Page 24 of Believing in a Billionaire
“I…not really, but that had more to do with everything going on.”
Julia rubbed her arm. “We’ll talk today.”
Sierra stomped her way in as Grant settled into his seat at the head of the table.
Kyle followed behind her, stopping as he entered the room, his features pinching. “Umm, no.”
“Just sit down, Kyle,” Grant said.
“No, she’s in my seat. That’s my seat. I sit next to Julia.”
Alicia stared at him for a second. “Are-are you serious? Are you five?”
Kyle glared at her, and she pushed back from the table. “Okay, I can move. No problem.”
“No,” Grant said with a shake of his head. “That’s not necessary. I’m sure just this once–“
“Alicia can sit by me,” Sierra said as she patted the seat next to her. “Then, I can keep an eye on her.”
Grant shook his head with a sigh, waving his coffee cup in the air as Worthington entered the room. Alicia settled into the seat next to Sierra, glaring as Kyle sat down next to Julia with a smile.
“Good morning, Julia,” he said. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did, thank you.”
“All ready for our scheduled lunch today?” he asked.
Grant furrowed his brow at the statement. “Wait, you have lunch scheduled, too?”
Kyle nodded as he dug into his pocket and produced a paper. “I do, and I have a variety of scheduled stepmother-stepson events I’d like to pencil in on your calendar.”
“Oh, okay,” Julia said with a nod.
Grant stared at him, his jaw unhinged. “I hope you have room on your calendar for me to see you once a month or so.”
She laughed as she wrapped her hand around his. “I have plenty of time for you.”
“Wow, seems like you’re in high demand here, Juju,” Alicia said.
“She is,” Sierra shot back, her tone sharp. “We love Julia.”
“Enough to make sure no one takes her away from us ever again,” Kyle added.
“Okay, I think Alicia understands that,” Grant tried. “Why don’t we change the subject?”
They spent the remainder of breakfast making stilted conversation before Grant’s cell phone rang, interrupting the limited conversation. He slid it from his pocket to check the number, recognizing Max Sterling, head of his personal security team.
His stomach clenched at the sight. “Excuse me, I need to take this.”
“Sure,” Julia said with a concerned glance and a squeeze of his hand as he rose.
He hurried from the dining room as he answered the call. “Max, what is it?”
“We have…an issue.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Grant said as he slipped into his office and closed the door behind him. “What is it?”
There was a sigh on the other end of the line before the man spoke again. “It’s your ex-wife, sir. Lydia is out of jail.”
