Page 36 of Battle with a Billionaire

“Oh, Kyle,” Grant said, the man’s name sticking in his throat. “What about him?”

“Could be him. He could be working with the enemy to destroy your campaign.”

Grant leaned back in his chair, flicking his gaze over the darkening front lawn of Harrington House. The long shadows stretched ominously toward the house, ready to envelop it in darkness. He recalled Kyle’s veiled threats, his unsettling fixation on Julia, and his erratic behavior. It all seemed to point to the very real possibility that he couldn’t ignore. “That could be. I can try to see if Julia knows anything.”

“Why would Julia know anything?”

“Because he has the hots for her, and he tells her things.”

Kathryn let out a cackle on the other end of the line. “Grant, do you seriously think he told her he’s going to destroy your campaign, and she didn’t say anything to you?”

“No, but…” He slid his eyes closed. Was he really entertaining the idea of asking Julia to seek information from Kyle? “Never mind.”

“What? You had an idea. I want to hear it.”

“If Julia pried a little bit, he may let something slip. But I’d really prefer she not do that.”

“Seriously? Let the woman pry. It could mean the campaign.”

“Kathryn, I really don’t want her dealing with him. He’s a little unstable if you ask me.”

“All the more reason we need to know what we’re dealing with. Look, take it from a fellow member of the gal squad, it won’t take much. A few batted eyelashes, a sweet smile, and he’ll be telling her all his dirty little plans. Call me when you know something.”

“Kathryn–” he started when the line clicked. He stared down at the ended call with a mix of frustration and annoyance.

Irritation caused him to toss his phone across the desk. He hated that his mind had even considered exposing Julia to more of Kyle’s antics. His fingers curled into fists as he considered her playing up to him for information. The thought of her charming him turned his stomach. The morally grey strategy and notion of using her in this chess game against his own son left a bitter taste in his mouth. Even if it was fake, he couldn’t stomach it.

He grabbed his phone, ready to call Kathryn back and tell her no when he slid from her name down a few contacts and jabbed the call button. The line trilled as he pressed the phone to his ear.

A moment later, Kyle’s recorded voice filled his ear.

He clicked off the call with a curse. Was Kyle unavailable or ignoring him? His blood boiled as he wondered if he was with Julia. Had he tracked her down at Harrington Global again?

He scrolled to Julia’s name, intent on calling her to find out. His thumb hovered over the green call icon. He finally pressed it and waited as the line rang.

His eyes slid closed as he got her voicemail, too. Worry rose in him. Were they together? Had something happened?

He glanced at his watch. Maybe she was just on her way home from the office. He’d try Kyle again. A knot tightened in his stomach as he initiated the call. The evening shadows in the room seemed to press in on him, mirroring his own growing sense of foreboding.

This time he received a response. “Hello.”

Kyle sounded annoyed, though he wasn’t surprised. Kyle was always annoyed when he was involved. “Hey, Kyle. Staying out of trouble?”

“Doing a better job of it than you are,” he answered.

What was that supposed to mean? Was Kyle the driving force behind the scandal Kathryn thought was brewing? “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh, don’t you? Well, you will soon enough.”

“So, it is you.”

“Oh, no, you’re not blaming this on me. I might dislike you–even more so now–but you did this all on your own. I had nothing to do with it.”

Grant’s fingers tightened around his phone, his knuckles whitening as Kyle’s sharp accusation cut through the line. “Did what?”

“I knew it was only a matter of time before you’d hang yourself.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if you did anything–”

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