“Okay, I think that may be enough for now,” Kyle said as he strode toward them. “She’s clearly upset.”
“I can see that, Kyle. You’re the one who insisted we dump this on her the minute she got home.”
“I insisted she know the truth. It’s not fair to keep her in the dark and make her think you actually care about her when you’re just using her to salvage your precious company.”
Grant leapt from his seat, his hands curled into fists. Kyle matched his stance.
The two men, their faces etched with years of unresolved conflict and the weight of unspoken history between them, made her feel even more isolated and adrift in this unfamiliar world.
“Whoa, that’s enough!” Sierra shouted as she jumped up. “Don’t you think Julia’s had enough shocks for today without you two coming to blows again?”
Again? Had they physically fought before?
Grant stretched his neck as he let his hands relax and took a step back. “She’s right.”
“I’m taking Julia up to her room to rest. Maybe you two ought to go to separate corners,” Sierra said as she tugged Julia up to stand.
The two men stared at her as Sierra marched her from the room. “So sorry about that, Julia, but as you’ll learn–or remember–Daddy and Kyle aren’t very fond of each other.”
“Oh, look, she’s home!” Lydia said as they stepped from the room.
“Can it, Mom. No one wants to hear from you!”
Julia stared at her before she glanced at Sierra as they ascended the stairs. “Does she live here, too?”
“Unfortunately,” Sierra answered. “We’re all hoping she moves soon.”
“Did you say Grant and Kyle had been in a physical fight before?” Julia asked.
“Yep,” Sierra answered.
“Over?”
“You,” she answered as they snaked through the opulent halls. “Sort of. Daddy didn’t know Kyle existed until recently. It’s a long story.”
They arrived at a set of double doors, and Sierra pushed them over. “This is your room. Your home office is through there.”
She pointed to a set of doors leading to another space. “You should probably rest.”
“Right,” Julia said as thoughts crowded into her brain. She stared at the plush bedding, wanting to crawl into a ball under the covers and hide from the world.
“Oh, Julia,” Sierra said as she reached the door.
Julia twisted to face her.
“You aren’t just an employee to us. We do care, despite what Kyle says.”
“Thanks,” she said with a fleeting smile before the woman disappeared from the room.
Julia stared at the oversized room, wrapping her hands around her midriff as she tried to recall any of it. She’d lived here for a year, and she couldn’t remember a thing.
Her marriage was a sham. Her husband’s son had feelings for her. Some strange organization was attacking the Harringtons, and apparently, she’d discovered who was behind it only to lose her memory.
She perched on the edge of the bed as her thoughts overwhelmed her. Nothing jarred her memory, either. That was the truly frightening part. What would happen if she never remembered? Would she be chucked out on the streets to find her own way? She’d be of no use to them, probably.
How had Sierra described her? An employee?
Her heart sank, and her stomach twisted in knots. She glanced at the doors Sierra had motioned to earlier. Office.