Page 124 of Battle with a Billionaire

“I’m glad to be back, especially with my memories.”

Kyle wandered in a few minutes after them, his bag in hand. “And now that you are, you need to rest.”

She heaved a sigh. “All I do is rest.”

“I agree. You need it,” Grant said. “After everything you’ve been through, we’re not taking any chances.”

“You two pick the worst times to agree.”

Grant slid his eyes sideways to Kyle. “Wonders never cease, I guess. Now, upstairs, Julia.”

“I agree. I’m just going to put my bag in my room and come to check on you.”

Julia mounted the stairs with a sigh and a slight roll of her eyes.

“Don’t make me come up there, Julia.”

“I won’t do anything,” she promised, already planning to check a few things out in search of the force behind DG Industries.

“Keep an eye on her,” he murmured to Kyle. “She’ll be onto something within minutes of walking into that room.”

“Not on my watch,” Kyle promised him as he followed behind her.

With a sigh, she snaked through the halls to her room and leaned against the door as she scanned it. This time it seemed so much more comforting. She crossed to the jewelry box and tugged open a few drawers in search of her pendant.

Her eyes fell on the sapphire necklace, a flood of memories from one year prior. She recalled the night of the gala, the gift from Grant, and the arrest later. Their marriage certainly had started off with a bang.

A bittersweet pang twisted her heart, and she shoved the drawer closed. In another drawer, she found the compass. Her eyes slid closed as she wrapped her fingers around it. Another rush of memories raced across her mind, warm, sweet, less complicated.

She bit into her lower lip before she slipped the necklace around her neck, feeling its weight and appreciating the comfort it brought her.

She dug her phone from her pocket and scrolled through the contacts to Alicia, pressing the call button next to her name. After two rings, her sister’s voice filled her ears. “Hey, Juju.”

The image of the woman filled her mind, and she grinned, biting back tears. “Hi, sis.”

“You feeling better?”

“I am,” she said. “Much, much better.”

“Well, that’s good. So, are you smashing away at that manuscript?”

“Not just yet. I just…wanted to hear your voice.”

“My voice?” Alicia chuckled as she spoke. “Ohhh, wait a second, this is the best time for me to ask you to come home. If you missed my voice, you’ve got to miss the entire package.”

Julia laughed as she settled into her chair. “I do miss you. I just…”

“Can’t come home. I know, I know. And I’m sure my rough past few calls haven’t made you want to come running back.”

“Ally, it has nothing to do with that. I’d want nothing more than to be there to help you through this with Ethan, but…”

“But now that I’m having trouble with Ethan, you’re even more convinced coming home is the wrong move. I get it. Luke is…Listen, the next time he’s out of town, I’ll call you, and you can come visit me then.”

Julia’s smile faded as her hand went to her necklace. “We’ll see. If I don’t get working on this manuscript, I won’t be going anywhere.”

“Well, go get working on it so you can come home.”

“Yeah, yeah. I will.”

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