Page 2 of Battle with a Billionaire

Sierra offered him an unimpressed stare before she flicked her gaze to Worthington. “Maybe you can talk some sense into him. I’ve got things to do.”

He noted the frustration in her voice, but also another emotion, one uncharacteristic to her: fear. She’d grown close to Julia. And her words, though sharp, carried an undercurrent of desperation. After being left by her mother at five years old, she was extremely sensitive to losing people. Julia’s departure would kill her.

She stomped her way to the door and whirled to face him before she stepped into the foyer. “Don’t screw it up, Daddy.”

As Sierra stormed out, Grant let his hand fall to the mahogany desk with another sigh, a sense of foreboding settling. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but at least he had a path instead of a brick wall. “Well, let’s hear your list of complaints.”

“I have no such list, sir,” Worthington said.

“Really? You’re giving me the disappointed look.”

“Naturally, we would all feel much more settled if Mrs. Harrington planned to stay forever, though if that could not be arranged, then this is the best substitute.”

“Thank you, Worthington,” Grant said with a bob of his head. “That’s exactly what I thought.”

“Although—"

“Here it comes.” Grant flung his hand in the air, awaiting the man’s analysis of the situation.

“Ms. Sierra has a point about not leaving it.”

“I’m not going to leave it,” Grant promised. “This time was far too close of a call. I just want things to settle down a little.”

“Perhaps, though, sir, settled moments are not the ripest ones for the picking.”

Grant flicked his eyes to the man. “Are you suggesting I wait until we’re mid-crisis and then lay it on her?”

“Absolutely not, sir. However, I would recommend not becoming too complacent. Things have a way of sneaking up on you when you least expect them.”

Grant couldn’t argue with that. Julia had snuck up on him when he least expected it. He just needed a little time and a little glimmer of hope from her before he broached the subject. “Yes, I know. I just need a little time. Maybe after the Senate campaign. When things aren’t quite so…topsy-turvy.”

Worthington raised his eyebrows, clasping his hands behind his back.

“Don’t give me that look, Worthington. Julia is under a tremendous amount of pressure right now, thanks to me. I don’t want to add to that strain.”

“I see. And you feel it would…change her answer in some way?”

“Yes, I do.”

“You believe the relationship is that precarious?”

Grant clicked his tongue at the question. “No…yes… I don’t know. That’s the problem, I don’t know. Julia is…different.”

“Which is the real issue with this situation.”

“Probably,” Grant admitted. They made an excellent team, however, she wasn’t like any of his past wives. Wife number three would have more than eagerly accepted his offer after one diamond tennis bracelet.

He glanced at his top drawer, recalling the moment Julia had rejected the sapphire bracelet he’d bought her after a misunderstanding. She’s adamantly expressed she didn’t need an apology gift. Although, she’d also adamantly told him she didn’t need an apology because they didn’t have a real relationship.

That still stung. And he worried the lines of the contract hadn’t blurred for her as they had for him.

“I am certain you will find the appropriate moment, sir. Just know we all hope this works out as much as you do.”

Grant offered him an appreciative smile. “Thank you, Worthington. I’m glad you agree about Julia being one-of-a-kind.”

“Most definitely,” the butler answered.

“She couldn’t be more different from Lydia.”

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