Page 58 of Battle with a Billionaire

Lydia pried Sierra from her, holding the woman at arm’s length. “Sierra…honey…I realize you’re upset, but this is a suede jacket and you’re ruining it with all your crying.”

“What?” Sierra squeaked as Grant rose from his seat, annoyance crowding in with the other emotions. “Julia’s dying and you’re worried about your jacket?”

“It was very expensive,” Lydia answered.

“Get out, Lydia,” Grant said, his voice low as he slipped an arm around Sierra and led her back to a chair.

“Fine,” the woman said, a sour tone to her voice. She stormed from the room, leaving them alone again.

Grant slid his eyes sideways to Kyle, several seats away from them. His distance was reflective of the chasm that separated them, created by years of misunderstanding. But despite everything, Grant couldn’t deny the bond, though strained and complicated, that their shared concern for Julia gave them.

His cell phone rang, and he fished it from his pocket as Sierra’s shoulders finally stopped shaking. Kathryn.

He swiped to accept it. “Kathryn, I can’t talk about the campaign right now. Julia’s–“

“I was just calling to see how she was. Any news?”

“Not good.” He barely got the words out. His eyes filled with tears, and he bit them back. “She’s in surgery. But she wasn’t good when we got here.”

Kyle leapt up from his seat at the words, pacing the floor.

“Oh, no, Grant. I’m really sorry. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

“Thanks, Kathryn. But it’s just a waiting game from here.”

“Good luck. I hope you get good news soon.”

They said their goodbyes, and he ended the call. Kyle’s incessant pacing drove him wild after only a few minutes. “Would you sit down?”

“No,” Kyle said. “It helps me think.”

“What’s to think about?” Sierra shot back.

Kyle snapped his gaze to her, then shook his head.

“Please sit down, you’re driving me crazy with that pacing,” Grant said.

“Oh, I’m sorry I’m upsetting you, but I’m going out of my mind here.”

“Like I’m not.”

“Well, everything you touch crumbles, so I figured you were used to it,” Kyle growled.

Grant leapt from his seat, incensed by the biting remark at a time like this.

“Stop it!” Sierra cried.

They glared at each other for another moment until footsteps pulled both of their attention to the door.

A beleaguered doctor strode in, still removing his mask.

“Derek,” Kyle said, his eyes wide, “tell me she’s okay.”

The man pressed his lips together as he glanced at the floor for a moment. “She’s a fighter. She made it through surgery.”

Grant sucked in a breath. One hurdle passed.

“Complications? Issues? What’s her status?”

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