clearly enjoying this.
Chapter 13
o percent of Holt Group’s shares. Pretty build move. Don’t worry, I’ve got someone watching it for you,” Austin said, Then, with curiosity burning in his voice, he added, “Come on, spill it. What’s going on? Don’t tell me you, Mr. Holt, are short on cash and decided to sell?
Sebastian already had a pretty good idea of who it was. At this point, the only person who would be of loading Holt Group shares was probably Julia. “Hay that two percent for me. And while you’re at it, try to scoop up any other scattered shares that hit the market,” Sebastian said.
He gare Austing a few more instructions before hanging up.
Then he stood in silence for a moment, his mind spinning, before pulling up Penelope’s number.
“Yes, Mr. Holt?!!
Across towns, Penelope tried to suppress the flatter of excitement in her chest. A call from him in the middle of the night was…
Sebastion didn’t waste time. “Penelope, I want you to buy up all the shares that just hit the market.”
“Understood, Mr. Holt.”
Back in her bedroom, Penelope felt a fwinge of disappointment, but it quickly turned to excitement.
The fact that he tristed her with something this important meant she still had a place in his world.
Meanwhile, Sebastian ended the call and found his thoughts drifting back to Julia.
To be fair, she’d helped him train a very competent assistant, someone he now relied on daily.
He stood by the w
e window, staring out into the night, memories of the past seven years with Julia flickering through his mind.
It was a while before he finally snapped out of it and dialed her mumber.
The phone rang for nearly 30 seconds. He was just about to assume she’d blocked him when it connected.
“What is it?”
Her voice was cold and emotionless, like she’d finally stopped pretending.
Sebastian pressed his lips together. “The two percent of Holt Group stock that went up for sale… it was you.
-It wasn’t a question–it was a statement.
She knew he’d figure it out eventually, “Yeah,” she said flatly.
Sebastian let out a short, bitter laugh “So this is how you’re getting back at me?
pulla scoffed. “Don’t fatter yourself. I just wanted a little more flexibility after the divorce. Don’t forget, I asked to walk away with nothing
That shut him up for a moment. Whenever this topic came up, Sebastian always fell quiet
“Julia, Fin warning you, don’t push it. Talk about divorce too much, and it kills whatever’s left between us.
She let out a sharp laugh. “What’s left? Do you think there’s still something between us?”
“How many times do I have to say it? Penelope and 1 are just-”
“Whatever’s going on between you two, it’s not my business,” Julia cut him off, clearly annoyed. “Those two percent shares? They’re mine. I have every right t to do what I want with them.”
“Where are you right now?” Sebastian asked, shifting the topic. “I’ll come get you. We should talks face–to–face.”
Julia didn’t budge. “Sure. Sign the divorce papers, and I’ll come back right away.”
“Absolutely not.
“There’s no ‘absolutely not, Sebastian. You will sign them. I’m running out of patience.
She wasn’t even sure how long it had been since she’d spoken to him like this, with real strength in her voice
“Don’t make this go to court,” she said and hung up.
Back at the villa, Sebastian was so furious that he smashed his phone.
Even now, he refused to believe Julia would actually go through with the divorce, that she’d really walk away and leave Xavier behind.
The next morning, Haley returned.
“Ia, I’ve got everything at the office set up. Come in with me today and get settled, we’re ready whenever you are.”
Over the last few days, Haley had been juggling work and had casually cleared out an office just for Julia.
Sounds good,” Juba sald
Half an hour later, they arrived at The One Design, the brand she and Haley had co–founded and which was now fairly well–known internationally.
It had been years since Julia had touched illustration work, but as she walked past the gallery of recent projects and portfolios, she noticed more than a few pieces that genuinely impressed her.
