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“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.”
