Page 72 of Believing in a Billionaire
“Don’t worry, I will keep an eye on her,” Alicia said as he rose.
“Thanks,” he said before he kissed his wife’s cheek and strode from the room.
He blew out a long breath as he dug his phone from his pocket when he entered his office. He wrinkled his nose, wondering why he’d offered to call Kyle. Because he loved his wife, and he’d do anything to make her happy, he reminded himself.
She was so upset about him. Grant rolled his eyes as he, instead, dialed Veronica Lawson. He’d rather speak to her than his son. He was certain Kyle was merely being theatrical. Staying away to upset everyone with his absence. What he hated was that it was working on Julia.
She was too kind and compassionate. He loved that about her, but a twinge of jealousy flared as he recalled the worried expression over his son’s whereabouts.
Would it bother him if she worried this much over Sierra? No. Though Sierra had never kissed her or tried to steal her from him. His dislike of Kyle came from Kyle’s own actions. Julia was just too nice.
He finished up with his list of board members and stared at the display until it went black. His jaw flexed as he tried to force himself to dial Kyle’s number.
The thought of calling his son twisted his gut. He wouldn’t hesitate to call Sierra if the roles were reversed. Was he pushing the man away when he needed guidance? No, his defiance widened the gap between them.
But he’d promised Julia. He had to do it. With a sigh, he turned on the display, pressed the call icon next to Kyle’s name, and raised the phone to his ear.
After a few rings, Kyle’s voicemail greeting played. He considered hanging up, but with Julia’s worried face floating in his mind, he hung on until the beep. “Kyle, it’s me. Call me back. It’s important.”
He hung up and tossed the phone on the desk. After that, he needed another drink.
Before he rose for it, an email notification popped onto his phone. He narrowed his eyes at it, expecting routine corporate correspondence, but the unknown sender furrowed his brow.
He tapped the email to open it, screwing up his face at the cryptic words.
A chessboard lies before you. Every piece is crucial and any piece can be taken. Even knights can be captured when they stray too far from the king. The game unfolds in the shadows, but soon all will be revealed.
Grant pondered the message, which seemed to be a veiled threat. It had to be from Lydia. A chill snaked down his spine as he wondered which pawn she’d take next.
CHAPTER 16
JULIA
Julia sighed as Grant strode from the room, the tension still obvious in his shoulders. Something was wrong, and it had started well before the pictures were leaked to the board. What was he holding back and why?
As soon as they were alone, Julia focused on her sister. “Did you check the room? Or did you just knock?”
“I checked the room. He’s not there.”
“Are his things there?”
“There are things there, yes.”
“What things?” Julia asked.
“What? Julia, calm down.”
“I will not calm down. Clothes? Phone charger? What things?”
“Uhh,” Alicia said as she scratched her head. “I think there was a phone charger on the nightstand. I didn’t check the closet, but there were things hanging on the clothes tree.”
Julia bit her thumbnail as she tapped her foot in the air, her features pinching.
“You know, I hate to say this,” Alicia said as she shuffled to the bed and collapsed on it, “but I actually think your husband is right.”
Julia flicked her gaze to her sister. “Seriously? You pick now to agree with Grant?”
Alicia shrugged. “You need to stop worrying about this kid.”
