Page 110 of Believing in a Billionaire
Julia slicked a lock of hair behind her ear as her sister eased into the chair on the opposite side of her. “He’s going to be okay, Juju. The paramedics had him stable when you got here, right?”
Julia nodded as she stared blankly ahead.
Alicia lifted her chin, flicking a gaze at Grant over her sister’s head. She offered him a pointed look before she gave a slight nod toward Julia. It was the first time his sister-in-law had ever acknowledged that Julia may need comfort from him.
He wrapped his arm around Julia and pulled her closer to him. She laid her cheek on his shoulder, reaching for his hand.
“I’m going to call Ethan. I’ll be back.”
He watched her stride from the room, surprised his sister-in-law was leaving them to have a few moments alone, but they desperately needed them.
Grant kissed the top of her head as he rubbed her back, a meager attempt to comfort her after what she’d just lived through. “Julia, I’m so sorry you went through this.”
“I’m more sorry Kyle did. I should have looked for him sooner. I should have insisted.”
“You did insist. But there weren’t many leads.”
“Thank God for Alex.”
Grant conjured an image of the man’s face in his mind. He hadn’t liked the man, but he owed him…again. It was becoming a pattern.
After a few tense moments, Julia relaxed into him, but Grant couldn’t relax. Silence stretched between them, only interrupted by the occasional page and the ticking of the clock on the wall as they waited for news on Kyle’s condition.
He rubbed Julia’s shoulder as she pressed closer to him. He sucked in a breath as the seriousness of the situation struck him. It instilled a sudden urgency for honesty within him.
His features twisted before he swallowed hard. “I…may have some more bad news.”
Julia lifted her head, studying him with her red-rimmed eyes. “What? What happened?”
Grant pulled his arm away from her as he leaned forward, balancing his elbows on his knees as he scrubbed his face, unable to meet Julia’s gaze. The shame washing over him twisted his stomach, a heavy cloak that threatened to suffocate him. He braced for her disappointment, for the fracture he feared this confession might cause in their newly forged bond. “I’m fairly certain I’m going to lose Harrington Global.”
Julia gasped. “What? How?”
Grant’s jaw tensed as he heard the shock in her voice. He’d disappointed her—again. “A few days ago, Lydia started buying up Harrington Global stock. She got a fair amount. Not enough to trigger a board vote…yet.
“We tried to do a stock buyback but…we’re running out of capital. There’s no way we’re going to be able to stave off her purchasing more shares. Maybe enough to have a majority.”
“A few days ago?” Julia asked. “Grant, why didn’t you tell me?”
He rose to pace the floor, running a hand through his hair. “Because I…”
He shook his head, blowing a long breath out. “I didn’t want you to have to deal with it. I wanted things to be perfect for us. This is really the start of our marriage. I didn’t want it tainted with trouble.”
Julia heaved a sigh as she stared at the tiles on the floor under her feet. The strain showed on her face, and he’d just added to it. No wonder she’d had reservations about their relationship. She hadn’t wanted to spend the rest of her life in turmoil.
She rose to face him, pressing a hand against her forehead. Something clouded her eyes, but he couldn’t read it. Was it regret?
He reached out, his hands trembling slightly as they found hers. His heart thumped hard against his ribs. He just needed another chance to give her perfection. So far, he’d failed miserably at it. “Julia, I can fix everything, I just need more time. I know things haven’t been what I promised, but–” His voice cracked, betraying the desperation he tried so hard to conceal.
“No, Grant,” she said, her eyes flicked to his as she shook her head.
He swallowed hard at her words.
“No more…contracts or time frames. No more contingencies. No more. This has to end.”
His heart stopped as she spoke. He’d finally bared his soul to her, and he’d won the chance to prove himself, but he’d ruined it. In less than a week, he’d ruined his one opportunity with the woman he loved.
CHAPTER 24
