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Worthington offered a fleeting smile. “Yes, though the news may be tempered by the fact that her stepmother was willing to protect her.”
The statement brought a half-smile to Grant’s face. “Yes. She’s pretty fond of Julia. After she rescued her from that cliffside, they really got close.”
“Yes, they have. It’s one of the only times I have seen genuine emotion from Ms. Sierra.”
“Me too,” Grant said, his smile widening. “It just proves beyond a shadow of a doubt how amazing of a woman Julia is.”
His mind conjured the image of her smiling face and for half a second, he allowed himself to hear her say yes to his proposal. A banging on the door ripped away those happy images before he was ready. A chill ran down his spine as he wondered who stood on the other side.
Worthington crossed to the doors and swung them open.
“Hiding, Grant?” Lydia’s shrill voice asked, setting his nerves on edge even further.
“No, working.”
Lydia pushed past Worthington into the room. “You always use your work as an excuse to hide. Always have, always will. I’m surprised the little goody-goody you’re married to hasn’t left you already because of it.”
“What do you want, Lydia?”
“I didn’t get an invitation to the gala.”
Grant centered his icy gaze on the woman. “Awww. You’re breaking my heart.”
Her features, twisted with aggravation, spoke volumes. “Grant, am I not being clear?”
“You were perfectly clear. You didn’t get invited to the gala. The only thing I’m not clear on is why you’re telling me this. I don’t care.”
“Well, you should,” she answered, sticking a hand on her hip. “I want to go to it.”
Grant shrugged as he spun the empty glass on his desk. “Too bad you didn’t get invited then, huh?”
“I want an invitation.”
“And I suppose you expect me to do something about that?”
“Yes, I do. I am the mother of your child, Grant. How can you treat me so badly?”
He bit his tongue to stop himself from lashing out at her. He would have preferred to lunge across the desk and wrap his hands around her throat than speak to her. She could ruin his daughter, and she dangled that fact over his poor wife at every turn, forcing her to play a dangerous game. And she stood in front of him demanding better treatment?
Of course, she had no idea he knew. So, he had to play along.
Before he could come up with an answer, Worthington, still hovering in the doorway, cleared his throat. “Mrs. Harrington, how lovely to see you.”
“Hi, Worthington. Am I interrupting something?” She flicked her gaze between Lydia and Grant.
“No,” Grant answered as Lydia crossed her arms and huffed out a, “Yes.”
“Come in, Juls,” Grant added.
She crossed to stand next to him, offering him a glance before she flicked her gaze to Lydia. “Is there a problem?”
“Yes,” Lydia answered as Grant said, “No.”
“Okay, well, it seems as always you two are not on the same page.”
Lydia heaved a sigh, rolling her eyes as a lock of her blonde hair slipped from her chic updo. “I wasn’t invited to the gala. I have implored Grant to rectify this…egregious oversight. But Grant seems to think I’m not worth it.”
“You’re not,” he answered as Julia slid a hand onto his shoulder.
