Page 15 of Believing in a Billionaire
“Well, at least they’ll get to enjoy your company.” A pang of sorrow crept into his heart at missing out on her presence.
“Want me to wait up for you?”
“No, no,” he said, heartache filling him as he said the words, “it’s okay. I don’t know how late I’ll be. I’ll…see you in the morning.”
“Okay,” she said. “Don’t work too hard.”
“Julia…thanks.” He wanted to tell her more. But saying I love you sounded so hollow without anything to back it up.
“You’re welcome,” she answered. “And I’m just a text away if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
He smiled at the words as they said their goodbyes, and he ended the call. His smile quickly faded, though, as his mind went over the precarious situation Harrington Global found itself in. And he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d lose both his company and his wife over it.
CHAPTER 4
JULIA
Julia eased the car to a stop in a parking space before stepping out into the cold, dimly lit garage of her former apartment building. The damp chill sent a shiver racing down her spine, though she didn’t know if it was from the air or the coming confrontation.
Alicia’s marriage was on the rocks and hers was just beginning. A relationship she would have to confess to her sister. And one that her sister would hate.
Her heart thudded against her ribs as she pulled open the metal door to the stairwell, wincing as it scraped against the concrete floor. She climbed the stairs to her former floor and tugged open the door, catching sight of the figure huddled outside her old apartment.
As she stepped into the hall, Alicia flicked her gaze to her sister, her features melting as she climbed to her feet and held her arms out for a hug.
Julia hurried to her and wrapped her sister in an embrace. “Oh, Ally, I’m so sorry.”
Alicia sobbed as she clung to Julia. “Thank you for coming. I know I messed up really big when you were home, but I needed my sister after what happened, and I just…”
Her sister’s words came out a slurred mess as she wept and spoke at the same time.
Julia cupped Alicia’s face in her hands. “Shh, it’s okay. Don’t worry about what happened in the past right now, okay? Let’s just get you settled.”
Alicia bobbed her head up and down as she flicked away tears and grabbed Julia’s hand. “Thanks, sis. Can we maybe go inside so I can cry in private?”
She shifted her red-rimmed eyes around the hall. “I feel like people are staring through their peepholes at the free show.”
“They’re not. But…no we can’t go inside,” Julia said with a wince.
Alicia offered her a stunned glance. “Julia, I know I messed up–”
Julia shook her head, cutting off her sister’s words. “No, it has nothing to do with that, Ally. I don’t live here anymore.”
Alicia’s features twisted with understanding. She hurried back to retrieve her duffel bag. “Oh my goodness. I’ve been sitting outside of someone else’s door crying for like an hour. They’re probably afraid to come out of their apartment. When did you move?”
Julia opened her mouth to answer when Alicia answered for her.
“Oh, duh, right, you let go of the place when you married the idiot. I hope you at least got a nicer place this time around.”
“I think it’s a lot nicer,” Julia said with a nervous smile at her sister as she started down the hall toward the stairwell.
“Good. At least that worked out. Is it far from here?”
“Yeah…pretty far,” Julia answered as she tried to figure out how to tell her sister she was still living at Harrington House–this time without a contract.
“Of course,” Alicia said as she let her head drop between her shoulder blades. “I’m exhausted. I just want to sit in a pool of sadness on your couch, and let you hug me until I feel better.”
