Chapter 20
Julia’s heart hammered in her chest, a cacophony of dread and uncertainty echoing as she ventured into murky waters with her question. The inquiry felt alien on her tongue, directed toward a husband who was more a stranger than a partner.
Kyle had dodged the question last night. She wondered why. Maybe she’d made a mistake telling Grant. But if their marriage was only a contract, did it matter?
“I’m sorry,” she said. “That’s not a fair question for you. And…I’m sorry if you didn’t know about this–“
“I knew,” he said, the words slicing through the air with an unexpected sharpness. His eyes flickered with a storm of emotions she couldn’t decipher, making her question the nature of their contractual relationship.
“You two don’t get along. Yeah. So, it was a stupid question.”
“No, it wasn’t. And I do know a little about what happened. Why this is the one memory you have, I’m not sure, though.”
She pinched her eyebrows together. He knew? Of course, he knew. It didn’t matter who she kissed. As long as she didn’t get caught and ruin their image, probably. “What happened? I only remember the actual kiss. Kyle wasn’t helpful.”
“You asked him about it?” His voice carried a note of surprise, laced with something else she couldn’t place. Concern? Jealousy? The undercurrents of their conversation were as difficult to navigate as her memory.
She nodded at him. “Last night. He wasn’t very forthcoming, though I suppose he didn’t want to explain our marriage.”
“Well, he certainly didn’t mind doing that today,” Grant grumbled. “Sorry. He really pushes every button of mine.”
Grant sucked in a deep breath before he continued. “As far as what happened…you and he were having a discussion in which I think he told you he had feelings for you. I’m not sure what transpired, I just know you came down the stairs telling him to stop and he grabbed you and kissed you.”
“I told him to stop,” she murmured.
“Yes, definitely. You were a little stunned by the kiss. I pulled him away from you, we argued, I asked him to leave, you told him the same. When we talked, you did feel bad for him, but we both agreed he needed to leave.”
“Have I talked to him since?”
“Oh, yes, he showed up the next morning at Harrington Global. He’s really good at crossing the line. You are equally good at managing his poor behavior, though.”
She let her shoulders slump. Kyle said he didn’t know how she felt, yet Grant seemed to infer the relationship was one-sided.
“Did he tell you something different?” Grant asked.
“Not really,” Julia said with a shrug. “He said he had kissed me, that he wanted me to know how strongly he felt about me. But he did say he didn’t know how I felt about him. I wasn’t sure if there was something between us, and that’s why I remembered that kiss or what.”
The words seemed to cause Grant to tense, but perhaps just because he and Kyle didn’t get along. “There’s nothing going on between you. Kyle is…I don’t know. You have more patience with him than I do.”
Julia sighed at the words. “So, I’m not closer to knowing anything.”
“Sorry,” Grant said. “I wish I could be of more help.”
“If there was some explanation for why I have that memory, or some expectation of when more would return I’d feel a lot better.”
“So would I,” Grant answered with a pat of her hand. “I hate that you’re going through this.”
She smiled at him, understanding his frustration. “Yeah, I’m sure you’d like to find out whatever I knew or thought I knew about these people who have been creating all this chaos.”
His forehead creased. “No, Julia. Well, yes, but that’s not the only reason. I hate to see you suffering like this.”
Sierra’s words echoed in her mind again. She wasn’t just another employee. Maybe they’d become friends. “Well, hopefully I’ll remember soon.”
“I really hope so. But for now, I think you should rest.”
“Right. Probably.” She slumped back in the pillows with a frustrated sigh. If it was up to her, she’d rather dig and dig and dig until she fixed something.
“Definitely. This is extremely stressful, especially in this family.”
She offered him a slight smile.
“Are you going to try to sleep?”
“Uhh…” she said.
“I’m serious, Julia. I don’t want to have to lock the door to your office.”
“I won’t troll the internet for any more stories.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “But you’ll sit here and obsess over what you don’t know.”
Probably, she thought. He seemed to know her pretty well.
“Am I right?”
She lifted a shoulder in response. “I can’t help it.”
“Alright.I’m going to do what I did when you had your concussion.” He rose and circled around the bed before he kicked his shoes off and flopped back in the pillows next to her. “I’m going to watch you to make sure you actually rest.”
She stared at him, wondering if this was true or not as he grabbed the remote and aimed it at the television across the room.
“And no, you can’t pick the movie because you’re terrible at picking movies.”
“I feel like that isn’t true, but I won’t fight you on it because I have no idea what movies I like.” She settled back into her pillows as he selected something that looked like it might hold her attention. As the intro played, her eyes slid sideways to a phone on her nightstand.
“Is this my phone?”
“Yep,” he answered, his features pinching for a second as she grabbed it. “Maybe you shouldn’t–“
She swiped into it before he could finish his statement. Notifications filled the screen including a missed call from him, several other missed calls, and loads of texts. She wondered if she could glean any information from her texts about her life. “Who is Alicia?”
“Your sister.”
“Oh.” Her stomach dropped as she stared at the missed calls and messages. “She’s called a lot and texted. I guess I should answer her.”
“Oh, uh, she doesn’t know you’re married.”
Julia snapped her gaze to him, wondering why she’d made that decision.
“You never told her.”
“Why?”
“Uhh, I’m not entirely certain, but I think you didn’t want to explain the scenario to her.”
“Right, okay, well, I’ll do my best to answer her before she…” Julia read the latest message from her sister aloud. “Sends the army and national guard to find me.”
“Tell her you dropped your phone, broke it, and had to wait for a new one.”
“Oh, good idea. That explains that without her panicking over my accident.”
“Right,” Grant said as she typed back a message trying to explain her extended absence to a sister she didn’t remember.
A second later, her phone chimed, and she read the response. This is why you shouldn’t have moved away. I was calling hospitals about you.
She answered with an apology and a placation before she settled in to watch the movie. As the images rolled past on the screen, her mind wandered to the mess of her life. She’d forgotten her sister. Not even that part of her life had remained intact. Why did she remember a kiss from one man she’d just met when she couldn’t even recall her sister?
It wasn’t like the only part of her life she couldn’t remember was the part with Grant. And yet one strange memory floated around in the blackness of her brain. She had to find answers soon.
Her fingers drummed the covers as she tried to stop herself from using her phone to research amnesia. She slid her eyes sideways to Grant. Would he notice? She could pretend to be texting her sister.
She casually lifted the phone from the charger and toggled it on. She typed in a search for amnesia and perused a few websites, finding only frustration instead of answers.
As she clicked on a medical site to read the treatment options, Grant glanced at her, craning his neck to glance at her screen. “Are you seriously researching amnesia?”
She tugged the phone closer to her chest. “I’m texting my sister.”
“On WebMD?” he asked. “I thought she was a cop, not a doctor.”
She heaved a sigh as she clicked off the display. “It’s not helping anyway. There are no treatments for amnesia.”
He tugged the phone from her hands. “Then you don’t need to do any more research.”
She reached for it, but he held it firmly.
“What do you need it for?”
“Seriously? It’s my phone.”
“And I am not letting you drive yourself crazy.”
“Too late,” Julia answered. “I was going to read through some texts to see if anything sparks a memory.”
“Stop, Julia. You can’t research this problem away.”
She slouched against her pillows, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and unanswered questions. Each piece of information seemed like a puzzle piece from a different box, impossible to fit together into a coherent picture. “And it may never resolve.”
“Let’s hope it does.”
“I don’t like to leave things to chance.”
“I know. And I’m sorry, but this time…we’re just going to have to wait this out.”
She drummed her fingers against her thigh. “Maybe we could work on whatever I was working on before the accident.”
“We are not working on anything. You need to rest. You need to relax.”
Julia heaved a sigh, her lips tugging into a pout as she stared at the television.
“Don’t pout. This is the best thing for you.”
As the movie droned on, she allowed her mind to relax, eventually slipping off to sleep as the exhaustion overcame her from the stress.
When her eyes fluttered open again, Grant grinned at her. “I’m beginning to think you don’t like my taste in movies.”
“Sorry,” she said as she started to sit up.
“No, it’s fine. Go back to sleep,” he whispered.
She sucked in a breath as she settled back into the pillows and drifted off again. When she woke again, the mid-morning sun shone through the blinds. She must have slept through the entire night without moving.
She stretched, working out her achy joints, and she rolled over to find a note on the nightstand. If you want your phone, I’ll be in my office.
Julia heaved a sigh as she pulled herself from her bed, dressed for the day, then wandered downstairs.
“Mrs. Harrington, how are you feeling today?” Worthington asked. “May I bring breakfast to your room?”
“I’m really not very hungry–”
“Yes, she will eat her breakfast,” Grant said as he leaned against the doorway to his office and waved her phone in the air.
“I will bring it up at once, Mrs. Harrington.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him as he left, the sound of each measured footstep echoing off the grand hall’s marble floors, a subtle reminder of the opulence that surrounded her yet felt so distant and impersonal. “Is he always like that?”
“Yes. He likes you very much,” Grant said, sliding her phone between his hands.
She reached for it when he pulled it back. “Only if you promise not to drive yourself crazy.”
“I promise,” she said. “I’ll just stop Alison…no, wait, Alicia, from sending the National Guard.”
He grinned at her as he handed the device back. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. Still a blank slate, but not exhausted, not overwhelmed.”
“That’s good.”
“Are you…” She paused, not knowing what to ask him. What was happening with his Senate campaign? Or his company? Or was she expected to try to re-learn her role there?
“What, Julia?”
“Umm, I was going to ask about you going to the office or campaign headquarters, but I have no idea what normally happens.”
“I’m staying home for a little while to make sure you’re okay. I’ve been covering you at Harrington Global but…the Senate race is over.”
She crinkled her brow. “I may have amnesia, but I’m fairly certain the election isn’t over yet.”
“It is for me,” he said. “I withdrew my candidacy the day you woke up.”
Her features melted as she tried to piece the latest bit of information together. “Why?”
“Julia, we have enough going on right now that we didn’t need that distraction. It would be way too much on you.”
She let her gaze fall. She’d really ruined his aspirations. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I really haven’t been very much help, have I?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Your help has been instrumental on every front.”
“If you say so,” she answered as Worthington entered the space with a tray.
“Enjoy your breakfast,” Grant said with a squeeze of her shoulder. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks.”
She followed the butler up the stairs and settled into an armchair as he handed her the tray.
“If you need anything else, Mrs. Harrington, do not hesitate to call me.”
She thanked him with a smile and a nod before she dug into her breakfast. She tried to search her memory for any recollection of her life here. Her eyes slid to the phone and reached for it.
A message from Kyle waited on her notifications. How are you feeling today?
She stared at it for a minute. He was her only connection to any memories. She couldn’t help but feel drawn to him. It seemed she had a fairly easy relationship with Grant, but she really had no idea.
She typed a response to him. Better. Still no memory.
His response came in seconds. Sorry, Julia. I know that’s frustrating. If you need to talk, I’m here.
She tightened her fingers on the phone. If she remembered him, maybe he could trigger more memories. She typed an answer. I’d really like to talk.
She received his answer quickly. Absolutely. Are you allowed to leave the house today or not?
The message brought a frown to her face. The animosity between father and son knew no bounds.
Another message popped on her screen as she considered it. Sorry. His behavior isn’t your fault. I’ll come to you.
She breathed a sigh of relief at not having to make that decision. Thanks.
By the time she’d finished her breakfast, Worthington knocked at her door, announcing Kyle’s arrival. The butler relieved her of her tray as Kyle eased into the armchair next to her.
He reached for her hand. “Hey, Julia, how are you?”
“Confused and frustrated.”
“I’m sure. But I’m glad you wanted to talk.”
She offered him a slight smile, uncertain he’d want to talk after she broached the awkward subject of their kiss. But with that being her only memory, she had nothing else to work off of.
“I need more information about my memory.”
“Our kiss.”
“Yes.” Grant had limited information about what had led to it. Maybe with more, she could piece it together or remember more of it.
“Sure,” he said with a slight smile. “Now that Grant has revealed the real reason behind your marriage–”
“Actually, you did that,” she said.
“Guilty. He was dragging it out because he can’t seem to ever admit what he is.”
She crinkled her brow at the statement. He seemed nice enough to her. He’d sat with her until she’d fallen asleep last night. But perhaps she didn’t really know him.
“Anyway, now that he’s told you your relationship is just a contract, you can see why I told you it was nothing to be upset over.”
“But…”
“Julia, he doesn’t love you. I do. It’s that simple.”
“Grant said it wasn’t quite that simple.”
“You told him?”
She bobbed her head up and down. “Yes, I did. I thought it was only fair.”
Kyle scoffed. “That’s you. Always fair no matter how unfair everyone is to you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me it caused an uproar? Or that he knew?”
“I didn’t want to get into all of that before you knew about the contract. But now that you do, we can talk about it all you’d like.” He squeezed her hands and offered her a soft smile.
“I was hoping it would help jog my memory, but I’m still really confused.”
“That’s okay. I’m here to help.”
“You said you didn’t know what my feelings were, but…I asked you to leave after the kiss, right?”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “Grant asked me to leave.”
“But I agreed.”
“Of course, you did,” Kyle said. “I can’t imagine you wouldn’t have.”
“What does that mean? You can’t make cryptic remarks like that and expect me to understand them. I have no context to work with.” She sucked in a breath as her muscles tensed. Her upset was ramping up again as she struggled with the dynamics she had no memory of.
He squeezed her hands. “Julia, it’s okay. I’ll explain. My father…he’s not a nice person. In fact, when we first met, I thought he was abusive to you.”
She furrowed her brow, the statement confusing her. She struggled to reconcile the statement with Grant’s behavior since she’d awoken. “Abusive? That doesn’t seem right. Maybe you picked up on the lack of romantic connection.”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “No, definitely not that.”
“He’s been nothing but supportive since I woke up.”
“Hmm, yeah, he tends to do that. But you saw how he reacted when you tried to leave the house yesterday.”
“I think that had more to do with my health than–”
“Don’t make excuses for him, Julia. I’m a doctor. There was no danger in letting you walk out that door. But he wouldn’t let you go. He’s extremely overbearing.”
Julia let the statements sink in. He’d taken her phone from her, but that seemed protective, not overbearing. Was she being shortsighted about him? Was there more to this than she knew?
“Okay,” Julia said with a shake of her head. “How? I mean…yesterday aside. What else makes you say that?”
“He’s had you followed. He’s demanded you drop everything and do what he wants. Here’s a perfect example. When you were named CEO of Harrington Global, he didn’t tell you he was doing that. Why? He didn’t want you to say no to him, so he made sure you couldn’t, and then he roped you into another year of this charade of a marriage, and all to salvage his image.”
Julia pulled her hands away from his as she tried to match the statements to the man who had dropped out of a Senate race because of her accident. She climbed from her seat, trying to match Kyle’s view of Grant with the man she’d seen.
He obviously had more information than she did. Had he really not told her when he’d named her CEO?
Kyle followed her as she stalked a few steps toward the window. His hand rubbed her shoulder. “Julia, you can ask him about any of that. I’m sure he’ll paint a different picture about how it’s nothing like what I said, but he will confirm that all of that is true.”
She sucked in a few breaths, trying to remain calm, but she felt the pressure building as she lacked the first-hand information to make a decision.
The door burst open, interrupting her thoughts. She twisted to see Grant, his jaw flexing as he spotted Kyle. “I heard you were here.”
“At Julia’s request,” Kyle said. “Ask her yourself.”
Julia flicked her gaze to Kyle before she returned it to Grant. “It’s true. I…wanted to see if he could tell me anything that would help my memory.”
“I doubt it,” Grant said. “Kyle has a very different view of what’s happening in your life.”
Kyle offered a harsh chuckle. “No, that’s not true. I’m just giving her some facts to help fill in the gaps.”
“Facts aren’t something you deal in, Kyle.”
“Let’s find out. Julia, why don’t you ask him about anything I just told you?” Kyle crossed his arms as he flicked his gaze to Grant. “Let’s just see who’s lying.”
Julia swallowed hard, not wanting the situation to escalate.
“Go ahead, Julia. Ask away. I have no problem explaining anything he’s told you.”
“Okay, umm, is it true you didn’t tell me before you made me CEO?”
“On live television, I might add,” Kyle whispered.
Grant pressed his lips together, flicking his gaze to the floor for a second. “Yes. That is true.”
“Because he didn’t want you to be able to refuse.”
“He’s right. I thought you’d doubt your abilities, and I wanted you as CEO. You were a fantastic choice.”
The words confused her. She didn’t know which picture was the correct one. Was he controlling like Kyle said or merely confident like he said?
“Ask him about the others. Go ahead,” Kyle said.
“Kyle, stop pushing her to make trouble.”
“I’m not pushing her to make any trouble. I’m merely allowing her to see what you truly are.”
Julia’s forehead creased. Who was right and who was twisting the truth?
Picking apart the situation between them grew more difficult by the second. She squeezed her fingers into fists as tension grew at her temples.
The image of Kyle’s kiss flashed across her mind again. She fluttered her eyelashes as her features pinched. A groan escaped her as pain built inside her head.
“Julia?” Grant questioned.
Kyle slid an arm around her as the room started to spin. “Julia?”
He pressed two fingers to her wrist. “Her pulse is racing. Julia, I think you need to sit down.”
She wanted to, but she couldn’t move. The pain racing from temple to temple made her nauseous.
“Of course, her pulse is racing. You keep confusing her with all this nonsense.”
“This isn’t my fault, it’s yours,” Kyle shot back. “If you wouldn’t have married her in the first place–”
He never finished his statement as she collapsed to her knees with a groan. What was wrong with her? Was the swelling back in her brain?
A second later, images shot across her mind in a blinding array. She gasped in a breath as both men knelt next to her.
“Julia,” Grant said, rubbing her shoulder, “what is it?”
She lifted her eyes to his, her face a mix of confusion and hope. “I remembered something new.”