why were you even in the kitchen in the first place?"

Brooke wheeled herself in front of Hannah and addressed Tara, "I accept that I made a mistake and caused everyone trouble. For that, I apologize." She owned up to her actions.

"But please, can we keep this between us? I don’t want to make Mr. Grayson worry about me—"

Tara scoffed. "You think he’ll be worried about you? I think you have things twisted." She folded her arms across her chest, a twisted smile on her lips.

"Oh, I see what it is. He showed you a bit of kindness, and now you’ve mistaken that for something else," she assumed, based on past experiences with other clients.

Brooke shook her head. "No, the only thing I feel for him is respect. That’s why I hate to burden him while he’s working on my—"

Tara raised her hand. "I’ve worked with him the longest, and I know everything there is to know. If this is your way of pursuing him, I suggest you give up now. Just move out and live somewhere else until this project is done." She said harshly.

Hannah balled her fists. ’This woman is the absolute worst. How dare she talk like that when it’s clear who is unwanted here?!’ She looked at Brooke, who had her head down, eyes darkened.

She felt bad for her, for not having the self-confidence to stand up to Tara.

"Women like you who can’t draw a line between business and pleasure are definitely the lowest—"

Just as Tara was about to continue, Brooke’s head snapped up, her eyes locking onto Tara’s. "I’ll apologize a thousand times for the kitchen incident," Brooke said, her voice calm but laced with an unnerving intensity.

"And I’ll make any compensation necessary to satisfy Mr. Grayson." Her gaze narrowed, a sharp glare slicing through the air toward Tara, causing Tara to straighten her spine.

"However," Brooke continued, her tone dripping with authority, "This is an entirely separate matter. We have distinct roles within this household, and as someone working for me, I suggest you heed your own advice and learn your place."

Tara’s eyes flared with anger, a sharp contrast to the satisfied grin on Hannah’s face.

Brooke did not back down, "You raised your hand to a client and dared to threaten me. Between us both, who really is the unethical one?"

Tara balled her fists. "You bitch! You’re starting to show your true colours aren’t you? Wait till I tell Thane all about you-"

Brooke scoffed, ’She’s just like cassie.’ She had had her fair share of people who loved to victimize herself.

Even if she sounded like the villainess, she didn’t care.

"I advise you leave him alone. While you might’ve known him the most, it was nothing but a work relationship. Anything past that is overstepping your boundaries." Brooke said sternly.

Her words were like a jabbing dagger to the chest, Tara felt so angry she wanted to smack Brooke once more across the face.

But they were all interrupted by a sudden call to breakfast by Thane.

"Breakfast?" Brooke exchanged quick glances with Hannah, right before they went to the dining room to see what was happening.

When Brooke arrived, she was met with a surreal scene: Thane’s team members huddled together, awestruck, as their leader savored a plate of charred breakfast. Brooke gasped, rushing over to him in her wheelchair. "Don’t eat that!" she exclaimed, attempting to snatch the plate.

Thane remained unfazed, gently capturing her wrist. "Why won’t you let me enjoy your cooking?"

Brooke’s incredulity was palpable. "You can’t be serious! Even a dog would turn away from that."

"It’s burnt and bitter," she explained, but Thane’s expression remained puzzled.

"And?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Brooke blinked, taken aback. "Isn’t that reason enough?"

Undeterred, Thane took another spoonful, his warm smile deepening. His team exchanged disbelieving glances; this was the man notorious for being finicky about food, who had taken to cooking for himself due to his distrust of others.

"Mr. Grayson, you’ll get food poisoning," Brooke warned, trying to reason with him.

Thane countered with a question that left everyone stunned. "What kind of man gets sick from eating his lover’s cooking?" he asked, his tone laced with pride and sincerity.

Brooke’s eyes dropped, unable to withstand the intensity of his gaze.

’Lover?!’ she panicked inwardly, wondering what had possessed this man into saying something like that so brazenly!