“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.”
