Page 105 of Battle with a Billionaire

“Alright,” he said with a sigh. “If you insist. I’ll drive you.”

“No, I drove here. I’ll drive back.”

“I’m going with you,” he answered. “Let me change.”

She was about to argue when she decided she would prefer his company. She sank onto the couch and waited until he emerged from the bedroom, still buttoning his shirt. “Okay, ready.”

“You didn’t have to rush.”

“I did. The old Julia would have just slipped out without any warning.”

She rose from her seat with a soft smile. “That doesn’t sound like me.”

“Believe me. It’s you.”

She grabbed her key from the coffee table, and they left the apartment behind. The morning sun painted the sky a vibrant red as they stepped onto the sidewalk, and Julia led him to the side street she’d parked on.

“You’re kidding,” he said as she aimed the key fob at the new car. “He bought you another Porsche?”

“Was that what I had before?”

“Yep,” he said as they slipped inside. “Blue.”

“I can’t believe I wrecked his Porsche,” she said as she pulled out of her spot. Within the hour, they arrived at Harrington House. The large mansion loomed in front of her as she stepped from the car.

She swallowed hard while they pushed through the front door.

Grant stepped from within his office, a sigh. Relief was etched in his eyes, yet a shadow of frustration creased his forehead. His posture, tense and expectant, spoke volumes of his inner turmoil. “Julia, thank goodness. Where have you been all night? Your bed wasn’t slept in. We were so worried.”

“I–”

“She spent the night at my place,” Kyle said.

Julia’s shoulders drooped as she squeezed her eyes closed. Kyle had just told him what happened in the worst way possible, and the atmosphere between them, already charged, turned even more tense.

She hadn’t done what she’d done to cause trouble, but it seemed that had been the result regardless of her intentions. The single memory of Grant floated through her mind. Would this misunderstanding lead to another epic argument?

CHAPTER 23

GRANT

Grant took the last sip of his bourbon, finding it a meager balm for his current situation. With Julia’s memories returning, he dared to hope he’d soon at least have his contractual partner by his side. But so far, the only memory of him was negative.

The clock over the mantel chimed, announcing the hour. He rose from his chair and headed for the dining room, hoping to find Julia in better shape than when he’d seen her last.

When he walked in, he found only Lydia. His mood soured immediately as he stared at Julia’s empty chair.

“Looks like it’s just us two, Grant. Just like the old days.”

Grant heaved a sigh as he sank into his chair at the head of the table. He couldn’t even depend on Sierra to be here. “At least this time we’re divorced already. That’s one thing to make it better.”

He whipped his napkin onto his lap as Worthington slipped into the room with a bottle of wine.

“Worthington, no Julia?”

“I knocked lightly, but she did not answer. I assume she is resting. Would you like me to wake her?”

“No, no,” Grant said with a shake of his head, hating to be stuck with Lydia, but wanting Julia to rest. “Let her rest. She needs it.”

---