Dispute Resolution

Chapter Twenty-Five

Gray's mind gradually awoke from the fog. He felt rested, more than he had in a long time. He rolled to his side, certain that when he had fallen asleep, the bed had been filled with warm, beautiful woman. It was now empty. He sat up immediately and raked a hand through his hair, remembering it was still sore. But he had more pressing issues. Quinn was gone. He threw off the covers and walked through the hotel room, relieved when he found her out on the balcony, a cup of coffee in her hands.

"How are you feeling this morning?" he asked.

"Better."

"Let's get some breakfast and then I'm taking you home."

"Sounds good," she said and Gray was pleased that she didn't argue for once.

He disappeared inside and rang room service, ordering a full breakfast. He didn't know about Quinn, but he was starving. He joined her back outside when he'd finished placing the order and sat on one of the chairs near hers. She was quiet, for once, but for once he wanted her to talk.

"I want you to tell me what happened last night," he said.

She took another sip of coffee and swallowed before she spoke.

"My team and I were working, doing some research about the nightlife here in Kuta," she began. "I'd done a few interviews with some revellers and then decided I'd had enough and wanted to go back to my hotel room. I was returning with a group of people, some of the other reporters and Adi, our chaperone, was with us too. Then Rory joined us..."

"Rory?" Gray cut in. "Your ex?" He was angry, maybe even a little jealous.

"He was the one who got me the job," she tried to explain. "After you and I appeared in that women's magazine he rang me wanting to know what the deal was."

"And what did you tell him?"

"I didn't tell him anything about our relationship."

"So, he thought you were available?"

"Actually, he was more interested in you."

"Me?"

"He thought he could use me as a contact to get to you. He wanted you to back an e-newspaper he is trying to start."

Gray was silent for a moment, contemplating. "Creepy," he finally said and despite everything, Quinn laughed.

"Exactly."

"So he didn't try anything on you?"

"Well, he did," she said. "But he didn't get very far."

Gray gazed at her, his eyes penetrating her as though trying to seek out the truth. "Do you have any feelings for him at all, because if you do I need to know?"

"No way. Especially not after what he did to me last night. "

His whole body tensed at her words. "What did he do?"

"He followed me out of the nightclub. Then he pushed me up against a wall and tried to kiss me. I shoved him, hard. Rory got the message and left me to walk home by myself. That's when the group of guys started following me."

"What if I hadn't been there?" he said, a horrified look in his eyes.

"I-I don't know. Maybe those guys were just trying to help me and I just freaked out."

At that moment there was a knock on the door. Gray stood and strode over to it, still only wearing his shorts that he'd pulled on last night. The waiter delivered the food. Before he left, Gray asked him to arrange for Quinn's suitcase to be packed and sent across from her hotel. While he was setting it up on the small table, Quinn came inside and sat down, her arms folded in her lap as she watched him. She still seemed shaken from last night. He just wanted to make her feel better, but he knew she wouldn't let him. They needed to talk about that, too, but maybe when they were on the plane heading home.