Page 4 of Believing in a Billionaire (Hearts and Holdings #7)

GRANT

G rant’s grip on Julia’s hand tightened momentarily before he let go, a silent storm of worry for Harrington Global mixing with the longing in his heart to simply spend the day lost in her presence.

The first full day of their real marriage was turning into as much of a disaster as the first two years of their marriage had been.

He’d wanted nothing more than to enjoy their real first day as a married couple he’d briefed his two adult children on their role in ensuring Julia’s happiness. The meeting had left something to be desired and then he’d received the dire call from his security team head.

The trouble at the office lingered in his mind. How could it be related to DG Industries? He was determined to find out, but a part of him didn’t want to know. He’d hoped after his ex-wife, Lydia had been arrested, this would end.

Instead, it seemed to continue as though nothing had happened to stop it.

And now the situation with Alicia. He forced himself to leave Julia’s office behind before his mind could conjure all the painful moments he’d lived through at the woman’s hands.

Her dislike of him ran deep. He worried about how she’d react to Julia’s choice to stay with him. Would Alicia hold the power to make her rethink the choice?

Of course, the timing of his work crisis would not allow him to be here when the woman arrived nor to sweep Julia away from her.

With a sigh, he stepped out of the house and into the back seat of the waiting car.

“Heading to the office on your day off, sir?” James asked as he slipped behind the wheel.

“Unfortunately, yes. It’s an emergency. I’m not happy about it, though. I wanted to spend time with Julia.”

“I’m sure Mrs. Harrington understands. She doesn’t seem to be too bothered by these things.”

Grant glanced at the passing scenery before he studied the man. “Maybe she wasn’t before, but it’s an entirely new ballgame now, James.”

James smiled, flicking his eyes into the rearview mirror. “She’s not a different person.”

“No, but she may have some new expectations of me.”

“I can’t see Mrs. Harrington being demanding. Especially when it comes to Harrington Global. She knows what it means to you.”

Grant bobbed his head up and down, trying to take solace in the man’s words. “Maybe I ought to plan a romantic dinner to make up for missing the day with her.”

“I’ll bet she’ll enjoy that.”

Grant slid his phone from his pocket and navigated to his text message with Julia. Hey, how about a special dinner tonight? Remember, you owe me for ruining my surprise.

He stared at the screen as ideas popped into his head. A quiet evening at home, perhaps? Or maybe he’d take her to the Sapphire Room, the restaurant where their relationship had begun.

A smile curled his lips. Or maybe he’d just fly her straight to Paris.

His phone chimed, and he checked his messages. Julia responded. Well, if you’re calling my marker, then I can’t say no.

The winking emoticon made him chuckle as he typed back a response. I am. And I’m not going to tell you a thing about where we’re going. Complete surprise.

He slipped the phone into his pocket as James eased the car to a stop outside of Harrington Global’s headquarters. Tension twisted inside him as he faced the looming crisis. He’d have preferred to continue to vet ideas for the dinner that would make Julia fall even more deeply in love with him.

Instead, though, he strode across the pavement to the front door and pushed inside. After saying hello to the security guard, he took the elevator to the top floor. His mood soured with every step as he got pulled further into the office drama.

“Mr. Harrington,” Evie said, her eyes round as he stepped inside her office and crossed to his, “you are supposed to be romancing Mrs. Harrington at the cabin.”

“I know. That…didn’t work out.”

Evie followed him inside his office with a click of her tongue.

“But I’m planning on making it up to her with a romantic dinner. I may need your help with that,” he said as he collapsed into his chair with a huff.

“I will do anything you need. Is there a location where you would like me to make a reservation?”

He sucked in a breath as he sorted through his options.

Maybe Paris was too much with her sister in town.

But he definitely didn’t want to stay at home with Alicia there.

“Sapphire Room. I want their finest bottle of champagne, I want roses at the table...wait…just…reserve the entire restaurant. I want just us.”

“Of course, sir, I will call them immediately to make the arrangements. Champagne, roses, anything else?”

“Let’s start with that.”

Evie bobbed her head up and down before she glanced at the figure hovering in the door. “Mr. Donovan is here, sir.”

Grant heaved a sigh. He’d have to tear himself away from his romantic planning to deal with whatever this crisis was. Hopefully, it won’t take long to solve.

“Mike, come in,” Grant said, waving him inside. “Evie, text me with the confirmation as soon as you have it.”

“Yes, sir,” the woman said as she strode from the room, passing Mike as he entered, avoiding Grant’s gaze.

Evie pulled the door closed behind her, leaving them to speak privately.

“This had better be good. What’s so important that I was pulled away from my family on my day off?”

“We have a very serious situation, sir.” Mike pressed his thin lips into an even thinner line as worry etched the lines around his mouth.

“Yeah, you said that once before,” Grant answered, his voice filled with disdain, balancing an elbow on the arm of his chair as he propped his head up with his hand.

“And it has to do with DG Industries, which I can’t understand because the supposed head of it was arrested two nights ago after she nearly threw my wife off a roof. ”

Mike clasped his hands in front of him, rolling his shoulders back as he listened silently to Grant’s bitter statement. “I understand that, sir, however, there is no denying what’s happening.”

Grant squeezed his fingers into a fist and clenched his jaw before he barked out, “Which is?”

Mike’s deep sigh and pinched features suggested a problem he didn’t want to hear. “I’ve got a watch on the company’s stock at all times. At the start of trading today, it became immediately obvious that someone was attempting to purchase as many shares of Harrington Global as possible.”

Grant’s stomach twisted into a knot at the news. “And you traced it?”

“It took a bit. They were using shell companies, but we were able to trace it all back to DG Industries.”

Grant’s eyebrows knitted as he rubbed his chin. “How? How is she doing this from behind bars?”

“My best guess would be that she has a partner who is making these moves, sir.”

Grant huffed out a breath as he flicked his gaze up to Mike. “How much so far?”

“At last check…they were approaching ten percent.”

“What?” Grant barked out as his eyes went wide. Sweat beaded on his brow at the thought of this many shares being acquired by the enemy. He leapt from his seat, pacing the floor behind his desk. “How the hell did this happen?”

Mike remained silent, stretching his neck as he took his licks from Grant, used to his temper.

Grant leaned forward, gripping the desk with white knuckles as his mind stretched to consider the potential problems and any solutions. “Get the finance team in the conference room now. We need strategies to counter this before we get to the critical point.”

“Yes, sir,” Mike said as he strode from the room.

Grant’s jaw worked overtime as he struggled to suck in measured breaths, but the tightness in his chest made it difficult. He’d thought the nightmare was over when Lydia was dragged off in handcuffs. But this latest attack meant the war was far from over.

In fact, it had just ramped up to critical levels.

Lydia’s words from less than forty-eight hours ago echoed in his mind. This isn’t over, Grant. You’ll regret crossing me. I’m far from being finished with you.

Had she already set this in motion? Was this a last gasp from a desperate woman?

If it wasn’t, they were in trouble. They couldn’t let them get to a critical percentage where they could trigger a board vote.

He collapsed into his chair, sinking his head into his shaking hands. He tugged his phone from his pocket and stared down at the black screen for a moment before he toggled it on. A message waited for him from Julia. Surprise? But I hate surprises.

The message, answering his previous one about planning her surprise dinner, made his heart ache. He desperately wanted to return to planning it, but the burgeoning crisis required his full attention. Hopefully, they’d find a solution that would allow him to make it to their meal.

He began typing a message to her, outlining the situation, but before he could send it, he deleted it entirely and retyped a new message. I know, but tough luck. You’re not getting any information about this one. That’s the price you pay for ruining my big surprise.

He tried to let the levity he’d put into the message lift his spirits, but it didn’t.

The decision to keep Julia in the dark felt like a weight sitting on his shoulders, but he didn’t want to worry her.

She’d been through enough. The last thing she needed was to hear more of his woes when he was trying to convince her that she could be happy with him.

He’d built this company into what it was. He could handle this.

Evie bustled into the room, interrupting his thoughts. “Sir?”

He set the phone on his desk. “Evie, yes?”

“I have made the reservation for you, ordered the champagne and the roses. If there is anything else, please let me know, and I will attend to it.”

He heaved a sigh. “Thanks.”

“I take it the news is not good?”

Grant’s jaw tightened again. “It’s not. Let me know when finance is ready in the conference room.”

“I will, sir,” Evie said with a nod before she disappeared from his office.