Page 23 of Battle with a Billionaire

Grant wrapped an arm around Julia as they followed Lydia to the dining room.

“Look, Sierra, I found them. Thank goodness.” She plopped into a chair as Julia and Grant took their seats. “Where’s the weird one…Cody?”

“Kyle,” Julia corrected. “Not here.”

“Kyle went back to his own place now that I’m out of the woods.”

“Oh, too bad. He was nice eye candy for my evening meals.”

“Ew,” Sierra said with a wrinkled nose. “That’s disgusting.”

Lydia rolled her eyes as she lifted her wine glass. “What? He certainly takes after your father in the looks department.”

Sierra let her fork clatter to her plate. “Please forever stop talking about finding men attractive. I’m getting sick.”

“Let’s change the subject, shall we?” Julia asked with a polite smile.

“Oh, of course, let’s do that. Whatever you say, Julia,” Lydia answered with a fake smile.

Julia flicked her gaze to Sierra across from her. “I met with Christopher Metcalfe this morning.”

Sierra snapped her gaze up to Julia, something flickering across her eyes that resembled fear. “And?”

“I hired him just like you asked. He’s our new VP of Corporate Development.”

Sierra sucked in a breath, her gaze sliding sideways before her features took on a more relieved expression. “I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.”

“You hired him?” Grant asked. “As a Vice President?”

“I did. Maybe Sierra was right, and I misjudged him.”

“Oh, look at the little wallflower making moves. You’ll go back to a company you don’t recognize if you lose this race, Grant.” Lydia shot him a haughty glance as she stabbed a green bean.

Julia narrowed her eyes at the woman. Her constant barbs stung more than Julia cared to admit. Each sly remark reminded her of her precarious position within the household and Lydia’s own connection to Grant. She felt torn apart by an inner tug-of-war to defend herself and maintain peace for Grant and Sierra’s sake.

“I wasn’t questioning her judgment, Lydia. I’m certain Julia is making the best decisions for Harrington Global.”

Julia smiled at him, pleased at the reassurance. She wasn’t planning on telling him her plan. He’d never agree to it. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. And if she was wrong, then the only risk was an employee not worth his weight in salt.

Still, something gnawed at her about Sierra’s involvement. She’d have to dig deeper into that. She plastered on a bright smile. “No more business talk at the table.”

“I really don’t like you,” Lydia said with a groan.

“Nobody cares,” Sierra answered.

“Oh, I have something we could discuss!” Lydia said with a slap of the white tablecloth. “Did you happen to see those pictures of Grant on the news? Oldies but goodies, right, love?”

Grant glared at her over the rim of his glass. “I’m a completely different man than I was then.”

“Oh? Hmm, what’s that saying about tigers and stripes? A tiger always has stripes?”

Silence stretched between them as Lydia feigned confusion. “Oh, darn, someone help me out here. It’s escaping me.”

“A tiger never changes its stripes,” Julia said, annoyance lacing her voice.

“That’s the one. You are bright, Julia.”

“Bright enough to know that people do change. Most of them for the better, though some for the worse.”

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