Page 70 of Blackmail of a Billionaire

She checked her phone before she left the room for breakfast and sent a text message to her brother-in-law, telling him to have a safe trip. She didn’t receive a response before she headed downstairs, finding Grant and Sierra already at the table.

“Good morning,” she said as she slid into her seat next to him.

“Good morning, Juls, did you sleep well?” he asked.

“Well enough,” she answered with a sigh.

Sierra grinned at her as she cut into a pancake. “I hope well enough to max out some credit cards today. You are in desperate need of a new handbag. The one you have now is hideous.”

“Sierra!” Grant chided.

“What? It is!” Sierra answered.

Julia plastered on a smile. “Well, I trust my new one will be much better with your help.”

“I’ll say,” the woman answered. “So, I have some…thing to do first. How’s this afternoon?”

“Fine with me,” Julia answered, stirring her still-steaming oatmeal.

“That’s good, because if you don’t mind, Juls, Mitchell asked to speak with you about this whole Dr. Carter debacle this morning.”

“Sure,” Julia answered with a supportive smile. Her mind whirled as she wondered what might come up. She hadn’t come to any conclusions despite her long hours lost in thought. But she hoped the matter came to a swift conclusion. The last thing Grant needed was more bad publicity as he worked to win back his company.

They finished their meal, and Grant led her to his private office as Sierra slipped out the front door. “See you later, Step-mommy!”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this excited to shop.”

Julia pondered that. She hadn’t seen Sierra in the same outfit twice. She must do nothing but shop.

“I’m glad you two are getting along,” he added as Mitchell rose from his chair near the desk.

“Grant, Julia, good morning.”

“Tell me this entire ridiculous thing is over,” Grant said as he strode to the desk.

“Sorry, it’s not. Dr. Carter seems persistent. He’s not willing to let this go.”

Grant cursed under his breath as Julia slipped into the seat next to Mitchell. “This is the last thing I need with the board, Mitchell. Make it go away.”

“I’m trying, but you’ve got an upstanding doctor claiming some pretty awful things.”

“All of which Julia has refuted,” Grant shot back. “How are they still pursuing this?”

“You did get into a very public brawl.”

“He punched me first!” Grant shouted.

Mitchell held up a hand as he nodded. “I understand that. But you also punched him. We can say it was self-defense, but that may not fly given that he didn’t continue to attack you after the first punch.”

“So, what, someone decks me, and I can’t do anything about it?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m just pointing out the fact that this is not as cut and dried as we’d hoped, and that the illustrious Dr. Carter is not going to drop the charges.” Mitchell shifted his gaze to Julia. “I understand you spoke with him twice following the incident yesterday. Did he say anything that may indicate his reasoning for insisting those charges are upheld?”

Julia searched the conversations for the umpteenth time. “He seems to be acting like he’s doing this for my welfare. I can’t understand it. I’ve told him repeatedly there is nothing abusive about this relationship.”

“You told him this yesterday at the police station?”

“Yes. And after I left. He…just kept insisting that he knew more about this than I did.”

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