Chapter 10
Julia left Grant’s home office behind, the tension still in her shoulders despite her best efforts to stay calm and reassure him. She climbed the stairs, blowing out a long sigh as she pushed into her bedroom and shut the door behind her.
Tears pricked her eyes the moment she was alone. The weight of the day crushed her, from the corporate maneuvers to the tricky relationship with Kyle to the fake photos.
She wandered to her armchair and curled in it after kicking her shoes off. Grant insisted the affair was false. She believed him. Mostly.
The photos haunted her. The Grant she knew–thoughtful and unexpectedly kind–didn’t jive with those pictures. As whispered doubts began to creep into her mind, echoing his playboy reputation, she questioned whether she truly saw the real Grant or if her own emotions clouded her judgment. Was her judgment clouded by a growing, unacknowledged attachment? The realization unsettled her. Their relationship, built on a foundation of convenience and mutual benefit, wasn’t supposed to branch into a realm of genuine emotion.
She’d told him she’d stand by him. And she meant it. So, why was she still tied in knots? She pulled herself from the chair to change. She knew exactly why. It had been because of her reaction to those photos.
Their marriage was based on a contract only. If that was true, though, she’d have simply glanced at the photos and wondered when the press conference would be at which they’d need her to appear. Instead, she’d felt a distinct twinge of jealousy and a deep sense of betrayal. Real or not, she’d let emotion cloud her judgment.
And that had been extremely foolish. She should never have let herself get this close.
As she slid under the covers, her phone rang. She swiped to accept the call from her sister. “Hey, sis.”
“Hey,” her sister said simply.
Julia’s heart skipped a beat. “Ally? What’s wrong?”
Her sister blew out a long breath. “Ethan and I had a really bad fight.”
“Aww, Ally. I’m so sorry. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No,” she said with a sob. “I just want to know you’re there while I cry.”
“Ally…” Julia said as her sister sniffled. “Okay. You go ahead and cry. I’m right here.”
“It’s just so stupid,” her sister squeaked out.
Julia clutched at her covers, twisting them in her fingers. “You tell me what you want, or you just keep crying. I’m right here, whatever you need.”
“It started over him pushing his chair in at the table. You know how he always leaves it sticking out?”
Julia bobbed her head up and down as she recalled Ethan’s bad habit. “Yeah, I remember.”
“Well, you know…I just…I don’t know, tonight I just couldn’t take it. I shoved it in. And then he said, ‘Do you have to be like that.’ And I said, ‘Do you always have to leave your chair out?’”
“Well, okay, this doesn’t sound so bad.”
“Yet. It spiraled from the chair to how I’m always on him about everything, and then I said he’s inconsiderate. He said I’m aloof. I said he’s impossible. And the next thing you know, we’re screaming at each other about things that happened two years ago.”
Julia sucked in a breath as her sister sobbed again. “Okay, well, so you both said things you regret in the heat of the moment. You’ll both calm down and realize the other person didn’t mean it.”
“But that’s the problem. I think we do mean it. I think the fact that we’re bringing up things from years ago says a lot.”
“That those things are still unresolved.”
“Right. And they’re just…festering.” Another upset moan escaped her sister.
“Maybe you two ought to try counseling. Really…work toward airing everything out.”
“Maybe.” Alicia sniffled. “But you know Ethan. It’s not something his family did.”
“If he loves you, he’ll do it.”
“Maybe that’s what I’m afraid to find out. What if he doesn’t?”
Julia pressed her lips together, understanding all too well her sister’s fear. Ironic that she sat here counseling her sister about marriage problems while she sat in her contracted husband’s house. “Maybe you should let it settle for a few days, and see what happens. There’s no reason to rush into anything. Give it some time, and then bring up counseling, once you’re both no longer angry.”
Ally sniffled again as a knock sounded at Julia’s door. “Right, yeah.”
Julia kicked back the covers and shuffled to the door, tugging it open to find Grant. She signaled him to come in and wait a moment. “You’re both upset. You need to take a step back and calm down.”
“This just keeps happening, though. Over and over.” Alicia dissolved into sobs again.
“I know. I know it’s hard, Ally, but…you shouldn’t make any decisions right now. You’re way too upset.”
Alicia blew her nose and sniffled a few more times. “I really miss you.”
“I miss you too, sis. It’ll get better, I promise. Go get some sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
“Yeah. I know…or it won’t, and this whole thing will start over again.”
“Then you’ll call me again, and we’ll talk.”
“And you’ll make me feel better, promise?”
“I promise,” Julia said with a bob of her head.
“Okay. I’m going to go crawl into bed. I love you, Juju.”
“I love you, too. Good night.” Julia heaved a sigh as she collapsed into her armchair and ended the call. “Sorry.”
“Your sister?”
Julia nodded as her thoughts lingered on the call. Her sister’s strife seemed so normal–a stark contrast to her own unique situation, a marriage not born from love. For a fleeting moment, she wondered what it would be like to worry about things like chairs not being pushed in instead of fabricated scandals and corporate espionage. “Yes. She’s having marriage trouble.”
Grant eased into the chair next to hers. “That’s…given what we’ve spent the night talking about…ironic.”
“Right?” Julia said with a chuckle. “Good thing our marriage is solid, right?”
He smiled at her. “Actually, that’s what I was checking on.”
She offered him a confused glance. “Our marriage?”
“Yes,” he said with a nod. “I just…wanted to be sure you were okay with whatever decision I make. You’re a part of this, and your opinion matters to me.”
She pressed her lips together as the options floated past her. Despite her earlier upset, she had meant what she told him in his office. The decision was his, and he should do what he felt most comfortable with. “I’m fine with whatever you decide.”
“What would you do?” he asked.
She swallowed hard, the options mixing in her brain. “I can’t tell you what to do. You have to make the decision you’re comfortable with.”
“I’m not asking you to tell me what to do. I’m asking what you would do.”
She sucked in a breath. Having never been in this position, she wasn’t quite certain. And her decision-making of late had been questionable at best. If someone had asked her fourteen months ago if she’d marry someone for money, she would have laughed, yet here she was sitting in a billionaire’s house with a wedding ring on her finger. “I don’t know.”
She chewed her lower lip as he slouched in the chair. “But I probably wouldn’t want to admit to something I didn’t do because it makes it easier to win.”
He flicked his gaze to her, and she shrugged. “That’s just me, though. If winning this means that much to you, and this is what Kathryn is convinced will give you the best chance, then that’s the choice you have to make.”
“I’m not happy about it.”
“Enough not to do it, or enough to begrudgingly do it?”
He heaved a sigh. “I don’t know.”
She drew her legs up onto the chair. “What if you lose?”
“I’m not going to be happy about that,” he answered.
“What I mean is, what if you admit you did it and you still lose? Are you going to be happy with your choice?”
He rubbed his chin as he stared ahead. “Good point. This is why I asked you. You’re smart.”
She grinned at him. “But I still can’t tell you what to do. You have to do what you can live with.”
He heaved a sigh. “I’m not sure I can live with admitting to something I didn’t do.”
“So that leaves addressing it if it comes out–“
“Which I think it will. Probably just as voters are going to the polls.”
“Or dropping out,” she finished.
He let his head fall back against the chair as he slid his eyes closed. “Maybe I was crazy to run for Senate.”
“No, you weren’t, but maybe you were unprepared for how dirty it would really be.”
“Yeah. Maybe that’s it. I mean, I expected them to poke at my past. I did not expect them to create a new present.”
“Which then leads to the question: if this is how dirty politics are, do you really want to be involved in it?”
He shifted his gaze to her and shook his head. “Why do you always have to make so much sense?”
“It’s a talent,” she said with a soft laugh. “I’m being serious, though. Being shrewd in the boardroom is different than being shrewd in Washington. Are you sure you want to deal with that?”
“If I win,” he said.
“Right. Well, you’ve got a big decision to make.”
“Can’t you make it for me?” he asked, his voice teasing.
“No, I can’t. You’ve made plenty of big decisions in the past. I’m sure you’ll make a great one now.”
He hesitated, chewing his lower lip as though he wanted to say more before he rose. “Well, since you won’t do it for me, I guess I’d better go think about it.”
“Good luck,” she said, reaching for his hand and squeezing it.
“Thanks, Julia. For everything.”
“Of course. Let me know if you want to bounce any more ideas off me. I’m happy to continue to be unhelpful with your decision-making.”
“You’re hardly unhelpful. But I’m not going to keep you up all night. You have a company to run.”
Her mind drifted to the plan she’d set in motion earlier today. Would it lead to anything, or would she merely be faced with another dead-end? She forced a smile onto her face, unwilling to reveal any part of it to her husband. “Yes, I do. Good night, Grant.
“Good night, Julia.” He clung to her hand for a moment longer, a slight smile curling the corners of his lips before he finally let go and strode from the room.
She sucked in a deep breath as the door thudded closed. The man she knew had no resemblance to the picture painted by those pictures. Which one was the real Grant?
She forced herself from the chair, exhausted from the day, and shuffled to her bed. She collapsed on the edge, glancing at her phone before she nestled under the covers. The notification light blinked, and she grabbed it from the charger as she settled back into the pillows.
Wondering if Ally couldn’t sleep, she swiped in to read her texts. She found nothing from her sister, but a message waiting from Kyle. Just checking in to see how you are.
A mix of emotions welled in her. She’d been upset when she’d left him, she supposed she should be pleased he checked on her, though every move he made seemed opportunistic.
She typed a response before she let the phone drop into her lap. I’m fine, thanks for checking. The photos were faked.
It didn’t take long for the response to come back. Really? That’s what he’s going with?
This time there was no mistaking her irritation. Yes. And I believe him.
A response bubble appeared, disappeared, reappeared, disappeared, then reappeared again. He was really struggling with his response. It finally appeared after a few moments. Okay, I’m not going to push it too much. But I just want to point out that it would be pretty hard to fake those photos.
Julia considered it as she tapped the side of her mobile. Would it? Would someone like Alexander Knight be able to pull it off? Surely, anyone with tech savvy could do it. With the way they manipulated cover models these days, would it be that hard?
She hadn’t thought about it before, but she should bring it up to Grant. It may make a difference in how his campaign played out. She’d do it first thing in the morning. For now, she typed a response back to Kyle. Would it? Not for someone who knew what they were doing.
He answered quickly. But why? If you can easily prove they’re fake, why go through the trouble?
The answer seemed clear enough to her. To cost him the election. They don’t need them to be real, they just need them released at the right moment to tank his ratings.
This time the response took longer. She imagined Kyle trying desperately to come up with a response that blamed Grant. Okay, if that’s the case, why not just release them?
Julia chewed her lower lip as she considered it. To the outside world, she wasn’t a steadfast partner, though, contracted to stand at his side through thick and thin. She typed back her response. To inflict maximum damage. What’s better than a cheating scandal and a divorce right before Election Day?
He answered within seconds. Okay, you have a point, though I am not quite as ready to believe him as you. But that’s a different subject.
A second message appeared after that one. Anything on your little plan with Christopher Metcalfe?
She flicked her eyebrows up at the message. Was Kyle actually willing to take a step back on pushing the boundaries with Grant? Progress.
As she typed her response, a twinge of frustration mixed with gratitude. He had an uncanny ability to push boundaries, but they had a certain ease, free from contractual pretenses. Though his tendency to challenge her stance on Grant always stirred a whirlwind of emotions she wasn’t ready to confront. Nothing yet. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something.
I’m holding you to that, Julia. Talk tomorrow. Pleasant dreams.
She sent one last message telling him to have a good night before she dumped her phone on the nightstand, switched off her light, and slid down under the covers.
As she stared at the ceiling, the day’s events rolled past her mind again. This time, they felt less overwhelming. Just as her eyes started to slide closed, her phone buzzed. She glanced sideways at it, spotting her green notification light flashing. If Kyle had texted her to expound on his statements about Grant, she was not going to be pleased.
She snatched the phone and swiped into her messages. Nothing new from Kyle. Instead, she found a message waiting from Mike Donovan. We had a potential bite. Could be nothing, but I thought you’d want to know immediately. Let me know if you’d like me to follow up on this.
What followed was a screenshot of a set of text messages. I think I have something that may be useful.
The response was simple. Riverside Park East entrance, tomorrow, 7 pm.
She typed back a message to Mike. Thanks. Any idea who he’s talking to?
His answer dashed her hopes of making this easy. Negative. It’s a burner.
She sighed as she typed a thank you. She had to think about what to do next. Of course, the smart move was to send Mike Donovan to Riverside Park tomorrow at seven. But she wanted to explore the lead herself.
Especially if she was wrong. This may be a wild goose chase. What if the useful thing had nothing to do with her trap?
She lay back on the pillows, pondering her next move. Would she find out anything useful if she cased the meeting tomorrow? Or would she hit another brick wall in the endless maze of DG Industries?