Chapter 7

Julian arrived at the office before dawn, his steps echoing through the empty halls. He usually thrived in the quiet of early mornings, but today, the silence felt oppressive. As he reached his office, he paused, taking a moment to steel himself before pushing open the door.

Inside, the room was immaculate, as always. The sleek furniture, the carefully arranged files on his desk, and the view of the city skyline through the large window—it all exuded the control he was desperately trying to maintain. He walked over to his desk and set down his briefcase, his mind already running through the challenges the day would bring.

Just as he sat down, the door creaked open. It was Daniel, his secretary, who had been with him since the early days of the company. Daniel had been given to Julian when he was a child, a training buddy and a ‘minion’ but unknown to his father their bond had become one of brothers. 

“Morning, Mr. Sinclair,”  greeted, his voice carrying the usual brisk efficiency. He placed a cup of coffee on his desk and handed him a folder. “Your schedule for today. The board meeting is at ten.”

Julian accepted the coffee with a nod, though he barely registered the taste. “Keep an eye out for any messages from Jonathan Wright. I’m expecting an update.”

Daniel’s eyes flicked to his face, a subtle shift in his expression that told Julian he had already noticed the tension in his voice. “Of course. I’ll make sure you get them right away.”

Daniel hesitated, and Julian could tell he wanted to say more, but he respected his space. “Is there anything else you need, Mr. Sinclair?”

“No, that’ll be all for now,” Julian replied, managing a small smile. “Thank you, Daniel.”

With a nod, Daniel left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Julian let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and turned his attention to the folder before him. But before he could dive into the documents, his phone buzzed on the desk.

He picked it up, already knowing who it was. The message on the screen was brief, but it sent a jolt of tension through him: *Everything’s been handled. Keep your end of the deal.*

As he was about to put the phone down, another knock came at the door. This time, it was King, his oldest friend and the company’s head of security. King was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a laid-back demeanor that held his sharp instincts. They had been through a lot together, and Julian trusted him more than anyone else in the company.

“Hey,” King said as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He flopped into one of the chairs across from Julian’s desk, his casual posture a stark contrast to the tension in the room. “You’re in early. That’s a bad sign.”

Julian smirked, appreciating the attempt to lighten the mood. “Just trying to get ahead of some projects.”

King looked at him for a moment, his easygoing expression giving way to concern. “You look terrible. What’s going on?”

Julian leaned back in his chair, a low sigh let his mouth. King was more than just a friend; he was someone who had pulled Julian out of more than a few tight spots. If there was anyone he could trust with the truth, it was King.

“There’s something going on in the company,” Julian began, his voice low. “Missing money—someone’s trying to play us from the inside.”

King’s casual demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by the sharp focus of the security professional he was. “How bad is it?”

“Bad enough that Erica found out,” Julian admitted, the frustration clear in his voice. “She’s been digging into the finances, and now her grandfather is involved. I had to make a call last night, King. To someone I’d rather not be dealing with.”

King’s eyes narrowed. “The kind of someone who doesn’t take kindly to loose ends?”

Julian nodded, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “Exactly. But there’s more to this. The message I just got—it’s from them. They’ve ‘handled’ something, but now they expect me to follow through on my end.”

King frowned, leaning forward. “And what does that mean for you?”

“It means I have to play along for now,” Julian said, his tone grim. “I already know who's behind it and other things surrounding this matter but I still have to play along. If I don’t, it’s not just the company that’s at risk—it’s Erica, too.”

King’s jaw tightened. “We’ll figure it out, Jules. But you need to be careful. If this guy is as dangerous as he sounds, he won’t hesitate to come after you—or anyone close to you.”

“I know,” Julian replied, his voice steady despite the unease gnawing at him. “I'll need your help with a few things”

King nodded, his expression serious. “Don’t keep this from Erica. She needs to know what she’s dealing with.”

Julian sighed, knowing King was right. “I’ll tell her. But first, I need to get through this board meeting without raising any suspicions.”

King stood up, clapping Julian on the shoulder. “Just keep your cool. We’ll get through this.”

As King left, Julian took a deep breath and stood up, straightening his tie as he prepared to face the board. The weight of the situation still hung over him, but with King on his side, he felt a glimmer of hope.

He pushed open the door to the boardroom, his face a mask of calm confidence. The board members looked up as he entered, their conversations dying down as they waited for him to speak.

“Good morning, everyone,” Julian said, his voice steady. “Let’s get started.”

The meeting proceeded as usual—financial reports, project updates, strategic discussions. Julian kept his composure, playing the part of the unflappable CEO, even as his mind raced with the threats lurking beneath the surface.

But as the meeting wore on, Julian couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out. The game was far from over, and Julian Sinclair wasn’t one to lose. But he knew that the real battle lay ahead, and he would need all the help he could get to survive it.