Centre Spot: Enemies to Lovers Book 4 Read online

  Centre Spot

  Enemies To Lovers

  BOOK FOUR

  Gracie-Mae Harding

  Stimulating Reads

  gracie-mae.com

  She’s off limits.

  I have NONE.

  Copyright And Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Copyright © 2021 Gracie-Mae Harding.

  All rights reserved.

  For more information: gracie-mae.com

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  Book Four Description

  Katie is tasked with managing the PR agency in her boss's absence for a few weeks while he takes leave. More responsibility to manage day-to-day operations at the agency leaves Katie with less time working with James.

  James finds an opportunity to treat a medical condition and makes a judgment call without seeking guidance from the PR agency helping him through rehabilitation. The procedure could save his career or finish it. A nurse at the hospital strikes up a rapport with James, who befriends him on a choice that could dramatically change everything for him.

  James' trip to the hospital for an unrelated reason leaves Katie's heart pounding and thinking the worst.

  Katie later stumbles upon a heart-wrenching surprise she wishes was not true.

  Table Of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Book Five Preview

  About The Author

  Other Books By The Author

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  Chapter One

  Katie:

  With a loud screech, I swiftly park my car in any available space in the hospital car park. Leaping out of the car I race for the main entrance, not paying attention to whether or not I have locked my car. I rush straight into the hospital lobby, where I find a kind-looking nurse at the counter. I try to calm myself down to reduce my speaking pace so the nurse can pick out my words clearly, but failing repeatedly until the third try.

  “James… James Reed. That’s his name. I think he was rushed into the ER this morning,” I say, trying my best to compose myself.

  “I’m on it, ma’am. Please give me a minute,” she says in a smart, professional, “I’m-used-to-scenes-like-this” kind of way.

  I tap my fingers loudly and absent-mindedly on the counter–my reaction every time I’m hanging on to my last thin thread of patience.

  “Ma’am, did you say James?” she asks calmly.

  “Yes. James Reed. That’s what I said,” I repeat, trying not to yell.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, but from what I have here, I suppose there’s been a mix up somewhere–” she begins, but a voice calling my name from a few meters away interrupts her.

  ”Katie?” The familiar voice calls in an uncertain tone.

  I turn around to see James standing alone in the middle of the hall, not looking quite himself, but definitely not injured or battered, at least not from my point of view.

  I breathe a deep sigh of relief and run right into his arms as tears well up in my eyes.

  “Oh, James. You’re fine. You’re fine. I was so scared.” I sob into his arms as he wraps them around me.

  Detaching from him for a bit, I cup his face in my hands and examine him, looking for scratches or wounds or anything that could have brought him to the hospital.

  “I’m fine,” he says with a small laugh. “How did you know I was here, though?” he asks.

  I slowly explain everything that had led to my finding out about his whereabouts, and he pulls me into another hug again when I sound like I might cry. Frankly, I had been terrified.

  “I’m fine, Katie. Maybe a little tired and disgusted by this whole hospital escapade, but I’m fine, and there’s nothing to worry about here. Of course, you know the news would have carried it first if I had been involved in an accident. I’m still somewhat famous, remember?” he says playfully, and I laugh softly.

  “Plus, the old lady found me eventually, or should I say I found her. But she forgot to mention that she’d given someone a scare already,” he says, light-heartedly, clearly trying to force a smile through his weary face.

  “Why are you here, then?” I ask curiously, not quite getting the scenario.

  I watch as he closes his eyes and sighs like one who has a whole lot on his mind.

  “My dad was rushed here this morning. Apparently, he started to develop some health complications sometime in the middle of the night, but the nurses didn’t find him till this morning. He’s stable now, though, I think. At least that’s what the doctor says,” he replies, his brows furrowed into a frown.

  “Oh my. That’s quite a lot,” I say sympathetically, sharing his worry, “but he’s in good hands now. He’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah. I hope so too,” he says, his tone dropping again, and then silence follows.

  Now that the familiarities are over and we’ve gotten over the excitement that came with my presence on the hospital premises, I realize that we have nothing else to talk about–at least not here–and I can almost hear the air around us cackling intense silence as I shift my weight from foot to foot. Finally, breaking the silence, James speaks first.

  “Huh, Katie now is probably not the best time, but I just need to get this off my chest. I’m sorry about last night. I was just–I saw that guy, and the way you looked at him, and I just stopped thinking correctly. I’m sorry I acted up like that. Of course, you can see whoever it is you choose whenever you choose. I don’t mind, really. You must think I’m some jealous freak,” he says, laughing nervously.

  “It’s okay. I understand,” I reply sincerely.

  “You do?”

  “Yes, I do. And just so you know, Charles is really just a friend.”

  “Oh,” he says shyly, digging his hands in his pockets.

  “Yes,” I reply with a smile.

  “Okay,” he says, and I chuckle.

  “So, how long have you been here?” I ask, shifting the conversation to more comfortable grounds.

  “All day.”

  “Oh. You didn’t even get to have a bath. Did you?” I tease, scrutinizing his face.

  “Nope. I didn’t. But then I’m always irresistibly handsome anyway. It has something to do with the James Reed glow,” he says with a small laugh, smoothening his hair with his hands.

  “Oh please. Don’t even start
with me. You look a mess, frankly,” I comment.

  “Yeah, a hot mess,” he says, moistening his lips with his tongue.

  “Just shut up,” I remark fondly.

  “What about your daughter, though?” I ask concernedly.

  “Oh, sorry. Erica should be with her. I totally forgot. Don’t mind me,” I add quickly.

  “Oh well, no. She’s at my uncle’s,” he corrects.

  “Oh. Okay,” I reply, feeling awkward.

  “And yeah, Erica is returning to France, so she’ll soon be away and huh–out of the picture,’’ he says, a touch of emotion lacing his voice.

  “Oh. I’m sorry,” I say, squeezing his hand. I hadn’t exactly liked her very much, but she’d been a great friend to James.

  “I’m going to miss her. I hope Chloe gets used to the change as fast as possible,” he confesses honestly.

  Erica had seemed so much like a part of the Reed family, and so I wondered why she’s leaving now, especially as it seems like this parting isn’t exactly on a good note.

  “Mr. Reed?” a manly voice calls from across the hall.

  “Yes?” James answers sharply, clearing his throat and quickly turning to face the cute looking doctor.

  “May I see you in private, please?” the doctor says, his eyes darting back and forth from James to me.

  “Oh. She’s my agent, and she can come along. There’s no problem,” James says in an attempt to save the doctor his dilemma.

  “I insist, sir,” the doctor says with a small smile.

  “Oh. It’s alright. I’ll wait here for you,” I say with a smile.

  “Okay. Don’t go anywhere,” he says as he turns to follow the doctor.

  As soon as James leaves, I settle in one of the hard, metal chairs in the lobby and turn on my air pods, letting the rhythm of the sweet music float me away.

  James:

  “Mr. Reed, your father has essential tremor, which is basically the involuntary shaking or trembling of parts of the body. Symptoms usually appear in the hands and arms initially, but if left unattended, can gradually spread to other parts of the body–as is the case of your father.”

  “So, is it too late to help him? Is that what you are saying?” I ask worriedly.

  “No. We will put him on meds to help manage his condition, but that’s the best we can do for now,” he says.

  “One interesting fact about essential tremor, though, is that it is a hereditary condition. That is, there’s a high chance that you have this condition too. Symptoms might not be apparent now, but we still cannot rule out the possibility that you might have it. And although it is usually not a cause for alarm, the earlier we know, the better,” the doctor says gently.

  “Did you say trembling of hands and arms?” I ask, to be certain I had heard correctly.

  “Yes. Have you perhaps experienced this at any point in time?” he probes.

  My mind goes back to the number of times my hands had trembled of their own accord without any cause, and I finally understand why.

  “Yes, doctor. One too many times,” I reply.

  “Alright,” he says, and for the next few minutes, he probes further, explaining a long line of facts about the conditions and possible cures as he spoke.

  By the time we finish talking, I can already start to feel like my heart has multiplied in weight.

  “Thank you, doctor,” I say, as I straighten my back, and my head buzzing as I still try to wrap it around all of the information I have just heard.

  “And remember, Mr. Reed, it’s not a death sentence nor a severe condition. But the sooner we pay closer attention to your symptoms, the better,” he says calmly.

  I nod in salutation and make my way over to Katie, where she sits with her eyes closed, obviously carried away with whatever music she’s listening to. Not bothering to alert her about my presence, I take my seat beside her and bury my head in my palms as my conversation with the doctor replays in my mind, and I weigh my treatment options carefully again. The doctor had advised me extensively on my wide range of treatment options, and it should be easy for an average person to pick from, except I’m an athlete, so I have to be super careful. I can’t possibly let this affect my career, not when I’m so close to my comeback.

  “Oh, hey, you’re back,” Katie says, placing her hand on my shoulder.

  “What’s wrong? How’s your dad?” she asks when I turn to look at her, worry spreading all across her face.

  “He’s better,” I reply with a sigh. “Looks like he’s going to be on medication for a long while, though.”

  “Ow. He’ll be fine. He’s a strong man after all,” she says with an encouraging smile.

  “They have such strict privacy rules here, though. It’s really cool,” she says with a chuckle, referring to the doctor’s insistence to speak with me and me alone, and I give a small smile in return.

  “I know, right?” I reply.

  I contemplate in my mind whether or not to share my discussion with the doctor with her, judging by the fact that, being my agent, she has every right to know.

  “Hum…Katie?” I begin.

  “Yeah?” she responds, raising her gaze to look into my eyes.

  I move my lips to speak, but a second thought drops in my mind, and I decide that I probably shouldn’t tell her–at least not yet. Judging by what the doctor said, if proper measures are taken, I’d soon forget that this episode ever happened, and the tremors would be a thing of the past—no need to complicate anything and get everyone worried for no reason.

  “I just wanted to say, thank you–for running over, for waiting for me, for everything. Thank you,” I say sincerely.

  Smiling warmly, she gives my hand an encouraging squeeze.

  “You’re welcome,” she says, and I respond with a small smile too.

  A pang of guilt hits me just then, but after a few seconds of thinking about the worst that could happen, I let the feeling die. The doctor had offered me time to think over my numerous options anyway, and there’s still enough time to tell her if I eventually decide to. Right now, the only person who we should be worried about is my father.

  Chapter Two

  Katie:

  “Dan asked to see you,” Amelia says after the usual morning greetings and formalities.

  “Oh? Like, right now?” I ask.

  “Yeah. He said to tell you to drop by his office as soon as you arrive,” she asserts.

  “Alright. Thanks,” I say as I turn back towards my boss’ office, not bothering to go into mine first. If he had requested to see me first thing in the morning, then it must be urgent.

  I walk into Dan’s office to find an unusual looking version of himself seated on his chair.

  “Good morning Dan,” I say as soon as I walk into the large, glass office.

  “Good morning Katie. How are you?” he asks, leaning on his desk and wearing the most tired look I have ever seen on him.

  “Very well, thank you. You, on the other hand, look like you could get some rest. Is everything alright?” I ask in concern.

  “My doctor gave the same advice, and that’s why you’re here. For the next few days, I’m afraid I will have to be physically absent from the office. I need some time to reboot. In the meantime, I’ll be needing you to run the place and keep Flash Spot in order. There’s quite a lot to do, but I trust you to figure it all out. I’ll be lending you my assistant, though, and Collins will brief you about all the necessary things you need to know. Try your best to understand because I doubt that I will be reachable for a while,” he spells out calmly.

  The meaning of Dan’s words–which he has just so casually said, hits me in a rush. He wants me to oversee the company while he’s away? Me?

  “Wow. Not that I’m complaining, I am greatly honored, in fact. But why me?” I ask, in wonder.

  “Well, Miss Katie,” he says, leaning back in his chair, “why not you?”

  I laugh softly in humble appreciation, trying not to blush.

 
“But then, if you think it would be too much responsibility for you, surely I can assign this to someone else,” he says and clears his throat.

  “Oh, no. It’s totally fine with me. I’ll make sure to keep the house in order till your return, which I hope will be very soon. Thanks, Dan.”

  I watch as he nods in response and gives a wince as he gets up from his chair.

  “You may have Collins change the chair by the way. I understand that only very few share my exquisite taste in furniture, and it’s okay. Just make sure it’s back here when I come back,” he says as he grabs his coat from the hanger and walks towards me and the door.

  “You want me to use your office?” I ask in amazement. All the while, it hasn’t dawned on me what this new temporary role would mean as regards my workspace and the thought of having the director’s office to myself–even for a few days–sounds very exciting.

  “Have a good ride, Katie,” Dan says with a smile–the brightest he could manage, I guess–and pats my shoulder as he walks past me out of his office–my new office, that is.

  I wait until he is gone, pick up the small remote control on his desk and activate the auto-curtains before I let out my dance of joy and excitement. I take a sweeping glance around the polished office before I walk over to the chair to see how it feels. The hardness of the chair hits me the second I do, and I jump right back up. Now I understand what Dan meant by “his taste in furniture.” Aren’t chairs supposed to be comfy?

  I move to the enormous desk next and sit on it, next to the guests’ chair as I begin an interesting conversation with a non-existent client, giggling and laughing and wondering what in the world is wrong with me.

  I hear a knock on the door, and I instantly regain my composure. As I smooth my hair with my hands, I walk over to open the door. A calm and composed Collins walks into the office the moment I open the door.