Chapter 258

Joseph's POV I stared at my phone screen, reading Ava's rejection message. Something in my chest tightened. I wasn't used to women saying no to me. "She's playing hard to get," I muttered. "She's different," Dean growled. "I like that." I tossed my phone onto my desk and leaned back in my chair. Rejection wasn't something I handled well, but I wasn't about to give up. I'd planned to visit Grace's Closet every day this week until she agreed to dinner, but life had other plans. First came Eleanor's personal leave. "Joseph, I need to take a few days off," she said, her voice tight with worry. "What's wrong?" I asked, hearing the worry in her voice. "It's Caroline. Draven fired her today. He accused her of being a spy and threw her out of Thorne Enterprises." "What?" I sat up straight. "That doesn't sound like Draven at all." "He's lost his mind! He called her a traitor to his pack and threatened to ensure she'd never work in Harbor Bay again." "Go," I said immediately. "Take whatever time