Page 3 of Blackmail of a Billionaire

She seemed fine with the idea, but social situations seemed to make her uncomfortable. Surprising, given how genuine she was and how at ease she made most people.

He strode through his secretary’s office, not missing the empty chair neatly tucked in where Evie normally sat.

From the temporary desk in the corner, the leggy blonde temp here to help Evie bounced from her seat with a wide grin that lingered a little too long.

“Good morning, Mr. Harrington. I have a stack of messages for you, and I’ve already pulled several of the files you may need.”

“Thank you, Bianca,” he said as he entered his office and dumped his briefcase on the desk. The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting long lines across his meticulously organized desk, the stark modernity of his office reflecting the precision he demanded in business. He blindly reached for the messages as he stared at an early morning text from his daughter, Sierra.

He glanced up at the woman when nothing hit his fingertips. She held them close to her chest, a coy smile on her features.

“The messages, Bianca.”

“Of course, sir. I just wanted to be sure you were ready to start your day.”

He creased his forehead as he grabbed the papers. “I’m here. I’m ready.”

She lifted a shoulder in response and batted her eyelashes. “A man who is ready to go right away. Wonderful.”

He held back rolling his eyes as she trotted to the door. He missed Evie. Bianca hung on the doorknob, flicking a blonde lock over her shoulder. “Buzz me if you need anything.”

Something about the way she said the word “buzz” bothered him as he sank into his chair. Before he could read the first message, his phone rang.

“Sierra, what is it? I’m trying to get through my messages.”

“Why didn’t you answer my message?”

Grant pinched his nose as he held back a sigh. “About bringing the new boyfriend to the dinner tonight?”

“Not boyfriend, business partner. Potentially, anyway. I think it’s a perfect time for us all to meet.”

“I think there’s already a lot going on. Look, schedule a lunch for this.”

“Daddy!” Sierra’s voice took a shrill turn. He imagined her stamping a designer heel on the floor and pouting.

“If it’s okay with Julia, it’s okay with me.” He pulled the first message toward him and scanned it.

“Dad!” Sierra shouted again. “Why do I have to ask her? It’s not up to her. It’s your house.”

Grant recognized the challenge in her voice, but he wasn’t planning on backing down–or explaining. His insistence on including her in the decision was less procedural and more a testament to his respect for their partnership. “Ask Julia.”

The muffled scream gave him a chuckle as he ended the call. He flicked his gaze into space for a moment as he wondered how difficult Sierra would make this on Julia. He’d find out at lunch.

Knowing Julia, they’d have another guest at their dinner party. She’d never tell Sierra no. She might spoil his daughter more than he did.

He picked up the phone to return his first call, setting the day into motion. The whirlwind of the multinational corporation sped the morning hours by in a blur of spreadsheets, contracts, and hard-nosed negotiating.

As the noon hour slipped by, he buzzed Bianca, ready to clear his desk before lunch and have her pull a new set of files for his afternoon.

She bounded into the office seconds later sans suit jacket that had covered her this morning. The too-low top pushed the boundaries of the corporate dress code.

He slid a stack of files off his desk and held them toward her.

“All finished with these?” she asked.

“Yes. And please pull the Dover, Monticeto, and Lockview files for the afternoon.”

“Of course. Is there anything else I can do for you?” she asked as she fanned herself with the folders.

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