Drake chased after Grace as she ran out of the office. He half expected Annie to be right behind but wasn't disappointed to realize when he'd reached Grace's door that the little girl wasn't in tow.

Throwing rules and manners to the wind, he opened the door she'd just slammed without knocking.

"Please, Drake," she cried. "I don't want you to see me like this."

Ignoring her, he rushed to her and hugged her. She resisted at first but then accepted the embrace a few seconds later. Burying her face in his jacket, she wept.

He said nothing for a long time. He'd been expecting a meltdown like this. A person could only keep things inside for so long. For as unshakable as Grace liked to present herself, she had the tenderest heart of anyone he knew. Having to stand there while Mr. Warbucks twisted the knife deeper into that loving heart made him want to throttle his boss.

"I'm ruining your jacket," she said once she'd somewhat calmed, though tears still streamed down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize. What he did was reprehensible."

"Or it's just more of my wishful thinking setting myself up for a fall."

"Not this time. It's completely unreasonable to expect you to redo his bedroom for that Mrs. Kelly woman. Most inappropriate."

Grace shuttered at the name. She'd met the woman for only a brief time yet felt more jealousy toward her than all of the other women Oliver had been seeing combined. To hear he'd decided to marry her in the same breath he asked her to make his bedroom of all places more feminine was the final straw.

"I meant what I said downstairs," she said, pushing herself away. "I can't stay here. I need to be on the next train. Will you help me pack? I'm not taking everything. Not yet. I just need to leave. I may ask you to send anything I might leave behind sometime."

"Miss Farrell, I…"

When he stopped, she pointed to the closet. "My trunk is in the closet. Could you please pull it out for me?"

Without a word, he carried out her request, albeit slowly. She was serious. This wasn't a daydream she needed to latch onto to get through the last few weeks. She truly intended to leave.

Once retrieved, he set the trunk on the bed and opened it. Grace promptly started tossing things inside in an un-Grace-like disorganized heap.

"Miss Farrell… are you certain you've thought this through? Shouldn't you tell Mr. Warbucks you intend to quit?"

"I don't intend to quit," she sniffed. "I am quitting. I've been patient and he's treating me like I matter less every day. He won't even notice I'm missing until he realizes a paper isn't filed or a phone is left ringing. Let's see how he handles the calls from Shanghai Shek now!"

"Think about Annie," he said, shutting the trunk as though this would permanently stop her from packing. "The staff! We're all going to miss you terribly. So many of the girls look up to you."

"I've been strong throughout all of this. It's time I start taking care of myself." On his frown, she reached out to squeeze his hand. "I'm going to miss you terribly. All of you… but especially you."

His eyes lit up, though only in a flash before replying, "I'm going to miss you, too, Miss Farrell… I'm going to miss you a lot."

Letting go of his hand and opening the trunk again, she said, "It's not as though I want to leave. This is my home. Everyone… most everyone… is like family. But change is good, isn't it? Or it can be if you let it. Things are changing here and as much as I'd like to stay, there's no longer a place for me. I can't stick around for the few people who actually want me. I need to let go of this fantasy with Mr. Warbucks. I've been kidding myself for too long. He isn't capable of loving me. I'm his secretary. I've never been anything more. I'm replaceable. I need to move on and make a life for myself."

Hurrying to the closet and blindly pulling out a handful of suits and dresses, she brought them back and stuffed them at the top of her trunk. The fabric spilled over the sides when she closed it, and in her current state, didn't hesitate to let out a course.

Drake paid no mind. All he could hear for the moment was the sound of his blood pumping in his ears. He had one chance. What did he have to lose anymore?

"What if I told you that I love you?"

Grace turned sharply, staring at him and trying to convince herself she'd heard his tone incorrectly.

"I have for so long," he said softly.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I might not get another chance. If there's a fraction of a chance I can convince you to stay, I need to take it."

Her voice wavered. "Drake…"

Taking a step closer, he set his hands lightly on her shoulders. "I know it's a long shot. I know that you're in love with Mr. Warbucks. That's part of why I've never said anything before aside from saying as much being a breach of ethics… but since you're quitting? I don't want to spend the rest of my life wondering what might have happened if I took a chance."

She stood completely frozen, hardly daring to breathe or blink. All this time Drake had feelings for her and she never realized? Her heart sank. She was no better than Mr. Warbucks.

When she didn't respond, Drake moved one hand to her chin, tilting her head up. She looked at him and didn't pull back, but he couldn't begin to guess what was going through her mind. So, he took another chance, leaning down and touching his lips gently to hers.

She didn't stop him. She even tentatively kissed him back after several seconds. However, it only took a few seconds more before she was pushing him away, fresh tears in her eyes as she choked out another cry.

"I can't, Drake," she said, shaking her head and turning back to her trunk. "I need to go."

"I had to try," he said, defeated.

At last getting her suitcase to shut, she took hold of the handle and let it drop at her side. "I do love you, Drake. You're my best friend…"

He nodded. "But that's all I'll ever be to you."

"I can't think about this right now. I have a train to catch."

Solemnly, he said as she ran for the door, "Goodbye, Miss Farrell."

She didn't stop to bid him farewell. She didn't stop for anything. She was out of the house by the time Oliver rushed upstairs to stop her.

"Where is she?" Oliver demanded. "Tell me she's still here!"

Drake was sitting on the edge of her bed. Without bothering to stand or address his boss professionally, he bitterly answered, "She's gone."