Page 29 of Blackmail of a Billionaire

Her voice sounded chipper, excited. It soured his stomach even more than what he heard last night. He hurried down the stairs. “Julia? You’re leaving?”

She glanced up at him before she avoided his gaze. Were her cheeks flushing? “Uh, yes. I have an appointment this morning.”

Appointment? Was that what they were calling it these days?

“Is James driving you?” Grant kept his voice casual, but his eyes searched hers intently.

She smiled, not her normal smile. “No. I was going to drive. Now that you bought me that new car, I figured I’d use it.”

Grant studied her, trying to glean any details from her. “Right. I’m glad you like it.”

There was that fake smile again that betrayed her nerves. “Bye!” she called in a voice one octave too high.

She darted out the door. It slammed behind her with a resounding boom that made his heart clench.

Before Worthington could say anything, Grant stormed to his office, his hand clenched into a fist. His thoughts circled to the unknown man Julia was about to meet. A phantom rival. He couldn’t shake the need to understand what he offered Julia. Was it emotional connection, shared interests, or simple compatibility?

The questions gnawed at him, fueling a desire to unravel this mystery. It was this need that drove him to snatch the phone from the base and call his security team head, Max. He needed to know where he stood, and where he fell short.

“Mr. Harrington,” Worthington said as he followed him, “would you prefer your breakfast here?”

“I’m not hungry,” he answered as the line trilled.

Worthington stood quietly, awaiting orders as Max picked up on the opposite end. “It’s me,” Grant snapped. “Julia went out. Find out where, what she’s doing, who she’s meeting. Report back as soon as you know.”

Grant’s hand hovered in the air, still holding the receiver, his thoughts a whirlwind of conflict. He needed to understand what he was up against. A compelling urge to size up the unseen competition had driven him to make that call despite the sense of intrusion. With a heavy sigh, he replaced the receiver more gently than he intended as his mind raced.

“Is that wise, sir?” Worthington asked.

Grant stared into space as he shrugged. “Julia received a threatening note, and we still haven’t tracked down the source. She’s out alone. We shouldn’t take chances.”

“Yet, you did not ask Mr. Maxwell to ensure her safety, you asked him to report on her activities.”

“She is my wife, Worthington.”

Worthington arched an eyebrow but said nothing.

“Don’t give me that look. I think I’ll work from home today. Would you bring me a cup of coffee?”

“Of course, sir.” Worthington disappeared from the room as Grant sank into his chair.

He stared at the phone for a moment, willing it to ring with information, but it remained stoically silent. He pushed himself to focus on work, swiveling to face his monitor.

Everything seemed to be against him today. As he waited for the display to glow to life, he caught sight of the wedding photo. The display mocked him.

Her loving smile, her sparkling eyes. What was behind them? Had she been thinking of the other man when they’d taken that picture?

The thought turned his stomach.

Worthington returned with his coffee, setting it on the desk. “Are you certain you would not like breakfast?”

Worthington’s question lingered in the air, along with a dozen unsaid implications hanging between them.

“Yes,” Grant said as the door opened and slammed shut. He glanced through the open door, hoping to find Julia returning, her cheeks flushed and her lips parted as she rushed into his office and told him she couldn’t meet another man while married to him.

Instead, the signature stamping of high heels announced Sierra’s arrival.

He arched an eyebrow at her as she stomped her way inside. “You’re up early.”

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