Page 37

I’ve never been one to go to my grandfather for help, and I intend to settle this on my own after telling him of my plans.
The next morning, I decided on my next course of action. My phone call with my grandfather lasted about one hour, and he promised to talk to Robert.
After a long shower to calm my nerves and coffee with Nelly, I head out to the one place I’m sure to find Julia Brene—her studio.The high-rise building is situated in the heart of Hollywood.
Julia’s engrossed in a photoshoot when I arrive, and watching her capture every moment with the model she’s working with reminds me of the hours I spent hanging around in her office while she worked years back.
I fell in love with Julia at first sight, and I was confident back then that she was the woman for me. She notices me watching her after I’ve been in the studio for five minutes, and she signals to her crew to take a break before heading towards me with a big smile.
“Ethan, honey,” she greets like she did eight years ago. She wraps her arms around my neck for a hug, then kisses my cheeks. “I was hoping to see you again,” she adds with a tiny laugh.
I peel her hands away from my neck before forcing a smile.
“Can we head up to my office and catch up?”
“I’m not here to catch up, Julia,” I say to her in a low voice. “I’m here to talk about the CEO’s vote in two weeks. I need your grandfather’s support. We both know none of the shareholders will go against him if he talks to them and I need him to convince them that I am the right choice.”
Julia arches a brow. “You need me to talk to him so he can hear you out?”
“Exactly.”
Julia instantly understands what I’m asking of her, and a sly grin appears on her lips.
“I protected you back then, Julia. He hates me and thinks I embarrassed him simply because I was too young and foolish to know what a jewel you were and marry you. He’s wrong. We both know that.”
“I didn’t ask you to lie back then,” she counters as her oceanic blue eyes fasten on mine. “You did that because of your own ego.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ethan Everhart, billionaire tycoon gets cheated on by his fiancée? News like that would have rocked the media for weeks. You couldn’t stand that.”
I scoff, realizing that she’s just as cold as she was back then after I caught her at that restaurant with Joe. The chilly look in her eyes that night didn’t leave my mind for months. I wondered constantly how someone so loving could act so cold.
“Think whatever you want, Julia. I don’t care. You’re going to talk to your grandfather for me, and you’ll get him to listen to me …”
“Or what?” she challenges with a smirk. “My grandfather adores me, Ethan, so if you’re thinking of telling him the truth about what happened with Joe, then think again. He’ll never believe a word you say.”
“Not if I show him proof. I have pictures of you and Joe, Julia. Let’s call it collateral that I’ve kept all these years.”
“You’re bluffing,” she retorts. “Why would you keep such a thing?”
I scoff, bury my hands in my pants pocket, and tilt my head to one side, giving her a daring look.
“Try me. I’ll tell him what really happened back then. He’ll know you’re not the perfect granddaughter he boasts about all the time. What do you think he’ll do to you, then? Take away your trust fund? Cut you off?”
She pales after my last sentence, and I know I have her. It doesn’t matter that I actually don’t have any proof. Julia will do what I want, because there’s nothing she fears more than disappointing her grandfather.
The only reason I protected Julia back then was because I knew how much George cherished her. Julia was perfect to him, and learning that it was Julia who really hurt and embarrassed his best friend’s grandson would have ruined their relationship. George Brene was a man with high expectations, and he demanded perfection all the time.
“Fine,” she huffs, then rolls her eyes. “I’ll speak to him, but when you win the vote—and you will—you and I are going to have dinner. I’ll choose the time and place. You show up with a smile on your handsome face and your fat wallet. Got it?”
I’m reluctant to agree to her terms.
“Or not,” she says, shooting me a flirtatious look before turning away.
“Fine, we’ll have dinner.”
“Good, then I’ll see you around.”