Page 20 of Believing in a Billionaire
“Oh, thank you,” she said as she accepted the missive.
The small, white envelope felt oddly heavy in her hand. The seal on the back seemed a relic of formality that seemed out of place. She set her teacup aside and slid a finger under the edge, tearing it open.
A single, white card, trimmed in silver filagree slid out. Devoid of a sender’s name, it bore a simple message. But it was one that drove fear into her heart and sent a chill snaking down her spine.The game isn’t over yet.
Julia’s pulse quickened, a tight knot forming in her stomach as the words on the card seemed to taunt her, each word echoing in her head, amplifying her fear.
She swallowed hard as she stared at the silent reminder that the battles they thought they’d left behind may not be over yet. Her heart thumped as she wondered what new challenges lay ahead.
CHAPTER 5
GRANT
With exhaustion clinging to every fiber of his body, Grant pushed through the front door, stepping into the silent grandeur of Harrington House, its opulence shadowed by the late hour.
The quietness of the house unsettled him as much as the tumultuous situation he’d left behind at the office. For a second, his stomach turned over, and he wondered if Julia was gone.
The soft glow of warm lights emanated from his office caught his attention. He narrowed his eyes at it as he shuffled toward it in search of bourbon to soothe his ragged nerves.
He pushed the door further open as he shed his suit jacket and loosened his collar. His steps ceased as he spotted Julia curled in one of the armchairs near the fireplace, her phone still clutched in her hand. Had she been awaiting a message from him?
Of course, she was. That was Julia–waiting and worrying for someone else.
Guilt coursed through him as the sight of her tugged at his heartstrings, both a balm and a reminder of the facade he felt compelled to maintain. He had avoided sending her any messages as he dealt with the spiraling situation at Harrington Global. He hadn’t wanted to worry her, but instead, she’d sat up waiting for him.
He approached, his footsteps soft as he tried not to disturb her. The gentle rise and fall of her chest and the peacefulness in her expression, bathed in the warm glow of the fireplace, brought a smile to his face and reminded him why he’d fought so hard for her.
He winced as he stepped on a creaky board on the floor and her eyes fluttered open.
She offered him the soft smile that melted his heart. “Hey, you’re home. Did you get everything settled?”
Her eyes, filled with concern, were both a comfort and a burden. “Yeah, I’m home,” he managed, his voice a low murmur. “Long day, and I’m happy to be back. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay. I was waiting up for you, but I must have dozed off.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” he answered.
“I wanted to,” she said with a warm, but sleepy smile as she stretched and leaned forward to take his hand. “So, how did it go?”
The question, so simple, ramped up the complex struggle inside him. To share his day with her meant to expose her to the worries he’d vowed to shield her from, yet he desperately wanted her comfort.
His mind flitted back to the moment he’d learned of the potential takeover, the cold dread that had settled in his stomach. But looking at Julia, her face lit with concern and love, he shoved the memory away. “Nothing I couldn’t handle,” he assured her, offering a smile that didn’t reach his eyes ashe chose to shield her from the storm. “But I’d rather not bore you with the details of my day…a day I wasn’t even supposed to spend at the office.”
“Right, you were supposed to be surprising me, but I ruined it,” she said with a laugh as he rose to pour himself a bourbon.
“Join me?” he asked.
“Thanks,” she answered.
He poured her a brandy before he settled in the chair across from her. “Yes, you did ruin my big surprise. But that’s okay because I got the end result a day early. And I’ll plan another one.”
“You’re really determined, aren’t you?”
“I am,” he said, this time the smile more genuine as he began to relax, comforted by her presence alone. “Hey, how did things go with your sister?”
“Oh,” she said with a sigh as she flicked her gaze to the dying fire next to them, “she’s here.”
“Uh-oh,” he answered as he leaned back in the chair, cradling his bourbon. “That sounds ominous.”
