Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
GRANT
G rant shifted his weight, the bourbon in his glass sloshing as he subtly shifted his gaze over his shoulder in search of Julia. The conversation with Victor Montgomery had taken longer than he’d expected, and they were nowhere closer to finishing.
As Victor droned on about savvy business moves, Grant wrestled with worry that Julia was lonely without him. His jaw clenched as he realized she may be being entertained by his son…or her ex-fiancé.
Both options gave him heart palpitations. He imagined Kyle dragging her back to the dance floor and giving her a lecture on how he didn’t care enough to spend time with her. The even worse vision of Luke holding her in his arms danced through his mind next.
She gave him that soft gaze through her eyelashes as he rubbed her cheek. “We’re meant to be together, Julia. You know that. Come home.”
Grant shifted his weight as the image turned his stomach.
“Grant? You okay? You look like you had some bad caviar,” Victor said with a chuckle.
Grant offered a weak laugh. “I’m fine.”
“Well, the plans looked great, Grant. It’s definitely something we’d be interested in pursuing, although…”
“Although what? A little too much of a slam dunk for you?” Grant asked, his usual brashness taking over during the business negotiation.
The man offered him a half-smirk. “Hardly. We like winners at Montgomery Innovations. But I’d really like one of my tech people to go over the specs.”
Grant grinned at him before sipping his bourbon. “I’ll bet you would. Unfortunately, Vic, that’s not going to happen. Those specs are not for public consumption.”
“This is hardly public, Grant. We’re going into negotiations for a partnership here.”
“Partnership? No.” Grant shook his head. “Investment opportunity. If you’d like your tech people to have a conversation with mine about viability, I can set that up, but releasing the plans to you isn’t happening.”
“Well, then this investment may not be happening.”
Grant eyed the man. He’d been through enough negotiations to know when he had the upper hand and when he needed to bend. He didn’t need to bend this time. He could shop this tech around easily. “That’s up to you. M.I. was my first choice but you’re hardly my only choice. If you’d like to pass, no hard feelings.”
“How about if I sleep on it?” Victor asked, still desperate to claim the upper hand in the negotiations.
“Absolutely. Take all the time you need, Vic. I just can’t guarantee the offer’s still going to be on the table when you show up.”
The man’s lips formed a frown.
“Hey, I think I’ve been away from my wife for far too long. You have a good night, now.” Grant clapped him on the shoulder before he twisted away from him.
“Oh, ah, Grant…” Victor said.
A tiny grin turned up the corners of Grant’s lips, and he arched an eyebrow before he quickly forced his features to a neutral expression and spun back to face the man. “Yeah?”
“I’ll have the agreement signed in the morning and a check messengered over to you.”
Grant grinned at him as he thrust his hand forward. “Welcome to the team.”
“You’re a tough negotiator, Grant. But you’re going to make your board happy with this one, I think.”
“I sure hope so. They’ve been breathing down my neck for a while now, and with my track record in business, I don’t like it.”
“Well, seems like that remains unblemished and your personal one’s got a nice new shine, too. Tell Julia I apologize for the interruption to her evening.”
“I will. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“You can bet on it,” the man said.
Grant left him behind, unable to wipe the grin off his face. This would position Harrington Global to continue forward as a powerhouse in the industry. Now, all he needed was the crowning jewel…Julia.
With his negotiation settled, he’d enjoy the rest of his evening with her, then broach the topic of spending the weekend at the cabin to celebrate. He’d decided on his plan sometime during Victor’s babbling.
A quiet weekend far from anyone was exactly the environment Julia thrived on. And it was exactly where he planned to ask her to stay with him. He’d fill the cabin with roses just as he had filled her apartment when he’d first met her.
He scanned the room, pulling his thoughts from his plan as he searched for Julia. He didn’t find her, souring his mood a little. He wondered which of the other two men vying for her hand had cornered her.
He stopped at the bar to order another bourbon. As he waited, Kyle approached alone.
“You’re not with Julia?” Grant asked as the bartender delivered the fresh glass of liquor.
Kyle offered him an annoyed glance. “Are you serious? At every turn, it’s ‘stay away from her Kyle,’ ‘leave her alone, Kyle,’ ‘get out of the house, Kyle,’ but now I’m supposed to be with Julia.”
Grant heaved a sigh after sipping his drink. “I just assumed you wouldn’t let her out of your sight, especially with Luke on the prowl. Plus, with my business deal tonight, I expected you to take full advantage.”
“Yeah, well, I had some other pressing matters to attend to.”
“Oh? Like sinking tour boats?”
Kyle’s jaw clenched at the words. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
Grant shrugged. “What other pressing matters did you have?”
“Lydia texted me to meet.”
Grant raised his eyebrows. “Oh. What did she want?”
“I don’t know. She never showed.”
Grant knitted his eyebrows, a sinking feeling filling him. “That’s odd.”
“Not really. Lydia is sort of flighty.”
Grant scanned the room again. “No, she wanted you out of the way for some reason. Where is Julia?”
Grant spotted Sierra with James across the room. He strode over with Kyle following behind him. “Hey, where’s Julia?”
Sierra shrugged as she twisted to face him. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? When was the last time you saw her?”
“When I came to get you to talk to Victor.”
“You didn’t stay with her? Where did she go?” Grant’s heart started to pound harder.
Sierra shrugged. “She said she was going to find out why Luke wouldn’t go back to Maine and take Mom with him.”
“Luke,” he said with a grumble, “I’ll bet she’s with Luke. Damn it.”
His heart dropped as he wondered where he’d taken her to try to convince her to return to him. His mind vetted ways to search for them. Maybe a bribe to one of the hotel staff.
“Nope. She’s not with Luke,” Kyle said.
Grant furrowed his brow, following the line of Kyle’s gaze. He spotted Luke alone as he strode back into the room. Had they just been together?
“Maybe she’s in the ladies’ room,” Sierra suggested. “I’ll check.”
“I’m going to ask Luke,” Grant said, his narrowed eyes set on the man.
Kyle followed behind him. “I’ll come with you.”
“Where’s Julia?” Grant demanded as he approached the man.
Luke shrugged and shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Really?” Grant asked. “You weren’t with her?”
“No, I haven’t seen her since we spoke earlier this evening. I assumed you two made sure we wouldn’t have another opportunity.”
Grant stared at the man, searching his face for any signs of a lie. Had he not seen Julia or was he lying?
Sierra stormed back toward them, her dress flying behind her. “She’s not in the ladies’ room.”
His stomach clenched. Where was she?
He scanned the room again, his heart thudding hard against his ribs. Lydia wasn’t here either. “Oh, no.”
“What?” Sierra asked.
“She’s with Lydia.” He whipped around to face Luke. “Where is your date?”
“I’m not certain. She asked me to meet her outside. We talked for a few minutes, and she said she’d be back in a few minutes. She came back inside, and I haven’t seen her since. I figured she forgot about me and came in to find her.”
Grant flexed his jaw as his fingers curled into fists. Lydia had set up a situation where she could whisk Julia away from them all. He tugged his phone from his pocket. “I’m calling Lydia.”
“She said she wanted to talk to Julia earlier. I’m sure they’re fine,” Luke said as Grant scrolled through his phone.
“I’m not. Lydia is not a nice person like you may think she is.” He pressed the call button and raised the phone to his ear. The line trilled twice before his ex-wife’s voice answered.
“Grant! Just the man I hoped to hear from.”
“Where is Julia?”
“Funny you should ask that. Us gals are hanging out together, and we’d really love to see you. See, we are having a little disagreement, and we need you to settle it. Would you be a doll and run up to Suite 3099? Oh, and come alone. We don’t need the entire family parading in.”
He swallowed hard as she hung up the phone, staring at it. He didn’t like this at all. But he didn’t have much choice in the matter.
“Well?” Kyle asked.
“She’s with Lydia. I’m going up to get her.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“No, stay here,” Grant said with a shake of his head.
“What? No way,” Kyle answered as he followed him.
“Stay here. Lydia asked for me to come upstairs alone. I’ll be back with Julia soon.”
“Wait,” Kyle protested as he scurried after Grant. “There’s no way you should go alone.”
Grant shook his head. “She told me to. I’m not risking it. This is probably something stupid. She wants my attention, probably to tell me Julia’s been spending time with you or Luke. I don’t care. I’ll listen to whatever stupidity she wants to babble, then leave with Julia.”
Kyle nodded. “Fine. I guess it’s better if I stay here anyway and don’t blow my cover with Lydia.”
“Right, we may need it.”
He left Kyle behind and jabbed the elevator button multiple times until a set of doors whooshed open. He hurried inside and pressed the button for the thirtieth floor of the high-rise hotel. The elevator climbed far too slowly for his taste. He chewed his lower lip as he watched the numbers slowly climb higher and higher.
Whatever game Lydia was playing wasn’t fun. And she was getting on his last nerve with it. Now that the leverage against Sierra was removed, they had a little more freedom to act.
It was time to finish this battle with DG Industries and move on with his life…hopefully with Julia. If she hadn’t already promised her heart to Luke.
The thought soured his mood, and the elevator’s chime when it reached the thirtieth floor sent a shiver down his spine. He swallowed hard as the doors whooshed open, and he stepped into the quiet hall.
The eerie silence as he made his way to the double doors at the end marked with the number Lydia had given him set his nerves on edge. He braced himself for the coming storm. He’d likely find Lydia taunting Julia with something when he stepped inside the room. They’d argue, and he’d leave with Julia’s hand in his, presenting a united front that he hoped would drive his ex-wife crazy with anger.
The thought comforted him as he raised his closed fist and rapped against the door. It opened a second later, and he wrinkled his nose at the beefy bodyguard who stood on the opposite side.
The man waved him inside where he found Lydia staring out over the cityscape with a drink balanced against her chest.
She twisted to face him as he stalked into the room. “Oh, there you are. Took you long enough.”
“What do you want, Lydia? Something?”
“Yes, I do want something.”
“Where is Julia?” he asked as he scanned the space and didn’t find her.
“Don’t worry about that just yet. Let’s talk. It’s been so long since we’ve had a real conversation, Grant.”
He heaved a sigh, his unease growing over Julia’s whereabouts. “Pass. I have no desire to have any conversations, real or otherwise with you. Oh, and while we’re on the subject of how much I loathe you, pack your bags. I want you out of the house by the end of the week.”
Lydia raised her eyebrows, drawing her chin back to her chest. “Really? I’d rethink that. Actually, don’t bother. It doesn’t matter.”
“It does. I can’t stand you. Sierra can’t stand you. No one wants you there. And now, we don’t have to have you there.”
“My, we seem so sure.”
“I am,” Grant answered, his voice hard.
“I wouldn’t be. You may want me there to keep an eye on the little cupcake. She sneaks off at every turn with Medic Mike. And now Luke’s back and–”
“Yes, thanks to you,” Grant said with a huff. “I can’t believe you actually bankrolled him just to mess with my life. Well, it didn’t work.”
“Didn’t it? I don’t know, those two seem awfully chummy. And to be clear, I backed an excellent investment. Luke’s ideas are exceptional. He reminds me of a younger you. One that was still hungry to be the best. Now, you’re just complacent, willing to take whatever hands are dealt instead of making your own luck.”
The statement stung, though he knew she didn’t mean it about his situation with Julia. “That’s not true, Lydia, but I don’t really care what you think. You called me up here because Julia was here. Now, where is she? I’d like to collect my wife and get back to enjoying the evening with her.”
“Hmm, that won’t be possible until we’ve gotten a little business out of the way first.”
“What is it this time? Another charity event for your luxury shoe line? Oh, no wait, let me guess, you’d like me to throw you a lavish party to celebrate your overblown accomplishments.”
Lydia shook her head, a smirk on her features. “None of those.”
“Then what?” Grant barked.
“I want the plans for the Solaris project. I know you brought them with you. Run down and grab them. And don’t take forever, I’m getting bored up here.”
Grant couldn’t stop the laugh that barreled from his lips. The ridiculous request brought tears to his eyes. “Exactly how much have you had to drink tonight?”
“Not nearly enough to remind me of why I ever fell for you to begin with. You really aren’t that charming, you know.”
He sobered as he shook his head. “I’m not giving you the plans for Harrington Global’s project. Now, where is Julia?”
“I think you will. I really don’t want to debate it, so just…run down and snap up that flash drive, okay?” Lydia grinned at him as she clicked her tongue.
“Lydia, no. What would make you think I would give you those plans?”
She narrowed her eyes as she stared into space, a finger tapping on her chin in a fake display of thought. “Hmm, I had a really good reason why you’d give me the plans for the project that’s going to launch Harrington Global into the stratosphere. What was it?”
Grant rolled his eyes at her display. “I’m getting tired of this little game. I don’t want to play anymore.”
He spun on his heel and took a step toward the door when she snapped her fingers. “Oh, I remember.”
With a heavy sigh, he twisted to face her. “I can’t wait to hear it.”
She grinned at him. “I’ll bet you can’t.” Lydia stalked toward the closed bedroom door and flung it open. “Morrison! Bring out our little piece of persuasion, please. Seems Grant needs a little motivation to help him do what I asked.”
Grant offered her an unimpressed stare as he waited for the so-called motivation. Lydia set a hand on her hip, a haughty expression on her features.
Movement at the door caught his eye. Julia appeared, her eyebrows tightly knit and her eyes clouded with a mix of fear and upset. His forehead creased for a moment as he tried to read her, but the man who followed her made it all too clear what was happening.
His stomach dropped and his heart pounded against his ribs as he noted her bound wrists and the gun leveled at her head.
“Julia?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, tears shining in her eyes.
“Aw, isn’t this touching?” Lydia said.
“Let her go, Lydia, she doesn’t have anything to do with this,” Grant said.
“Oh, but she does.”
Grant shook his head. “No. She’s innocent in all of this. Let her go. We’ll handle whatever’s going on between us alone, okay?”
“I don’t think so. And she’s hardly innocent. She’s actually been playing on my team for several months now, but she’s outlived her usefulness. It seems she actually cares about you and Sierra, which means this is the only way she can help me. Now…how much do you love Little Miss Muffet? Enough to give me the Solaris plans or is Harrington Global your one true love?”
Grant swallowed hard as he stared at Julia. Nothing meant more to him than she did. And if he lost his company because of it, so be it. “I’ll get the plans.”
“Wow,” Lydia said with a cackle, “that was easy. Had I known it would be this easy, I would have done this a long time ago.”
“Don’t, Grant. You can’t let her win.”
Lydia wrapped an arm around Julia and pulled her closer. “Aw, she’s just so sweet it makes my teeth ache. Now, run along and get that flash drive. Us girls will be waiting for you.”
“Look, I’ll give you the flash drive, but you give me Julia.”
“I don’t think so, Grant. I’m not that stupid.”
“Lydia, promise me you won’t hurt her. Please.”
“I’m not going to do anything to her as long as I get what I want.” She glanced at her watch. “Oh, shoot. I’m running late. Meet me on the roof with it. I’ve got to jet.”
“Why don’t you come with me downstairs and we’ll–”
“I said get the flash drive and meet me on the roof,” Lydia growled through clenched teeth. “This isn’t a negotiation unless you’d like me to do something drastic.”
“Okay, okay,” he said, holding up his hands in defeat. He flicked his gaze to Julia, concern etched into every line of his face. “I’ll get the flash drive.”
He stared at his frightened wife for another minute before he finally forced his feet to move from the room. He stepped into the hall, his chest tightened and his breathing shallow. He’d trade anything for Julia, but he worried Lydia may snap. She must have realized her leverage was gone and reacted. The question was could he save Julia before it was too late?