Page 66 of Blackmail of a Billionaire

He studied her eyes, searching for some hint of her inner thoughts. Was she pleased? Merely agreeing for the sake of the contract? “Then that makes things much easier.”

“I agree. And, of course, it supports the image. No chance of any scandals.”

His heart sagged. Always back to the contract. He sometimes wished he’d never signed it, though he knew it was the only thing tying them together. He searched for the words to push back against the idea that this was image-driven only, but couldn’t find them. He’d take the win for now, until he could be sure of her and himself.

He nodded in response, the words he wanted stuck in his throat. He wanted to tell her it wasn’t about scandals or images, but that his request stemmed from something more personal. But exposing his vulnerability, particularly when rejection was a very possible outcome, kept him silent.

He stalked back to the desk. “Now, to put this ugly business with Dr. Kyle Carter behind us.”

Julia wrapped her arms around her midriff, biting into her lower lip. “There’s something off about this entire scenario again.”

“What do you mean?” he asked as he pressed the ice to his jaw again.

She raised her eyes to his again, the gears of her mind turning. “It’s just like the murder charge. This happened so suddenly. One meeting in the emergency room is hardly a case for this type of behavior. And yet he’s still insistent.”

“Still?” Grant’s mind tried to piece together the puzzle. What was Kyle’s angle? Was it an infatuation with his wife or something more sinister?

“Yes. When I saw him at the police station, he–”

“He talked to you at the police station?” Grant’s voice raised, heat entering it as he dropped the ice on the desk.

“Yes, twice.” She shook her head, as tension built in her shoulders. “He continued to insist that he was right. It’s odd.” She tugged her lips to the side as she stared ahead, lost in thought before she settled her gaze on him. “Do you have a history with him?”

“I’ve never met him before yesterday. However, I had the same impression. It seems personal.”

The creases in her forehead deepened as she worked through details. Her dissection of the situation with such clarity surprised him again. His fear, his uncertainty of her had led him to forget how perceptive she truly was. Her sharp mind and loyalty provided him comfort, yet also instilled a sense of fear. He didn’t want to lose this or her.

“Julia, I don’t want you anywhere near this. In fact, I’m going to get someone from the security team to stay with you at all times.” His protection instinct kicked into overdrive as the mere idea of Julia in danger tightened a vice around his heart.

She studied him for a moment. “Did something else happen?”

Grant stared down at the envelope containing the picture of Julia at the gala, the robotic voice echoing in his mind from the threatening phone call.

Silence stretched between them until the ringing phone shattered it, startling Julia. Grant snatched the receiver. “Yes?”

Max Sterling’s voice crackled in his ear. “Mr. Harrington, glad you’re home. I heard about the trouble earlier. I have some news.”

“What is it?”

“We tracked the owner of the vehicle who nearly hit Mrs. Harrington yesterday.”

“And?”

Grant’s eyes fell to Julia who eyed him. “It’s registered to DG Industries.”

The statement stopped his heart. His grip tightened on the phone as he processed the information. Cold realization settled on him. This wasn’t a random accident. It was a targeted move. A move that connected too many dangerous dots. Dots that now threatened not just him, but Julia as well.

They’d nearly killed his assistant, Evie. There was no telling how far they’d go. Or who they’d hurt.

CHAPTER 18

JULIA

Julia listened to the one-sided conversation as Grant pressed the receiver to his ear. His insistence on a security guard with her at all times unsettled her. Did he know something she didn’t?

She waited, her unease growing as Grant’s features twisted from curious to a flicker of fear. The concern on his features remained as he slowly lowered the phone to the cradle. He swallowed hard as he leaned onto the desk.

“Grant? What is it?”

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