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“Thanks, Juju.”
They said their goodbyes and ended the call. Julia slouched in her chair, allowing the emotional conversation a moment to settle before she refocused on the images filling her screen. She had an idea, but she needed to run it past Grant. Action would allow her to stop herself from overthinking her own relationship.
She dumped her phone on the desk and rose from her chair, navigating through the elaborate halls to Grant’s private office downstairs.
She found Worthington hovering at the door, overseeing a tense exchange between Grant and Lydia.
After Worthington discreetly announced her, she asked if she was interrupting anything.
She received differing answers from Grant and Lydia, then an invitation to come in. After a quick question, the source of the confrontation was revealed to be Lydia’s lack of invitation to the gala.
After a little massaging of the situation, Grant agreed to secure her an invitation for two, and she stormed off shouting for a martini.
The doors closed behind Worthington as he confirmed he’d bring it to her. Grant took Julia’s hand, sighing as his eyes slid closed. She knew the reason even before he said it. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
She twisted to lean against the desk, intertwining her fingers with his. “I know. She’s not making it easy.”
She waited, fixing her eyes on him, waiting to see if he wanted to vent any further about Lydia. When he remained silent, she forced herself to speak again. “That’s why I think we need to talk.”
His hand tensed around hers. “I really don’t like when you say things like that.”
The comment brought a fleeting smile to her face. “It’s not bad, it’s just…”
“Is it Kyle? Has he done something again?” Grant slid his hand from hers as he shook his head and leaned forward. “I knew bringing him into this was a bad move.”
“It’s not Kyle. Though we do need to discuss him.”
“Because he’s done something.”
“No, but…he’s really pushing to take this spying to another level which I think is a terrible idea. I think it puts him in a really bad position.”
Grant grumbled a sigh as he rose and crossed to the drink cart to pour himself another bourbon. “Kyle puts himself in bad positions constantly. It’s his talent.”
Julia shot him an amused glance as he spun to face her. “Maybe so, but I’m not willing to risk his life.”
Grant sipped his bourbon. “You think it’d go that far?”
She lowered her voice, leaning toward him. “If Lydia finds out he’s double-crossing her? Yes.”
“Is he?” Grant asked as he settled back into his chair.
“You still think he’s holding back on us?”
He stared into his drink before he flicked his gaze to her. His jaw tightened, a telltale sign of his deep-seated mistrust, honed by years of boardroom battles. “I don’t know, but I don’t trust him, Julia. And you shouldn’t either.”
“I have a healthy wariness of him, don’t worry. But I don’t think he’s double-crossing us. Though…that doesn’t matter.” She sighed as her concern flooded through her again.
His features squashed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean even if Kyle hands us Lydia on a silver platter–”
“Doubtful.”
She tilted her head as he held up a hand. “Sorry, continue.”
“Even if he delivers us Lydia, that still doesn’t mean Sierra is protected. I mean…Lydia could release those photos as revenge for us stopping her from stealing Harrington Global or ruining you.”
Grant let the glass clatter onto his desk as a groan escaped him. “You’re right.” A curse escaped under his breath. “So this has all been for naught.”
