Bargain with a Billionaire Sneak Peek
The late afternoon sun filtered through the curtains of Grant’s study, casting a golden hue over the silver frame of the wedding photo. He leaned back in his chair, kicking his feet up on the mahogany desk as he traced the frame’s edge.
Grant stared down at the warm smile on his wife, Julia’s face. He couldn’t believe it had been nearly one year since they’d wed. Nearly one year since they’d signed a contract binding them together for that same period.
A sigh escaped him, heavy with thoughts of the near end of their contractual marriage. A tightness tugged at his chest, a mix of regret and unresolved longing that seemed to echo through his heart. They’d been through so much together in the year.
He remembered the initial days of awkwardness, which quickly became replaced by a comfortable easiness that had crept in unexpectedly. She was so easy to be open with, so kind and caring.
He’d expected to face problems together, and they had. From a murder charge to a secret son to a hostile board, he and Julia had faced them all down.
Each challenge they’d faced, from the legal battles to the family revelations, had woven a deeper bond between them, transforming impersonal respect into something profound–at least for him.
But now he’d face his biggest challenge, and he’d do it alone. Potentially losing the woman he’d come to care for…deeply. He hadn’t expected to develop these feelings, but he had. And they ran deep.
Grant’s gaze lingered on the photo, knowing that the looming contract deadline wasn’t just a date on the calendar, but a crossroads for what had unexpectedly become the most significant relationship of his life.
“Reflecting, sir?” Worthington asked as he wandered into the room and crossed to the drink cart.
Grant heaved a sigh as he took one last look at the wedding photo before he replaced it on his desk and accepted the bourbon Worthington offered him. “Something like that.”
“And what conclusions did you come to?”
He raised his glass, sloshing the liquid. “If you want to hear that, you’d better pour yourself one and settle in.”
Worthington flicked his eyebrows up, returning to the drink cart to pour himself a brandy before he settled into a chair across from Grant.
“Worthington, I can almost hear the unspoken ‘I told you so’ in your silence.”
An amused smile danced on the butler’s lips and sparkled in his eyes as he sipped at his drink. “Is this regarding Mrs. Harrington?”
“Some of it.”
“Not all of it?”
Grant sighed, kicking his feet up again. “No. In a year, there are still so many unresolved issues. DG Industries remains a mystery to us. Kyle is still…Kyle.”
Grant’s features settled into a strained frown as his thoughts turned to the son he’d only just met months prior. Their relationship continued to be strained. The initial dislike they’d taken to each other that had led to a public brawl ran deep.
The only thing that held them together was Julia. Without her, they’d probably have killed each other by now.
“The company’s position has strengthened though,” Worthington pointed out.
“Yes, it is. All thanks to Julia,” Grant said before he sipped his bourbon. He owed her for far more than just the growing stability at Harrington Global.
“She has had a positive effect on almost every aspect of life, hasn’t she?”
Grant stared down at the reflective surface of the bourbon in his glass, studying his distorted features in the rippling liquid.
“Did you know Mrs. Harrington has already spoken with me about her imminent departure?”
Grant slid his eyes closed at the news. He didn’t want to hear it. But it was so like Julia.
“She seems determined to exit as gracefully as possible with as little fuss as she can manage.”
“I’m afraid that’s going to be next to impossible.”
Worthington gave him a pointed glance over the rim of his glass.
Grant clicked his tongue. “Don’t give me that look. I know this is my fault, but…”
“Yes?” Worthington asked with an arch of his eyebrow.
Grant heaved a sigh as the doubts crept back into his mind. “It’s complicated, Worthington.”
The butler shifted in his seat, sipping his brandy again, a sure sign of disagreement.
“Don’t do that to me,” Grant complained, poking a finger at the man.
“I said nothing.”
“And that said everything.”
Worthington offered him a knowing glance. “I am merely saying, sir, it may not be as complicated as you think.”
Grant tugged one corner of his lips back. “It’s not. That said, I…will likely never forgive myself if she walks out that door and leaves me behind.”
“Leaves all of us, sir. Miss Sierra seems most attached to her. And if I may be so bold, so am I. The current Mrs. Harrington brings a lovely presence to the house.”
Grant compared her demeanor with the staff with that of his previous wives. If you put all four of them together, they’d not have as gracious a personality as Julia. “Yes, I know. She’s an exceptional woman. I think Sierra is a little mad at me for not doing more, hence her weekend trip.”
Grant reflected on her terrible mood, of late. She’d nearly bitten his head off over a simple request earlier in the week, storming off as she shouted, “Of course, we’ll get stuck with only Crazy Kyle out of this entire situation.”
“Has it occurred to you that Mrs. Harrington has become as attached to everyone as you have to her?”
“The thought has crossed my mind, though I dismissed it. Who in their right mind would stay here? The poor woman has been thrust into the limelight with a murder trial, assaulted while rescuing a missing woman, manipulated by my raging son, kidnapped, and then re-kidnapped. She’s probably counting down the days to leave.”
“But what if she is not?”
Grant sipped his bourbon. Could she harbor any feelings toward him? He doubted it. She hadn’t even told her family about him. She’d kept their marriage a secret from anyone who knew her. Someone who wanted to stay, who wanted to continue being married–this time for a real relationship–didn’t do that.
“You said you can’t let her walk away.”
“I did. I’m still working on that.”
“You’d better work fast, sir. There is not much time left.”
Grant chewed his lip before he slapped a palm on the desk. “Maybe I’ll take her to the cabin for the weekend. We’ll leave tonight. I’ll see how she reacts. Maybe by some miracle, she’ll give me an opening.”
“I think that sounds like a lovely idea. Shall I gather a few of the staff and go to the cabin now to ready it?”
“No, no, don’t worry about it, Worthington. I’ll handle it. We’ll be fine. I just need to tell Julia.”
Worthington finished his drink and rose. “We will all hope you come home with a new arrangement in place.”
“It’ll be that or a final goodbye.”
“Let’s hope for the former, sir.”
Grant set his glass down and held up a finger before he dug into his breast pocket. He pulled out a ring box and snapped it open, showcasing a dazzling diamond.
“A new ring for when she accepts?”
“My grandmother’s ring.” With a smile, Grant eyed the delicate filigree and the way the diamond caught the light, a testament to enduring love and timeless elegance. “I’ve never given this to anyone after my grandfather gave it to me. For the right woman, he said.”
“And none of the other Mrs. Harringtons have worn it?”
Grant leaned back in his chair, his eyes still trained on the ring. “Not a one.” He huffed out a laugh. “I’m pretty certain wives number one, three, and possibly four wouldn’t have even accepted a ring like this. It’s not the biggest diamond.”
“Still lovely.”
“Julia would appreciate it. She doesn’t seem to care much about those things.”
“No, she does not,” Worthington agreed.
“You know, I still have the sapphire bracelet I bought her when that secretary came on to me. The one she wouldn’t take. I tried to give it to her after we resolved it, and she still told me she didn’t need it.”
“Well, I wish you all the luck in the world with the conversation. Would you like me to prepare anything for the trip?”
“No, no, I’ll throw some things into a suitcase, and we’ll leave tonight.”
Worthington offered him a nod and another good luck wish before he left the room. Grant stared at the ring for another moment, the smile stuck on his face as he imagined telling Julia he wanted her to stay, her telling him she felt the same. He offered her the ring, she accepted with a wide grin before she flung her arms around him and their lips met.
Would they renew their vows? Why not?
He glanced at the framed photo of their first wedding. The soft glow from the monitor cast shadows across their smiling faces. The eerie lighting made the memory even more distant and fragile.
He’d throw a lavish party, and they’d celebrate their marriage again. And this time, she’d tell her sister.
He sucked in a breath as he heard her voice in the foyer, speaking with Worthington. Her light laugh widened his smile as he closed the ring box and hid it in his pocket.
Julia popped into the room a second later, that beautiful, easy smile on her face. “Worthington said you wanted to see me.”
“Yes,” he said as he rose and perched on the edge of the desk. “I thought we could take a little impromptu trip.”
Julia slicked a lock of hair behind her ear, biting her lower lip as she studied him. “You’re not going to fly me all the way to Paris for dinner again, are you? Because I’m not sure I can make it through the flight without starving to death.”
He chuckled, recalling their evening in Paris after the kidnapping. They’d enjoyed a lovely dinner and a walk along the Sienne. She’d looked stunning in the dress he’d bought her. And she’d fallen asleep on the flight home, her head lolling onto his shoulder.
“Not exactly. I own a cabin, about two and a half hours away. Nice and remote, quiet, peaceful. I thought we could spend the weekend there.” Was he coming across as too obvious? He quickly added, “You could write. It would be perfect.”
“Uh,” Julia hesitated. “Sure. When do you want to leave?”
“An hour from now?”
“An hour!” she exclaimed with a chuckle. “Why can you never plan things, Grant?”
“I’m impulsive. Is that enough time?”
“Yes. I’ll just pack a few things.”
“Great,” he said with a broad grin. “I’ll see you in an hour.”
She offered him a soft smile before she slipped from the room. He pulled the ring from his pocket as his pulse quickened. Maybe within the next forty-eight hours, he’d have the woman he’d waited a lifetime for in his life forever.
Finishing his bourbon in one smooth gulp, he allowed the liquid courage to fuel him as he ascended the stairs with determined strides. He tossed a few things into a duffel bag before changing into something more casual. He pulled the ring from his jacket pocket, opening the box again. As he studied the diamond, gleaming in the soft lights of his bedroom, he caught sight of a pair of cufflinks on his dresser.
He smiled at them as he recalled Julia giving them to him. “They’re Sierra-approved,” she said with a chuckle. “She took no chances that this was left to my terrible taste.”
“You don’t have terrible taste, Juls,” he said with a chuckle.
“Well, either way, she assured me you’d like them.”
“I love them,” he said, meaning every word. It had nothing to do with the cufflinks and everything to do with who they came from.
His phone rang, interrupting his memory. He dug his phone out of his pocket and glanced at the screen, his mood souring a little.
“Hello, Kyle.”
“Dad, hello.”
He hadn’t gotten used to the man calling him Dad yet, but Julia thought it was a good sign, so he tolerated it. He resisted the urge to ask why he was calling. “How are you?”
“Fine, fine. I was planning on dropping by this weekend about the hospital board.”
The tension grew between Grant’s shoulder blades at the thought of it. Why had he offered him a position on the hospital board? “I won’t be here. I’m going away for the weekend.”
“Oh.” The surprise in his voice was unmistakable, along with another emotion that Grant thought he recognized. He sniffed an opportunity, thinking Julia would be left alone for the weekend.
“Julia and I are going to the cabin.”
“Right.” The disappointment in Kyle’s voice was obvious. And it had nothing to do with the missed opportunity to discuss the hospital board. He hated the interest Kyle continued to show toward Julia, though he understood it. Gentle Julia was always welcoming to him.
“Maybe Monday.”
“Sure. Monday. Yes. Well…have a great weekend.” The line clicked before he could say goodbye. Grant pulled the phone away from his ear and stared down at the screen until it went dead.
He shook his head as he slid the phone into his pocket and collected his things. He wouldn’t let Kyle put a damper on his weekend. It had the potential to be too great of a moment in his life to be ruined by anything.
He dropped his bag at the front door and let himself out into the warm evening air. With his chauffeur out on vacation, he crossed to the garage to retrieve his car.
After pulling it up to the front door, he swept into the house to grab his bag, finding Julia waiting with hers.
“I guess the hour wasn’t enough for you,” she said with a laugh as she handed her bag off to him.
“I had to get the car. James is out of town, visiting his mom, remember?” His nose wrinkled as he loaded the bags into the trunk. “And I had a phone call from Kyle.”
“Oh?” she asked as she eased into the passenger seat and clicked on her seat belt.
Grant slid in behind the wheel, donning his own belt and firing the engine. “About the hospital board.”
“Right. That was nice that you did that for him,” she said. “He seems excited about the opportunity.”
“I suppose he’s gushed to you about it,” Grant said as they left Harrington House and the nearby glow of the city behind.
“He has.”
“Any excuse to talk to you,” Grant grumbled.
“He’s just trying to fit in.”
Grant resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he sped toward the cabin. He was trying to fit in all right.
Their conversation turned to a more pleasant topic to pass the time as they drove. Julia laughed easily and freely at his joke about her movie preferences. He grinned at her, shooting her a glance. He let the moment build his shaky confidence, though a sense of eerie foreboding snaked down his spine.
He tried to brush it off as mere nerves, yet a nagging feeling lingered as he turned onto the remote road. The shadows between the trees seemed to whisper secrets in the moonlight, creating an ethereal gateway to the glitzy second home.
He glanced over at his wife as he pulled off the road into the gravel drive leading to the large, modern-styled log cabin. She studied the wilderness around them with interest. He wondered if she’d always lived in the city or if she’d ever been anywhere this remote. He’d have a lifetime to find out if everything went his way.
His excitement brimmed as he steered the car around the curve. His brow furrowed when the cabin came into view. There were lights on inside.
He dismissed it. Maybe Worthington had sent someone up anyway, despite his refusal.
But Grant’s confusion amplified as he closed the distance to the cabin’s front door, spotting two cars near it. As he shut off the engine, he studied the nearly new sports car. “Is that Sierra’s car?”
He popped open his door and climbed from the car as he narrowed his eyes at it before shifting them to the other car. “What the hell?”
Julia hurried out of the car as he stalked toward the door. “Maybe we shouldn’t go inside.”
“Why not?” Grant asked.
She gave him an odd glance, shoving her hands into her back pockets and shrugging. “No reason.”
He skirted around her and wrapped his hands around the doorknob. The door swung open with just a twist of his wrist, unlocked.
“Wait, Grant–” she started as he stepped into the house.
Lights lit the space, soft music played in the background, and a fire roared in the fireplace of the great room. From the floor in front of the couch, a head popped up, eyes wide.
“James?” Grant said, his mind failing to comprehend why the man would be at his cabin on his living room floor.
“Mr. Harrington!” James rose, shirtless.
“Daddy!” Sierra shouted, leaping up with a blanket around her.
“Sierra?” His mind whirled as the situation became obvious. His daughter and his chauffeur were at his cabin…together. In a way he’d never expected.
Sierra shifted her gaze to Julia. “Why did you let him come in here?”
Grant snapped his gaze to his wife who offered him a penitent glance. “You knew?”
“Mr. Harrington, I can explain,” James began.
Grant glared at him, a familiar surge of control and authority rising within him. Heat washed over him as he couldn’t fathom any suitable explanation. And it looked like his sunny weekend trip just got rained out.