Page 12 of Believing in a Billionaire (Hearts and Holdings #7)

GRANT

G rant’s stomach twisted into a knot as the words echoed in his ears. Lydia is out of jail .

The news smacked him like a physical blow, sending waves of shock coursing through his system.

He pushed into his office and collapsed into the chair as he tried to stop his heart from pounding against his ribs. A cascade of memories flooded him–each one a reminder of Lydia’s past manipulations and the danger she posed.

He choked out a, “What?”

“The former Mrs. Harrington has been released,” Max said. “We–"

“How the hell did that happen?” he barked out, interrupting Max’s statement.

A pause sounded before his security head answered. “We’re not sure, sir. But we have been monitoring releases from the prison, and she was released this morning. A black car met her at the entrance. We’re running the plate now to see if we can find anything.”

“I thought she was being held without bail,” Grant said.

“She was. That must have changed. We’re still looking for details on how this happened.”

“Find out. Don’t call me back until you have answers.”

He jabbed at the phone before he tossed it down on the desk for the second time today. His fingers curled into fists, and he slammed them against the mahogany wood.

How could any judge have let Lydia out of prison? She was insane. She’d held his wife captive to demand a set of plans for his latest Harrington Global project and almost killed her when she’d tried to shove her off the roof.

The woman had been a menace in their lives for two years. And now she was walking the streets again.

He needed to put more security on Julia. He had to protect her.

He tried to control his anger at the situation as it constricted his chest, and grabbed his phone, dialing Max’s number again.

“Yes, sir?” Max answered after the first ring.

“I want a security detail on Julia. Someone with her at all times. And I want Lydia followed. If she so much as sneezes, I want to know about it,” he demanded, his voice a mix of command and concern.

“Yes, sir. Do you want me to beef up the detail on Ms. Harrington?”

Grant tightened his jaw. Would his ex-wife come after her own daughter? His grip tightened on the phone as he decided she would. Sierra had made it clear she picked Julia. Lydia could destroy her for that alone. “Yes. I do.”

His knuckles whitened as he gripped the phone tighter. “And find out how the hell this happened.”

He ended the call and let the phone clatter to the desk. His chest heaved as he sucked in breaths, desperate to control the anger brewing inside of him. After all the carnage Lydia had caused over the past two years, she was free to ruin their lives again.

His mind turned to Julia. She finally stood at his side, and not because of a contract that tied them together. Images of her with a gun pressed into her side courtesy of Lydia taunted him. Would his ex-wife take another shot at Julia?

He couldn’t let that happen. They’d gone through too much for him to lose her now. He’d never recover from it.

He let his head fall into his hands as he considered breaking the news to Julia. The frightened expression on her delicate features broke his heart. He’d promise to protect her, but would the hollow words be enough for her, or would she want to run for safety as far from him as she could?

Did he need to tell her? The balance between keeping her informed and not unduly alarming her was a tightrope he hadn’t wanted to walk so soon.

His mind raced to possibilities he didn’t want to consider, but still, one question burned in his mind.

What if I can’t keep her safe this time?

The question gnawed at him. His resolve hardened, but so did the realization of the potential cost. Protecting Julia meant possibly alienating her with secrets and lies–a choice that felt like trading one poison for another.

He found himself pondering what to do when the shrill ring of his cell phone cut the silence of the room. He glanced down to find Mike Donovan’s name on his display.

With a growl in his voice, he answered.

“Mr. Harrington, just wanted to provide an update on the preparations for the buyback.”

“This had better be good.”

“I’m sending some information to your email. The finance team is awaiting your final review. If you’re happy with it, we’ll move first thing Monday morning.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. He preferred to hear a resounding rally cry, an indication that they were ready to push back against the hostile takeover attempt. He wanted to crush it and cut off Lydia’s attempt to ruin his company with a resounding note of finality.

Then, he’d work on putting her back in jail where she belonged.

“I want this done,” he answered.

“I think you should review the numbers, sir. Make certain you’re comfortable with them.”

His jaw clenched at the words as he wiggled his mouse to wake his monitor. “Fine. I’ll take a look and get back to you.”

“I appreciate that, Mr. Harrington. I look forward to hearing from you. Try to enjoy your weekend.”

The last statement unsettled him more than he cared to admit. He stared at the bolded subject of the newest email in his inbox. With a frown, he tapped it and opened the attached spreadsheet.

Staring at the labyrinth of numbers filling his screen, he waded through them, the enormity of the decision before him becoming clear.

Mike Donovan had insisted he approve this because of the sheer amount it would cost Harrington Global…on many levels. Each figure whispered of potential fallout, from crippling debt to investor panic.

The stock buyback was now a double-edged sword, a desperate gambit to save Harrington Global from Lydia’s grasp. But it could also send everything he built crumbling to nothing even if they managed to avoid her trap.

His heart pounded against his ribs as he weighed the odds. If they didn’t do this, she could easily become a majority shareholder and rip away everything he’d worked for. But if they followed through, these numbers suggested his company may never recover.

He drummed his fingers against the desk as he sorted through his limited options. Lydia would destroy the company if she got her hands on it. He had no choice. At least if he still ran it, he could build it back to its former glory.

With shaky hands, he picked up his phone and called Mike.

“Mr. Harrington, I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”

“I reviewed the numbers. It’s approved. Get this done and make sure DG doesn’t get any more of this company.”

“This puts us in a bad financial position, sir.”

“I know, but we’re in a worse position if DG Industries owns us. Believe me. Just…get this done.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll have the finance team move on it at the opening bell on Monday.”

“I expect results, Mike. I do not want to hear that this company is now owned by DG.”

“I understand, sir.”

The line clicked, and Grant set his phone down as his stomach twisted into a knot. If he made the wrong call, he could leave them open to a bevy of issues. He flicked his gaze back to the numbers filling the screen.

They painted a gruesome picture of where the company would stand after the buyback. But at least it would remain under his control. It would be a small price to pay. And he’d work to restore it to stability in the short term. This would only be temporary.

As he stared at the numbers on the screen, the door to his office burst open. He twisted to find Kyle guiding Julia through the door. Her pinched features made his jaw tighten. Had something happened?

“Something wrong?” His voice betrayed his tension.

Julia’s features scrunched as he studied her, a mix of worry and upset clouding her eyes. What had Kyle done now? Or had they heard about Lydia’s release?

“Yes,” Kyle answered. “Something is very wrong. We need to talk.”

His heart stopped at the words, and he flicked his gaze from his son back to his wife as he rose from his chair and crossed to her, wrapping his hands around her arms. “Julia, what happened?”

“What happened is Julia received a threatening note, and being Julia, she didn’t tell you because she thinks you’re already dealing with enough with whatever the problem is at Harrington Global.”

Kyle’s sharp words made it clear he was annoyed with both the situation and Grant. Unsurprising, given their difficult relationship.

“Is that true?”

She nodded as she pulled it from her pocket and handed it to him.

His brow furrowed as he read the message scrawled on it, a cold dread settling over him.

The timing was too coincidental coming so close to Lydia’s release.

“The game isn’t over yet?” He focused his gaze on her. “When did you get this?”

“Yesterday,” she answered.

“Yester–“ His voice cut off as he sighed and shook his head. “Julia, you should have told me right away.”

“That’s what I said,” Kyle responded. “You can thank me, Dad. Otherwise, you’d still not know.”

“I’m sorry. I just…planned to tell you when you weren’t so stressed.”

“I’m… you should have told me. I’m never too busy for you.”

“I didn’t say you were. I just…it’s nothing. It’s probably some prank by Lydia just to upset us. I’m sure she’s probably coming up with dozens of ways to strike out while she’s cooling her heels in her cell.”

He swallowed hard at the words, not wanting to break the news to her that Lydia was no longer behind bars.

“While I don’t agree that you spend enough time with Julia, I do think she should have told you,” Kyle added. “This is important enough, Julia, that it shouldn’t wait.”

“Kyle’s right.”

“Wow, thanks, Dad,” Kyle answered, his voice filled with surprise.

“Well, sort of. I haven’t spent time with her because you and Sierra are busy monopolizing her time. And Julia, I don’t care what you think it is, I’m not taking any chances. I’m putting a full security detail on you.”

“Security detail?” Alicia’s voice questioned from the foyer. “Has something happened?”

“No,” Julia answered as Kyle and Grant said, “Yes.”

Alicia’s brow furrowed as she scanned them. “Okay…I don’t know–“