by Alina Jacobs
He whirled around when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Stefan looked at him askance.
“There are two people here who wish to speak to you,” Stefan said, “if you have a moment.”
Rattled, Grant mumbled, “Sure,” and followed Stefan into the house. They went down a wide hallway to one of the smaller sitting rooms. Two older people who were not well dressed were sitting on the couch, noisily eating the food Stefan had brought them. Grant’s stomach churned when he saw who it was.
“Stefan,” he hissed, grabbing the butler by the shirt collar, “why did you let them in here? They are going to make a scene.”
“Grant!” his adoptive mother exclaimed when she saw him.
“You two are not welcome here!” he snarled at them.
Before they had a chance to answer, Walter walked into the room, saying, “You are Grant’s adoptive parents, I presume. It’s so lovely to meet you. You did an excellent job raising Grant. He’s a fine man.”
His adoptive mother beamed, and Grant saw red. They had been horrible parents.
“Don’t you dare! It’s your fault I was trapped with them for eighteen years!” he screamed at his father.
He pulled his gun out from the holster at the small of his back and pointed it at his father. Walter looked shocked and put his hands up.
“Grant, what on earth!” his adoptive father yelled.
Grant swung the pistol in their direction. Breathing hard, he growled at them, “Screw you. You have no right to be here. You both had addiction problems. My life was horrible. You belittled me, you lied to me, and you were abusive and neglectful. You’re racist. You stole from me. The worst thing you did, though, was what you said about Brendan. It was unforgivable.”
“Grant, put the gun away, please,” Walter said slowly. Grant ignored him. He saw the fear on his adoptive parents’ faces.
He laughed and said in a mocking tone, “It’s not fun when someone forces you to be afraid, is it?”
He put the gun away, and his adoptive parents slowly lowered their hands.
“Grant, we—”
“Shut up!” Grant roared. “Now, you listen. I’m actually around people who care about me and who are trying to make me a better man. You have no business here. Leave.”
“I didn’t steal from you!” his adoptive father cried out. “I just needed to pay off a debt. I’m going to pay you back. I promise.”
“We’re your real parents. We raised you,” his adoptive mother protested.
“Get out!” Grant screamed. “Don’t ever let me see you again. I want them gone. Do you understand?” he spat at Stefan as he stalked out of the room.
Walter ran after him, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and slammed him into an alcove. The statue that was displayed there toppled over and smashed on the floor.
“What is wrong with you?” Walter growled. “You could have killed someone.”
“They deserve it.” Grant pushed Walter away and started pacing. His eyes darted around erratically then settled on his father’s face. Wetting his lips, Grant told him, “I got my best friend killed. We were on patrol, then suddenly, we were attacked. Brendan got hit in a bad spot. Marines are covered from head to toe in body armor, but the insurgents made a lucky head shot somehow. I just… I tried to save him… I should have… it should have been me. When they gave me the Medal of Honor for my actions in that ambush a few months later, I was hoping to die. I wasn’t trying to be a hero.” Grant looked at his father helplessly, trying to tamp down all the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.
“I’m sorry,” Walter said, patting him gently on the back.
“The worst of it is, when I went back to see my adoptive parents, you know what they said? They said, ‘Don’t worry about that n-word. He’s better off dead.’ I just lost it. I destroyed their house, smashed their cars.”
Walter handed him a handkerchief.
“I swear I’ll die before I ever see them again.”
“Grant, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
His father looked crestfallen, but Grant didn’t care. He hurried away from his father and locked himself in a bathroom. He splashed some water on his face and forced himself to return to the party. He still didn’t feel that well, so he grabbed a drink from the waiter when he got back outside and downed it, put the empty glass on the tray, and grabbed another one.
The anger and helplessness he always felt around his adoptive parents burned in his gut. He saw Kate floating effortlessly through the guests. Being near her was the only thing that grounded him. He wanted to wrap himself around her and forget all his problems. He squared his shoulders. He had a job, he was out of the military, and he had just banished his adoptive parents for good. All he needed was Kate.
While he waited for the party to end so he could finish his mission with Kate, Grant schmoozed with guests and had his picture taken. He also drank to try to numb his pain and anger. The night became a blur, and the only thought he could hold onto was Kate. He had to win Kate.
When the garden party finally came to a close, Kate came over to him with some snacks. Grant set the plate down and drew her to a small green alcove by a fountain with a bench that was the perfect size for two.
“That went well,” he said, trying not to sound drunk.
“Yes, it did,” Kate replied.
“I need to ask you something,” he slurred, looking deep in her eyes and taking her hands. “Kate, I want you to be my girlfriend. I love you. I think we belong together.”
She started crying.
“I can’t, Grant. You don’t understand. I can’t be with you.”
“Why?” He tried to focus on her face.
“I did something terrible.” She sniffed.
“It can’t be that bad,” he said, reaching for her.
“I can’t.”
He had grabbed her too hard, he realized vaguely as she let out a loud yelp.
Grant shook her roughly and said, “I love you.”
He crushed her to his chest, and he felt her struggling. He vaguely remembered being that close to another person before, but that was Brendan, and he had died. Grant pushed Kate up against the wall, saying, “Kate, I need you.” He started pawing at her clothes. “You have to be my girlfriend.”
“No, I don’t,” she said and slapped him.
He slumped over on the bench. He had drunk way too much. He watched, his vision spinning, as she straightened her clothes and put her shoes back on.
“You are disgusting, Grant Holbrook,” she said.
Grant watched in horror as she ran off, taking all of his hopes and dreams for their future with her.
Chapter 45
Kate
Kate tried to avoid Grant the weekend after the garden party. She didn’t know what had gotten into him, and she didn’t particularly care. Stefan had told her tactfully about Grant’s adoptive parents’ surprise visit. She felt more understanding, but that still did not excuse Grant’s behavior. He had been so drunk. His behavior was too similar to what Alan had tried to do to her. She couldn’t handle it, so her next best option was to run from it.
“I think Grant is ready to fly on his own,” she told Walter as they sat in his study.
“Do you really think so?” he asked thoughtfully.
“Yes. You need an assistant who is focused. Maybe we can find a new one for Grant.”
“Now that you mention it, I was talking to Brandy and her father at the garden party. She is turning over her dog business full-time to her sister. I got the impression that her father didn’t give her much choice in the matter. So he was wondering if Grant needed an assistant. I was going to have you two be co- assistants, but now Brandy can be Grant’s personal assistant, and you can come back to me full-time. I have a grueling schedule ahead, and I must admit I would feel better about it if you were one hundred percent focused.”
As soon as he said Brandy’s name, Kate felt her eye twitch. She tried to keep her expression neutral and pro
fessional. “Well,” she said through gritted teeth, “I suppose these things do all work out, don’t they.”
Walter smiled blandly at her.
The next morning, Brandy showed up for her first day on the job.
She kissed Kate on both cheeks and exclaimed, “Darling, I do need a husband. I’m getting on in years. What’s better than being the assistant and slipping easily into the wife role?”
Kate did not want Grant to end up with Brandy. Kate knew she herself would never be able to be with Grant, but Brandy was certainly not good enough for him, she thought, trying not to scowl.
She gave Brandy a perfunctory tour and ran into Grant as she was leaving. He was shirtless, just having come back from a run.
“Kate,” he said awkwardly, “about the other night. I am so sorry. I don’t know what got into me.”
“Brandy is here. She is going to be your new assistant,” she said abruptly as Brandy came around the corner. Kate bared her teeth as Brandy looked Grant up and down, a smile slowly spreading on her face.
“Walter and I are leaving tomorrow morning. It’s your first day at Holbrook Enterprises, Grant, and I wanted to be here to help Brandy aboard as well, but Walter has been pushing meetings off because of the garden party, and now we really have to go. The next six weeks are going to be packed.”
“We can handle it, right, Grant?” Brandy said, sidling up to him.
“Call me if you need anything,” Kate said.
Brandy gave her a triumphant look. “I’m sure Grant and I can handle it.”
Barf, Kate thought. Why couldn’t it have been Ginny? At least I get along with her. She also made a mental note that she still needed to buy her bridesmaid dress for Ginny’s wedding.
The next few weeks were a blur. She kept receiving text messages from Nancy about Martha’s Vineyard. She really wanted Kate and Walter to be there. Kate knew this was the first time that the Holbrooks would have their big family summer vacation since last Christmas when the fire had killed the three children. Last summer, none of them had gone, but Nancy was insistent that they resume the tradition.
She kept tabs on Grant as well. It seemed as if he was slowly acclimating to his new position. Brandy wouldn’t return her calls, and when Kate was finally able to contact her, she was surly and secretive. Kate was hearing more about Grant’s progress from Ginny.
Grant had landed some small sales, only worth a few million, though. Kate knew he needed to win some bigger projects. She texted Ginny.
We’re flying in for the big quarterly sales meeting
Ginny immediately texted back.
We can go bridesmaid’s dress shopping!
Kate wasn’t sure if that was going to be possible with the schedule.
We will if I can get some time away
She felt herself looking forward to spending time with Ginny. Normally, she felt slightly envious at weddings. She always felt as if she would never have her day and none of her friends would have to spend a lot of money and time catering to her after she did all of that for them. But she liked Ginny so much that she only felt happy for her. Also, her fiancé, Eric Davenport, was a good guy, and Kate could only feel joy for the couple. They genuinely deserved to be happy with each other.
She let her thoughts meander wistfully to the topic of Grant. What if she got back and he and Brandy were an item? She didn’t know if she could handle it.
Chapter 46
Grant
The summer was finally upon them. Grant had spent the last few weeks getting acclimated in his father’s company. Kate was right. Sales wasn’t hard, just challenging. He missed having her around, but he was pretty sure he had ruined his chances with her.
The night of the party, he had passed out drunk on the bench after Kate left. He woke up with his uncle Jack shining a too-bright flashlight in his face. His father stood next to Jack with a disapproving look on his face.
“I thought marines were able to hold their liquor,” his father said.
“I’m not a marine,” Grant replied then puked on his father’s shoes.
“This is unbecoming behavior of a Holbrook,” Jack said as he and Walter had dragged Grant upright.
Grant had made a rude gesture to him and spent the weekend hungover. Then it was Monday, his first day on the job.
He wished Kate were still around. Brandy wasn’t as competent, though people seemed to like her. She was able to land him meetings, at least, though not for very prestigious clients. He wasn’t sure if she was mining her father’s contacts or those of her soon-to-be-brother-in-law. Grant was able to land a few small sales, but Randal was going on and on about these big projects he was bringing in. Martin would drop hints that he expected great things from Grant, and that he would be required to make a report at the quarterly sales meeting soon. He knew his father would be there, and he hoped Kate would show up as well.
It had been hard to acclimate to the Holbrook corporate culture. Fortunately, he was able to be on the road for several days out of the week. After exhausting Brandy’s minimal contacts, he got in touch with some former marines he used to know, including one guy who had moved into the defense industry.
After traveling to visit his buddy in the defense industry and meet with his bosses, Grant was feeling more confident about the quarterly sales meeting. He whistled as he got off the private jet back from Huntsville, the signed contract in his bag. He wasn’t sure if Martin would be okay with what he did—it wasn’t his region, and it wasn’t really his product to sell, either.
He had also been in touch with soldiers in the coalition forces he had fought with and some ex-marines who were first-generation immigrants. None of those leads had panned out yet, which was unfortunate because landing those international contracts was what he was supposed to be doing and what he had promised he could do. He was feeling nervous again about the quarterly sales meeting.
“I wish I had an excuse not to go,” Grant muttered to himself as he sat down in the waiting car.
“You’re going to do great,” Brandy said to him.
He ignored her. He was quickly beginning to tire of Brandy.
A few hours later, he was in the office’s main conference room with too many people. It was blazing hot outside, and the AC could barely keep up. He felt as if he were having a heat stroke in his suit. That was one thing he could say for the South… their AC was on point.
“Grant.”
“Excuse me?”
“Care to give your report?” Martin asked.
“Oh, right,” Grant said and sat up straighter in his seat. “I’ve got some things in motion, and probably next month, I’ll know more. It’s summer right now, and people are vacationing.”
“Have you made any sales progress?” Walter asked.
“I’ve got about three million from small international contracts.”
He looked over at Kate. She looked concerned.
“Which means you don’t have anything to report,” Randal interjected.
Grant glared at him.
“So much for our newest salesman,” Randal sneered.
“What I’m hearing is that you didn’t hit your goals,” Martin said, holding up a hand to quiet Randal.
“I didn’t say that—”
“You were supposed to meet a goal of twelve million this quarter,” Martin said, cutting him off. “I know you are your father’s son, but…”
Grant just looked at him, and Martin trailed off.
“If you had let me finish,” Grant said quietly after a moment.
His father looked between the men but didn’t say anything.
“The air force is building a new missile that will better target tunnels and embankments. A guy I know at Raytheon was going after the contract. I put us in on it jointly, but unfortunately, it’s not fifty million, which was my target, and it’s also not an international contract.”
“You were supposed to win twelve million,” Martin interrupted again.
Grant looked at hi
m coldly. “I’m sorry, but it’s not twelve million.”
The room was silent.
“It’s six hundred million.”
There were audible gasps, and Randal looked pained.
“But I think Holbrook Enterprises can handle that,” Grant finished. “It’s going to be a lot of work, though.”
“Did you say six hundred million?” his father asked.
Grant shrugged. “It’s a 2.3-billion-dollar contract. We have a small percentage of it.” He pulled out the signed contract and slid it across the table. “Take a look.”
Randal slumped in his seat and said, “I’m supposed to be in charge of North American sales.” He looked at Martin, who still seemed stunned.
Grant tried to keep his face smooth. It was hard not to smirk. He looked over at Kate, and she gave him a triumphant little smile.
“Grant was working his contact, Randal. It is what it is,” Martin told him. He turned to Walter. “Well, Mr. CEO, as you can see, we’ve exceeded this quarter’s sales goal by four hundred percent.”
Walter closed his tablet cover with a snap. “I guess on that note, we’ll end the meeting.”
Grant accepted the handshakes from his coworkers in the hallway after the meeting. He saw Kate leaving then ran after her.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he said, smiling at her.
“Nice job for a no-count ex-marine,” she said.
He grinned at her.
“I knew you could do it.”
“Are you sticking around? Let me buy you a drink.”
“We came in for this quarterly sales meeting, but we’re about to head off again.”
“I’ll have to take a rain check,” Grant told her.
Kate didn’t say anything.
“Are you coming to Martha’s Vineyard?” he asked.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Look at you, throwing around fancy names like a rich brat.”
Grant pretended to be hurt. “I don’t want to be there by myself.”
Kate flicked her gaze over to Brandy then back to Grant and said, “I don’t think you’ll be alone.”
