Page 14 of Believing in a Billionaire
Grant slid his eyes closed as he tightened his jaw to the point that he felt pain. “So, you’re saying we need to take on significant debt to attempt to stop this.”
“Yes,” Ben said with a nod.
“Are there any other options?”
Silence met his question.
“Then start buying back. I don’t care what the terms are for the debt, just stop the stock bleed.”
Ben rose from his chair, his notebook in hand. “Yes, sir. Uh…”
“What?” Grant snapped as he shot a glare at Ben.
“We will need your signature on several things and possibly your assurances for any loans or bonds we float to achieve this. It could be a lengthy process…”
“So, what you’re saying is…don’t make any plans tonight?”
Ben shifted his weight from one foot to the other with a nervous chuckle. “Right, sir.”
Grant shook his head as the man left the room. He desperately didn’t want to cancel the dinner he promised Julia,but he also didn’t want to leave her sitting for hours in an empty restaurant waiting for him.
Maybe they’d finish sooner than he expected. He returned to his office and sank into his chair, drumming his fingers against the polished wood. As the shadows grew deeper across the floor from the setting sun, he grabbed his phone. They’d never finish in time for him to make their dinner.
He pressed the call icon next to Julia’s name and waited as the line trilled. “Hi,” she answered after two rings.
“Hey,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady despite his upset. He pressed his trembling hand against the desk.
“How are things going?”
“Not great. I mean, it’s fine,” he added quickly. He didn’t want her worried about this. “It’s just…taking longer than I hoped.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “Anything I can do?”
“You can forgive me,” he answered.
She chuckled. “What? You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Well, I have to cancel our plans tonight.”
His chest tightened as he waited for her response. Any of his first four wives would have given him an earful and made him promise that he’d make it up to them. His mind already vetted jewelry pieces that could serve as his apology.
“Are you sure everything’s okay?”
The concern in her voice melted his heart. He considered confessing everything to her, but he decided against it. It was a selfish thing to do. He didn’t want to upset her just because he was upset. “Yes, it’s fine. Just…time-consuming.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I understand. These things are going to happen when you’re running a company as large as Harrington Global. It’s okay.”
Was it?He’d never had a spouse be this understanding. And on the few occasions Julia’s predecessors had been okay withhim spending long hours at the office, they’d been cheating. He shook his head. Julia wasn’t cheating, she was just that understanding.
“Really, Grant, it’s okay,” she repeated when he didn’t answer.
“It’s not. I promised I’d prove to you how happy I could make you, and I’m already letting you down.”
“You are not letting me down. You can prove it another time when this crisis has passed.” The warmth and humor in her voice made him feel slightly better.
“Right. And I will. I promise.” He choked out the last words, wondering if he could keep his promise or if he’d end up ruining another relationship.
“Well, I hope you get everything sorted out soon. On the other hand, Sierra and Kyle will be thrilled to see me at dinner.”
