Page 25 of Believing in a Billionaire
Grant’s hand tightened around the phone as Max’s words cut through the silence. Lydia’s last threat to him, whispered with venom as she was led away in handcuffs, echoed in his ears.
The chilling words seemed to fulfill that whispered promise, a specter from his past now looming large again and threatening their future. Would they survive it?
CHAPTER 6
JULIA
Julia dabbed the corner of her lips as she stared after Grant. He’d been unusually quiet at breakfast. She wondered if it had to do with the issue at Harrington Global or her sister.
Whichever it was, he wasn’t telling her, which frustrated her. Their relationship before the contract had ended had seemed more open than this. Suddenly, now that she’d agreed to return with him, he seemed like a brick wall, unyielding and unwilling to let her in.
Maybe it was nothing, and he was just tired, she told herself as she rose from her seat.
“See you at lunch, Julia. I reserved a table at the Riverwalk Bistro at one.”
“Great, I’ll meet you there,” she said as he smiled at her before he strode from the room.
“Don’t forget we have Mommy-Daughter massages Monday morning,” Sierra said as she pulled Julia into a hug and kissed her cheek.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Julia said as Sierra shot a glare in Alicia’s direction before she twisted back to grin at Julia.
“I’m excited.” She grinned at Julia, then spun on her heel and strode from the room with another dirty look at Alicia.
Julia watched her stepdaughter’s retreating figure, a mix of admiration and concern filling her. The fierce protectiveness Sierra and Kyle displayed was both endearing and a testament to the fractured paths they’d all navigated to form this unlikely family. She found herself determined to hold them together.
“You’ve amassed a real fan club here, sis,” Alicia said.
Julia heaved a sigh. “They’re protective. Especially after what happened in Maine.”
“Yeah,” Alicia said with a bob of her head.
“Hey, let’s head up and talk, okay? I just want to check on Grant.”
“Check on him? He seemed fine. Probably wheeling and dealing like I assume he always is.”
Julia chewed her lower lip. “No, there’s something going on at Harrington Global. I just want to make sure he’s okay. Meet you upstairs?”
“Sure,” Alicia said with a nod. “I should be able to find my way. This house is way too big, though.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Julia assured her as she walked her sister to the foyer. They parted ways at the steps with Julia giving a soft knock at Grant’s office door.
He didn’t respond, and she tried again. His muffled voice inside told her he was still inside and on the phone. She hesitated, wondering if she should leave him to his business.
Something about his demeanor, though, bothered her. She twisted the knob and pushed the door open slightly as she slipped inside.
“–don’t give a damn. I want this handled, and I want it handled now!” Grant shouted before he jabbed at his phone and tossed it on the desk with a deep sigh.
“Hey, something wrong?” she asked.
He snapped his gaze to her, his features surprised before they twisted with an emotion she couldn’t read.
“Grant?”
“Julia, what did you hear?” he asked.
She furrowed her brow at the statement. Why was he being so secretive? “Nothing. But you seem upset.”
“I’m just…tired.” He smiled at her, but it looked forced.
