Page 60 of Bliss with a Billionaire

He firmed his jaw, trying not to let his features twist with anger over her dig.

She tapped a finger against her chin as she stalked closer to him. “Do you think it could have something to do with your wife?”

“They’re friends,” he shot back.

Lydia glanced over her shoulder as she poured a brandy. “That’s some friend. A man willing to drop millions to buy stock in your company at what was, I assume, her request. Interesting. What would possess a man to behave that way, do you think?”

“Give it up, Lydia. You’re not going to convince me that there’s something going on between them.”

She sipped her drink as she raised her eyebrows. “Is that because you already know there is?”

He squeezed his fingers into fists. “Julia isn’t you. She wouldn’t cheat.”

Lydia heaved a sigh as she stepped to the sliding door overlooking the balcony, eyeing the city lights spread in front of them. “I don’t understand when you became so stupid, Grant. Yet, you have.”

“We’re not here to talk about me.”

“But we have to.” She twisted to face him, whirling a finger in the air. “Because all of this revolves around you. How you behaved in the past. How you continue to behave now. With the exception of that simpering little twit you married.”

Lydia let out a huff, slapping a hand on her hip. “I mean, what has to happen for you to see through her? Does she need to bed another man right in front of your eyes?”

“You’re crossing a line, Lydia. Julia would never cheat on me.”

“Never mind the fact that I have proven exactly the opposite. Have you forgotten that she’s slinked off with your own son on multiple occasions for those sweet kisses he’s always offering her?”

Grant’s jaw clenched. “I haven’t forgotten that you tried to have my son killed. And if it wasn’t for Julia, I’d be attending a funeral right now.”

She lifted her shoulders. “Just more proof. I mean, Julia was desperate enough to search for him. He must mean a great deal to her.”

“Don’t,” Grant barked, tension building between his shoulders. “Do not twist the narrative. We’re talking about the laundry list of your sins.”

He jabbed a finger toward her. “You have gone way past reasonable in this battle. And it ends now.”

“Says who?”

“Me,” he answered.

“And what are you going to do to stop me? Pimp out your wife to another man who can solve your problems?”

He struggled to stop himself from wrapping his fingers around her throat. “Look, Lydia, this war has to end. Now, what’s it going to take to do that?”

He pulled his checkbook from his pocket and opened it. “Give me a number.”

Her features melted as she burst into laughter. “You must be joking.”

“I’m not. What do you want to leave New Orleans for good?”

She clicked her tongue as she shook her head. “You must be joking. Do you really think you can buy me off?”

“Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? Money?”

Lydia slammed her glass onto the marble wet bar and stalked a few steps closer, straightening his tie. “You see, Grant, this has always been your trouble. You’ve always thought your money would fix things. But I don’t want your money.”

“Well, that’s new. You didn’t have a problem wanting it in the past.”

“I don’t want it now,” she said, her voice a low hiss.

“Then what do you want?”