Page 9 of Blackmail of a Billionaire

“Honestly, Daddy, this isn’t the first time an issue like this has cropped up. Do the same thing you did before. Some flowers, a nice new bracelet. If that doesn’t work, a gentle reminder that she’s contractually obligated to stay married to you for nine more months should do the trick.”

“No, Sierra, I–”

“I don’t have time for this now. Figure it out. This is your fifth marriage, you should know what you’re doing by now.”

The line clicked, and he pulled the phone away from his ear. Her last words echoed in his mind. It was his fifth marriage, but he felt less prepared for this one than any of the others. She didn’t understand. And neither did he, quite honestly.

These issues, even when they’d been marriage-ending in the past, hadn’t seemed as distressing as this one.

He sucked in a breath as he stared at his phone, willing it to ring. He only needed a minute to explain this misunderstanding. Though maybe it was more than just that. Trust wasn’t something his previous relationships excelled in, but it was all he had with Julia. And he’d ruined it.

His hand tightened into a fist. Maybe Sierra was right. A goodwill gesture once they were speaking couldn’t hurt.

He rose from his chair and tugged on his suit jacket before he left the office behind. The humid air of New Orleans clung to him as he rushed through the streets to make a few purchases, the vibrant sounds of the city blending with the turmoil in his heart.

As he turned the corner to return to Harrington Global, James stood next to the waiting car.

Grant closed the distance to him. “Please tell me you’ve already taken Julia home.”

The pinch of James’s eyebrows told him the answer was no. James shook his head. “No, I dropped her off here for lunch. Is everything okay?”

Grant sighed, rubbing at his forehead. “No, everything is not okay.”

“Anything I can do?”

Grant considered it before an idea sprang to mind. “Yes. Call Julia.”

James reached for his phone, tugging it from his pocket while he offered Grant a questioning gaze.

“There was an incident, a misunderstanding. She ran out. She’s not answering my calls. See if you can find out where she is.”

James pressed his phone to his ear, as he waited for the call to pick up. Grant knitted his eyebrows, a mixture of emotions coursing. Worry made him want her to pick up, but pride didn’t. It meant she was ignoring him.

A second later, Julia’s voice answered.

“Mrs. Harrington, did we get our wires crossed on the time?”

Grant leaned closer, trying to overhear the conversation, but he couldn’t make out the words.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Well, I can come pick you up, just tell me where you are…Riverside Park. Got it. Give me a few minutes, okay?”

Grant breathed a sigh of relief. At least they knew where she was.

James ended the call before he opened the door for Grant. “I assume you’re going with me?”

“You know it.” Grant climbed into the backseat as James slid behind the wheel. “What did she say about what happened?”

“She said you had to change plans. She went to the park and lost track of time.”

Grant drummed his fingers against the door as the buildings slid by his window. He tried to go over what he’d say when he found her. He’d explain the misunderstanding, offer her the gift, and do his best to smooth it all over.

The pillars framing the park’s entrance finally came into view. Julia sat on a bench in front of one, the afternoon sun shining down on her as she waited.

James eased the car to a stop.

Julia stood, her lips curling into a smile as James popped out of the driver’s seat. The smile quickly faded when she spotted Grant.

“Thank you, James,” he said as he approached her. “Julia, you’re really a hard woman to get a hold of.”

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