Page 13 of Battle with a Billionaire

“You’re wrong,” Sierra interrupted.

“Okay,” Julia answered simply. She’d learned in the year she’d been here, it didn’t pay to argue with Sierra. It was simply best to let the woman explain her position before attempting any discussion.

“As such,” Sierra continued, “I would like to discuss his employment at Harrington Global with you. Daddy was supposed to hire him. But he never got around to it because there was that whole kidnapping thing, then Crazy Kyle, then the explosion.” Sierra rolled her hand in the air. “You get the point. And now that you’re the new CEO of HG, I’d like you to hire him.”

Julia knitted her eyebrows. She’d not liked him from the start and suspected he was a corporate spy. She certainly didn’t want to hire him onto her staff on her first official day. Just as she was about to refuse with an annoyed sigh, she pivoted. “Alright. Send him by tomorrow morning.”

Sierra raised her eyebrows, tilting her head before she narrowed her eyes, searching Julia’s features for some sign of dishonesty. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. Ask him to drop by tomorrow morning, and we’ll see–”

“No, that’s code for I’ll meet with him, then politely decline to hire him.”

“No, it isn’t. I just want to discuss what he expects and try to determine the best fit for him in the company. But I do have one question.”

Sierra arched an eyebrow, prodding her to continue.

“What’s your stake in this? You’ve been after this for months. Why?”

Sierra flicked her gaze down to the floor, her false eyelashes fanning across her cheeks. Julia detected a hidden urgency behind her request. “I just think he’s a good find and it would be awful if some other company scooped him up.”

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Sierra was entangled in something with Metcalfe. The question remaining was were they partners or adversaries? “Why hasn’t some other company scooped him up?”

She snapped her icy blue eyes up to Julia’s face. “Because I’m that good at negotiating. Don’t make me look foolish, Julia. Hire him.”

“Okay, consider it done,” Julia said with a shrug.

Sierra breathed what appeared to be a sigh of relief. “Thank you. That’s all.”

Julia screwed up her face. “Sierra, you’re in my office.”

“Oh, right, sorry. Have a good day.” Sierra spun on her heel and stormed from the room as Julia sank into her desk chair, ready to dispatch the emails she’d received while she’d been away from the computer.

As she clacked away at the keys, her cell phone chimed. She glanced at the glowing screen, finding a text message awaiting her. Her shoulders slumped at the sender: Kyle. Two simple words below it made her shake her head. I’m sorry.

Julia leaned back in her chair, flicking her gaze to the storm now raging outside. It matched the one inside her, a mix of empathy, frustration, guilt, and a twinge of fear.

Any answer to the text would open a line of communication that she preferred to keep closed at the moment. But a non-answer may send him spiraling out of control.

She drummed her fingers on the side of her phone when another email popped into her inbox. Setting the phone aside, she leaned closer to click on the email from Sierra.

Here are Christopher Metcalfe’s credentials. Find a good spot for him, Step-mommy! I’m counting on you!

Julia sighed at the message. Why was she so insistent on this man being hired? Julia didn’t trust him at all. But as the old saying went, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

She typed a response and sent it off, assuring Sierra she was on top of it. As she leaned back in her chair, her mind spun through which position she’d give Metcalfe and what first task she’d hand him. Whatever it was, she wanted it to provide conclusive proof that he was a corporate spy.

And if she played her cards right, maybe he’d even lead her to whoever was behind these attacks on Grant. With any luck, he’d lead her straight to whoever was in charge at DG Industries.

Her mind returned to her other problem, her gaze sliding to the darkened screen of her cell phone. She needed to deal with his message or decide not to deal with it.

She drummed her fingers on the desk, trying to formulate a response that wouldn’t open the door for any further conversation. Her thumbs hovered over the virtual keyboard as she tried to find the words to quell the storm not fuel the fire. Thanks, Kyle. But I think right now we could all use a little time apart for clarity. Take care.

A bubble appeared almost immediately on her screen. The tension increased across her shoulders as she realized he’d been waiting for her to respond. I don’t need clarity. But I’m sorry if I came on too strong. I promise not to do it again.

She sighed as she typed a response back. I’m glad to hear that, but it would be best if we both had some space. I’m signing off for the evening. Have a great night.

The message bubble appeared again with one final text. No, Julia, please don’t ignore me. I’m sorry, but I can’t change the way I feel.

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