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“Why not?” Kyle asked.
“Alex would never be up this early. Unless he’s completely changed his habits. He likely stayed up until the wee hours of the morning working or playing games and won’t be up for hours.”
“I can’t believe his wife doesn’t mind.”
Julia shrugged as she settled into the chair next to Kyle’s. “They’re an odd couple, so I really don’t know.”
“What do you mean?” Kyle asked.
“I’m surprised they’re still married, to be honest.”
“Why?” Grant asked. “Or is it his sleeping until midday and up all hours of the night.”
“No, but…” Julia winced as she shrugged again. “I probably shouldn’t say anything, but…they only got married so Alex could inherit enough money from his father to open StoneCorp.”
“They’re a fake marriage, too?” Kyle asked. “What is it with the rash of fake marriages?”
“It’s not a rash of them. They got fake married almost two decades ago, just out of college.”
The comment surprised Grant as he settled back in his chair. A fake marriage that had lasted two decades gave him some hope for his own situation.
“They’ve been fake married for almost two decades?” Kyle asked.
“Yeah. I mean, I guess. I don’t know. They weren’t romantically involved when they got married. They were just friends. I didn’t even think they lived in the same state for a while there. I was shocked when I called her and they were together.”
“Thank goodness they were, otherwise we may not have his help,” Grant said.
“Yes, which is even more important now,” Julia answered with a sigh.
The way she said it sent a chill snaking down his spine. “Did something happen?”
“Lydia happened. Last night. She said she’s going to want something big from me soon. And it’ll be a pivotal moment that’ll shift everything her way.”
“These threats are becoming tedious.”
“She alluded to being up to something big to me, too. I don’t think these are idle threats. She’s about to do something,” Kyle said.
“I think so, too. I really hope Alex can come through for us before this. Taking her leverage away puts us in a much better position.”
Kyle nodded at her statement before he stood. “Well, I have to get to the hospital. But we’ll talk later.”
Both Grant and Julia answered, “Okay,” before Julia shot Grant a questioning glance.
After the front door slammed shut moments later, she raised her eyebrows at him. “Are you two actually on speaking terms?”
“We’ve been getting along,” he admitted.
“Wow,” Julia said with a smile. “That’s good. There’s hope for that relationship yet.”
He didn’t think there would be much hope if it came to a battle between them for Julia’s heart, but he didn’t want to see that smile fade by telling her they had only come together for a common cause.
Before he could speak again, her eyes fell on the paper Kyle had discarded earlier. The smile on her face slipped a little as her eyebrows pinched together.
His stomach clenched as he realized she must be reading it. He reached for it, but she snatched it first, her features turning more pensive. “Buy his company and bankrupt him. Sink all of his tour boats. What is this?”
She flicked her questioning eyes up to him.
“Nothing,” he said with a shake of his head.
