Page 24 of Believing in a Billionaire (Hearts and Holdings #7)
“I don’t,” he said as he leapt from the bed and paced the floor. “He’s not as vulnerable as you think. He’s…trouble.”
“He’s troubled, not trouble,” she answered.
“Oh, Julia, please.” His frustration rose as her sympathy continued to go toward his son. “He plays on your sympathies every time. That’s how he continues to get away with the nonsense he pulls.”
“That’s not true. I’m not blind, Grant. I understand he can be manipulative. And believe me, I had the same thoughts about what happened at the cabin–”
“Then why are we even having this conversation? You know what I said to him last night was right. Maybe Lydia asked him to do it, but he did it willingly.” Grant collapsed on the edge of the bed again. “Julia, he has a thing for you. He was all too happy to kiss you, camera or not.”
She heaved a sigh, her features pinching again as she reached for his hand. “I’m so sorry about those pictures. I shouldn’t have gone along with his plan.”
“Please stop apologizing for something that is Kyle’s fault. He manipulated you, too, Julia.”
“And now it’s costing you big.”
“It’s not. It’s handled. I just have a few more calls to make, but it’s practically old news at this point. There’s nothing to worry about, Julia. Outside of your health, that is.”
“Are you sure? You seem tense.”
“I’m tense because my lovely wife who finally is my real wife has nearly died twice in a week’s time.
It’s fine, Juls.” He did his best to plaster a smile on his face.
He’d also feel better once the stock grab by Lydia was blocked.
Then he could get their marriage on track.
He needed to give her the perfect life before she decided this nonsense wasn’t worth it.
“Are you sure?”
He leaned forward to plant a kiss on her lips. “Yes. I’m sure. Now, can I trust that you’re going to sit here and focus on your recovery?”
She tugged her lips into a wince as Alicia walked into the room.
The blonde shrugged, throwing her hands to the side. “Not there.”
Julia flicked an upset gaze from her sister to him.
“Julia,” he said as he grabbed her hands, “he’s fine. Please stop worrying.”
She pressed her lips together.
“Juls, come on. He’s just cooling off.”
She nodded, though the worry clouding her eyes never left.
“Look, if it means that much to you, I’ll…give him a call when I finish with the board members.”
She raised her eyes to his, a smile spreading across her features. “Really? Thank you.”
“Of course. Now, please, stop worrying, okay?”
She nodded with another smile.
“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.