by Alina Jacobs
“Are you stalking me?” Kate said loudly. “Stay away from me.”
“I just wanted to talk,” he said, cornering her against the railing along the path.
“I don’t want anything to do with you. You lied to me.” Kate was wondering if she should make a break for it or jump over the railing into the underbrush. She was only wearing her flip-flops, though.
“You were always my best student,” Alan said, reaching for her hair. “We were good together.”
She flinched away from his hand. He had his wedding ring on, she noticed.
“Finally advertising your real status?” she snarled.
He glared at her. “We have unfinished business.”
“No, we don’t.”
He made a move as if he were about to hit her but stopped when they both heard the sound of someone large running toward them.
“Kate!”
She breathed a sigh of relief. It was Grant—he had come to find her.
“Who the hell are you?” he growled, pushing his way between Von Breuer and Kate.
“I’m her old teacher,” Alan said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “And you’re the owner of the famous watch, if I’m not mistaken.”
Grant scowled at him. “That’s none of your business.”
“I am merely a fellow enthusiast,” Alan said, picking up his bike. “Enjoy your stay here.”
“Who was that?” Grant demanded.
“No one,” Kate replied, trying to fix her clothes.
“I’m walking you home,” Grant said with a grim expression on his face. He grabbed her by the arm and hauled her down the path.
Kate was still shaken while she dressed for dinner. Grant tried to reach for her when she went into her bedroom, but she pushed him away. This day had clearly been yet another reminder that she wasn’t good enough for him.
That evening, they all walked to the Davenport house. It was only a ten-minute stroll, but Kate was glad she had decided on flats. Grant stayed glued to Kate the whole walk over. She could tell he was on high alert. His eyes never stopped scanning the tree line.
Great, she thought, I’ve probably tripped his PTSD. He’s going to be paranoid and crazy the rest of the evening.
No one seemed to be in that great of a mood. Jack and Walter were walking as far apart from each other as they could. Kate knew everyone was missing the children. The only reason Grant was even there was because his younger siblings were killed. It had to be hard—the kids had loved coming to the island.
As they walked up the Davenports’ walkway, Kate saw a figure walking down the road ahead of them. She hoped it wasn’t Alan. She forced herself to put him out of her mind as the door opened and Eric greeted them.
“Greetings!” he said. “You can put your jackets and wraps in a side room. We’re all gathered in the parlor for pre-dinner drinks.” Ginny was there too, as were Brandy and their parents.
Kate looked through the window and saw a figure moving out of the woods in the shadows. Was it Alan? She tried to keep her cool. Grant looked between Kate and the window, ignoring the drink in his hand.
Jack and Walter were both drinking too much, however, Kate noticed. Between the two brothers and Grant’s constant vigilance, everyone was on edge. This was going to be a long evening.
Their hosts hurried them all through drinks and to the dinner table. Please let this evening be over quickly, Kate prayed.
Chapter 50
Grant
As they sat down to dinner, Grant’s spot was with his back facing the window. He felt his adrenaline surge, and he tried to calm himself down.
Probably trying to lighten the mood, Adam Davenport asked Jack, “How are your sons?”
“Still no medals,” Walter said nastily.
Grant wondered what was wrong between the two brothers. Why were they picking at each other? Was it really over the company or his dead siblings, or was it something else? He hadn’t grown up with siblings, so he didn’t really understand.
“Don’t be so hard on them,” Nathaniel Fitzhugh told him. “They’re good boys. You should see my younger two sons. They’re off terrorizing Europe. I wish they were as grounded as the Holbrook boys.”
“They’re wasting their lives. They’re going to end up just like Jack if we aren’t careful,” Walter said with a mean laugh.
Jack picked up his half-empty glass and threw it at Walter, narrowly grazing his temple. The women screamed.
“Stop it,” Nancy hissed, but the two brothers ignored her.
“At least I didn’t marry some sociopath,” Jack yelled. “And I didn’t abandon my children!”
Walter threw his plate at Jack and caught him in the chest. Jack snarled at him. “It’s your fault those children are dead. You are a terrible father. Just look at him.” Jack pointed at Grant.
“You have no right to say anything about my children!” Walter yelled, slamming his hands on the table and making the place settings shake.
“I’m only telling the truth. Grant is getting thugs, mobsters, and murderers to buy Holbrook products and services. That’s who you brought here. He’s as bad as Danielle—you can’t fight breeding. Did you even look into what he was doing in Afghanistan? Do you know why the defense industry is clamoring to work with him? Because he executed people. He executed two captured fighters—”
“Terrorists,” Grant said darkly, not looking at anyone. “They killed one of my friends. They deserved to die for it.”
“You see?” Jack yelled. “He’s a sociopath who kills people when it suits his ends. Just. Like. Danielle.” Breathing hard, Jack grabbed his napkin and started wiping off his shirt. Then he gave Walter a scathing look. “And you want to give him access to your company,” Jack said, shaking his head. “You should have put a bullet in his head.”
“Jack,” Nancy said through her teeth, “that is enough.”
Grant couldn’t take any more. He pushed back his chair so quickly it toppled over, and he made a quick retreat out of the dining room.
“Grant!” Kate called, running after him.
“Don’t,” he snapped at her. “You’re just trying to fuck with me exactly like everyone else here. You don’t want anything to do with me? Fine! I don’t want anything to do with you, either.”
He picked his coat up from the side room and hurried through the front door into the night. He walked around for a little bit, trying to cool off.
Who does Jack think he is? Grant muttered, stuffing his hands into his coat pockets.
His hand brushed against a folded piece of paper. It was a note.
Tonight on Seagull lane. 10.30
Grant had a feeling he knew who had sent it. He went back to the house to change and add more weapons to his arsenal in anticipation of the meeting.
“Are you okay?” Nancy asked him when she saw him.
“I’m fine,” he said, brushing her off. “I’m going for a run now that it’s cooler.” He left his corgi sprawled on the chilled stone of the covered porch and set off.
As Grant waited on Seagull Lane at the appointed time, a car pulled up alongside him. His heart jumped in his chest, but he forced himself to be calm. He peered through the window and saw three figures in the car. Luigi exited the vehicle, came around the other side, and opened the door. Grant’s birth mother stepped out.
“My baby,” she said, holding out her arms. He stepped back.
“I don’t need a mother,” he said harshly. “I already have a crappy adoptive mom. I don’t need a crazy birth mom as well.”
“All right,” she said, her whole demeanor changing.
“What do you want?” he asked coldly.
“I only want to become acquainted with my only living son. Isn’t a mother entitled to that?” she asked, batting her eyelashes at him.
“Cut the shit,” he said, not falling for her innocent act.
She straightened her clothing and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “We can help each other.”
“I don’t need your help,” he said
“Ah, but you do!” she said with a laugh. “You should be running Holbrook Enterprises, and I can help you.”
Grant barked a laugh. “I’m doing just fine on my own. I’m not going to be your pawn.”
“You’re a pawn to your father,” she spat.
“At least he has something to offer,” Grant countered.
“And I don’t?” she asked, pretending to pout.
Grant looked at her expectantly.
She smiled at him. Grant wondered what his father had seen in Danielle. She reminded him of all the trashy girls that hung out around the base.
“I think I do actually have something you want,” she said. “I have contacts in East Africa. You want to impress your father and take control of Holbrook Enterprises? You need to compete with the Chinese. I know of a deal going down. I can slip your name in there.”
“What’s in it for you?” Grant asked, intrigued despite the nagging voice in his head that said this was a terrible idea.
“Money and time,” she said to Grant.
“No deal until I see what you can do,” Grant told her.
Danielle gave him a triumphant look. It felt as if he was making the same mistake as his father—dealing with the devil herself. But he needed to prove himself. He needed to be the top dog so Kate had no excuses. He needed to show everyone he was worthy and that he had a right to be in his father’s world.
“I’m listening,” Grant said.
Chapter 51
Kate
After their time on the island, in the weeks before Eric and Ginny’s wedding, Kate hardly saw Grant. He was really throwing himself into the sales role. Even when she was in town, he was flying back and forth to either the eastern coast of Africa or Europe.
“I don’t know what he thinks he’s doing,” Walter said as they boarded the plane to go to yet another meeting. “You can’t compete with the Chinese over there.”
“Maybe he has a plan,” Kate mused.
She didn’t have the energy to worry about Grant’s situation. She was busy with her executive assistant duties and trying to avoid Alan. He would text her multiple times throughout the day, and hoping to cut down on the texts, she finally wrote him.
I’m out of the country and will only be getting messages sporadically.
I’ve given Alan enough money to keep him afloat for a little while, she decided, hoping that would keep him from outing her to the world.
As they deplaned in Singapore, Walter asked, “Could you find some more information on what Grant is up to?”
“I’m trying, but he’s being cagey,” she said then thanked the driver as he helped her with her bags. In the car on the way to the hotel, she texted Grant again. If she didn’t know any better, she would think Grant was avoiding her.
This is what you said you wanted, isn’t it? she asked herself while lying on her bed in the hotel room, continuously refreshing her phone, hoping for something from Grant.
She had to admit to herself that she actually did want a more meaningful relationship with Grant—it wasn’t just lust, and the only reason she couldn’t have him was Alan. Well, Alan and her job.
I could quit my job, she mused, I could probably land another executive assistant job. Her phone buzzed as she received yet another text from Alan, and her heart sank.
I need to see you
Never mind, she thought as she deleted his message. This will never work.
Hoping to distract herself, she texted with Ginny and helped her make a few last-minute decisions on the wedding. Scrolling through pictures of flowers and decorations, she let herself daydream about what a wedding with Grant would look like. If only Alan would go away.
Why did he have to choose now to show up? she thought. It’s like as soon as Grant came into the picture, Alan had to show up to ruin everything.
Her phone buzzed, and her heart raced until she saw it was a text from Ginny with more wedding images. Kate loved weddings, but she was feeling a little envious of Ginny and Eric. How come her life couldn’t be that perfect?
A few weeks later, she met Ginny for drinks in London.
“I can’t believe you’re in Europe,” Kate said as the bartender set down their craft cocktails, “and your wedding is in a few weeks.”
“I still have a job,” Ginny replied with a laugh. “I’m here for a dog-grooming conference. Also because it’s London. We still need to find you a dress, so drink up because that’s next on the agenda.”
Kate grimaced. She had meant to find a dress the last time she was in New York City but had had to turn right around and board another plane.
“Nothing between you and Grant?” Ginny asked, taking a sip of her drink. “I heard he’s doing a bit of flying back and forth to Europe himself. No clandestine hotel meet-ups in Copenhagen?”
“I haven’t been able to catch up with him,” she said. “He’s being really secretive.”
“Brandy’s tightening the noose on him, so she claims,” Ginny warned. “You better go after him.”
“Maybe I should let it go,” Kate said, tracing her finger through the condensation left on the tabletop. “I don’t know if we would even be right for each other.”
“You haven’t even given him a chance! Let him wine and dine you, and then let him slide on into home base, or has he already done that?” Ginny asked mischievously as a blush crept up Kate’s face.
“How was it?” Ginny asked, leaning forward. “Amazing?”
“Yes,” Kate admitted.
“When did it happen?”
“When didn’t it?”
“Ooh, so you’re firmly in the steady-hookup category.”
“Probably not the place you want to be,” Kate said with a frown.
“Nonsense,” Ginny said. “Now that he’s had a taste, he knows what he likes. Give him the first hit for free, then upcharge him once he’s addicted.”
“I don’t know if he’s addicted,” Kate said, finishing off the rest of her drink.
“If he’s had his way with you that many times, then yes, he is,” Ginny countered. “You need to reel him in before he switches to a lesser version.”
Chapter 52
Grant
True to Danielle’s word, she came through.
On the sweltering tarmac, Grant waited for Danielle and Luigi to disembark the plane. He was wearing his new suit, and he felt pretty sharp. He had left Brandy back in Europe—he didn’t need everyone in New Cardiff to know he was dealing with Danielle. Jack really would think he was a sociopath.
Danielle tried to hug him when she saw him, but he rebuffed her. She gave him an appraising look then motioned to his wrist. “Where is the famous watch?” she asked.
“Still in the shop,” he said and turned to walk to the waiting vehicle.
In the car, Grant went over his notes on the Ethiopian mining company they were meeting with.
“How do you know these people?” Grant asked Danielle.
“I went to finishing school with the daughter of the owner. This is his home,” Danielle said as the car pulled up in front of a large house.
Actually, it was more of a palace, Grant thought.
The servant opened the door when they approached, and Grant resisted the urge to gape. He had thought his father’s house was opulent, but it had nothing on this palace. The interior was decorated with colorful tapestries, lush plants, decadent flower arrangements, and an abundance of gold leaf. It was excessive. Grant forced himself to adopt a bored, jaded demeanor as he followed the servant to a seating area. Another servant brought tea to the table.
“You have to drink some,” Danielle told him. “It’s rude not to.”
Her friend from finishing school came in, and the two women hugged and kissed. Then an older man and a younger man appeared. Danielle made introductions, and a few hours later, Grant had the promises of a contract.
When they were back in the hotel, he asked Danielle, “Is this act
ually going to mean anything?”
“I’ve talked to my friend. She says to be patient,” Danielle replied and turned to head toward her room.
Grant grabbed her by the arm.
“Make sure you understand that you will have nothing from me until I have a firm deal,” Grant told her and went to his room before she could respond.
After the door shut behind him, he whispered, “What am I doing?” He had to land a large contract. He needed to top that Raytheon deal and prove to everyone that he was the best. Then Kate would have no excuse not to be with him.
He stayed up all night, crouched in a corner, watching the door and the window. He remembered stories from the Special Forces guys he’d hung around with. They had told him all sorts of crazy tales about rescuing people who had been kidnapped from hotels in this part of the world.
The next morning, he was completely on edge, but he forced himself to project assuredness. Grant and Danielle returned to the palace. There was a large table set up with several men in suits milling round. After introductions, Holbrook Enterprises entered into a formal agreement with the mining company to begin negotiating contracts.
“You have to stay on them,” Danielle said to him in the car. “They will try to squeeze you for everything. This area of the world is corrupt for a reason—it’s in their culture. You have to be tough. Don’t give an inch.”
During the next couple of months before Ginny and Eric’s wedding, Grant flew back and forth to East Africa for a set of grueling negotiations. He hated to admit it, but Danielle was actually helpful during the process. He had always wondered how his father had been sucked in by her, but being in her presence, he could see how his father had let Danielle win him over. She was effective and forceful and almost reminded Grant of Kate. He blanched. That was a sick thought that he was going to choose to ignore.
To add on to the stress, Grant had to field calls from his father about his actions in Ethiopia.