As she looked at him, there was something in Scarlett's eyes, hatred for him. Scarlett’s resentment for Julian was immense, rooted deep in her heart. He hadn’t just ruined her life when he did nothing to stop the wedding; he’d shattered her dreams of becoming the CEO, stripping away the future she’d worked tirelessly to build. Every glance at him reminded her of everything she’d lost, and she didn't want to forgive him. Julian could almost feel the contempt and hatred she felt for him. She didn’t say anything at first, just surveyed him with a cold look. Her cold expression could freeze someone in place. Julian stood there for a moment, unsure if he should say something first or wait for her to speak. Either way, he knew it wasn’t going to be pleasant. Finally he decided to speak. “So…, I'm here, and, where are we going?” He asked politely. “You’re late,” she replied finally, her tone clipped and cold. “Or did you forget how to read a clock?” She folded her arms, letting out a
Nonetheless, Julian knew he didn’t have much of a choice but to be here; he was, after all, Scarlet’s driver for the day. Reluctantly, he followed her to the entrance, where a sharply dressed man was checking each guest's invitation. When Scarlet’s turn came, she presented her invitation with a casual flick of her wrist, and the man nodded respectfully, stepping aside to let her through. Julian also was allowed inside since he was with her. The art gallery buzzed with life, an air of sophistication that Julian couldn’t quite fit into. The walls were decorated with impressive paintings, sculptures, and abstract pieces each one more expensive than anything he had ever touched. At least this time, Julian didn’t have to worry about looking out of place in a shabby outfit. He was still dressed in the tailored suit he’d worn for his wedding to Scarlet earlier that day. As he walked in behind her, keeping a respectful distance, he couldn’t help but notice how much attention she drew. He
He turned, somewhat reluctantly, and found himself facing a well dressed older man. The man’s suit was immaculately tailored, his silver hair was combed back with class. Everything about the man showed that he was someone wealthy “Do I know you?” Julian asked, guardedly looking the man in the eyes. The man gave a small nod, unfazed by Julian’s guarded tone, he stretched out his hand eagerly, almost so eargery which caught Julian off guard, “My name is Alfred Bannerman.” “Oh...kay. Well, Mr. Bannerman, you still haven't answered my question. Do I know you?" Julian asked again, still keeping a guarded stance. It was very usual that someone who looked wealthy would approach him, and that too, know him. Unless they were from the firm, then it was usual. Mr. Bannerman paused, looking at him with an almost calculating expression. “I knew your parents,” he said, his voice a bit softer now. “I worked with them closely, and well, their passing left some… loose ends. And I’m afraid, Ju
"Oh…hey, I'm Julian. I was just saying, this barely looks like art," Julian replied, taken aback by her hostility. The woman's frown deepened. "What would you know about art?" she retorted, her voice laced with sarcasm.”I highly doubt someone as classless as you would understand." She scrutinized him more closely. And she noticed a few things about him; although his suit looked good on him, it was very cheap for someone who would be able to attend this event. Plus he lacked the subtle markers of wealth and influence that she was accustomed to. No expensive watch, no custom-tailored shirt, no air of effortless superiority. Even his hair screamed ‘commoner.’ "You don't belong here," she declared, her voice now ice-cold. "This is an exclusive event, not a place for… your kind to sneak into." She gave him a dirty look. "How did you even get in? Did you slip past security with the caterers?" "I didn't sneak in," Julian replied, angry at her insinuation. "Then do show me your invit
After receiving the apology from Gretta, Julian stood alone, feeling countless eyes looking at him. Well, the people were intrigued, trying to understand how he came to be associated with Scarlet. “Wow, lucky guy,” someone remarked enviously. “Having Scarlett in your corner must feel amazing.” “Loser,” another voice muttered bitterly. “Couldn't even defend himself, had to rely on Ms. Scarlett to fight his battles.” The comments, especially from the men who secretly desired Scarlet, carried a mix of envy and disdain. Scarlett was known to keep her distance, a fortress impossible to breach for most. The idea that someone like Julian dressed modestly, with no apparent influence, had managed to get so close to her stirred jealousy among the onlookers. To them, it was baffling and infuriating. “Look at him, standing there all smug. Does he really think he’s something special just because she stepped in?” a woman murmured, her voice conveying disrespect. “Must be nice,” one envious voic
He opened the door and found Scarlett already there, standing by the wardrobe as she was picking out something to wear. She turned at the sound of the door opening, her gaze turning cold as she saw him in the doorway. Her eyebrow raised in clear displeasure. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?” she asked, her voice cold. The fact that he just pushed the door opening without knocking was enough to send a wave of irritation through her. Julian, taken aback, hesitated. He hadn’t expected her to be here yet. The last he checked, she was having a conversation outside. “Sorry, didn’t know you were already here,” he replied, his tone apologetic. Her glare sharpened, clearly not buying his excuse. What a poor excuse he had, “Of course I’m here. What do you mean? This is my room, and you’re not allowed in it.” “Well, we are married, so…” Julian trailed off, his words faltering slightly, but he tried again. “Can’t I share the same room with you?” A flash of disgust crossed her face. Sh
There were also other two voices, which Julian was quick to tell that it was Tessa and her boyfriend Damien. He had hoped to avoid running into anyone from work, especially Brandon or Claire, but fate had other plans. Keeping his back to them, he tried to pay quickly and slip out unnoticed. His plan failed; however, he was instantly spotted by Claire. “Well, well, look who we have here,” she said mockingly. With a resigned sigh, Julian turned around. Standing before him was Claire, his ex, with her new boyfriend, Brandon, her arm looped around his. Next to them was Tessa, an old colleague of Julian’s and Claire’s friend, holding hands with a tall, confident-looking man whom Julian recognized as one of Brandon’s former employees. He had recently left the company for a better-paying job. "Didn’t expect to see you here," Claire said, her eyes scanning Julian from head to toe with a smug look. She noticed a shopping bag in his hands, a clear indication he was here to buy clothes
The insult landed hard, and the air was tense between them. Brandon’s face twisted with anger. Who did this loser think he was talking to? “You've got some nerve you pathetic broke loser. Apologize now, or you’ll regret it!” Brandon snapped, his voice rising. “Better yet, I want you to apologize to everyone here.” He stepped closer, his sneer deepening. “Do it, or you’ll pay for your arrogance.” Claire wore a smug expression as she toyed with her hair, her fingers brushing it in a deliberately sensual way. Her other hand rested lightly on Brandon’s shoulder as she spoke, her tone dripping with mock concern. “Do as he says, Julian. You know how wealthy Brandon is. He’ll ruin your life.” Brandon smirked, his confidence growing with Claire’s support. He began to circle Julian like a predator sizing up its prey, his voice growing louder and more menacing with each word. “I’ll make sure you pay dearly for this,” he said. “No company in this city will hire you. Hell, no one will even g
Tate was very calculative, and Julian knew he had to be careful around him. Julian’s expression remained unreadable, but inside, his irritation sharpened. “Redistribute?” he asked, as if he didn't hear him the first time.Dave nodded, “A small adjustment. Nothing drastic. But by allowing select board members to increase their stakes, you’d be demonstrating your commitment to the stability.” His tone was smooth and practiced. “A show of trust, Julian.”A show of trust huh? Julian thought to himself. At this moment, he couldn't trust Dave Tate. A tense silence settled between them.Julian let the silence go on for a little bit longer, he studied Dave, trying to figure out what he was thinking. What was he planning?Well, he didn't need to think too much about it, he could already see the game Dave was playing, disguising a power grab as an act of goodwill. If Julian had to guess, Dave Tate was the one who wanted the shares for himself, so that he can have even more influence in the co
Only when Julian spoke did Dave Tate finally look up from his documents.He had heard Julian walk in, of course. But being the man that he was, he had deliberately chosen to ignore him and make him wait. It was a silent display of power from him, a reminder that when it came to the Blackwood consortium, time moved at his pace and not Julian’s. He might be the heir to the consortium, but that hardly mattered here, especially when he had been away for so long.Slowly moving his gaze away from the documents and looking at Julian, Dave Tate finally acknowledged him, setting the document aside. His expression was casual, unreadable, yet there was an undeniable weight behind his eyes, one that spoke of experience, calculation, and quiet authority."Mr. Blackwood," he said, his tone cool and controlled. "I was wondering when we'd finally meet.”Dave Tate leaned back in his chair, studying Julian for a moment before gesturing to the seat across from him. "Take a seat."Julian gave a little n
Meanwhile, Julian arrived at the headquarters of the Blackwood Consortium.It was a luxurious skyscraper, towering over the city with its sleek glass exterior reflecting the afternoon sun. The structure had an impressive modern design, with its dark tinted windows. It was a very tall building. Julian took a moment to admire the view. A faint smile made its way to his lips, a part of him was glad he was back here again after being away for so long. The building was one of the tallest and most luxurious buildings, with more than 200 floors and a design that stood as a testament to the sheer power and influence of the Blackwood Consortium. From the moment he stepped foot here, Julian felt a strange sense of belonging, maybe it was because he was stepping back into a world that had always been his. But at the same time, there was also an unease at the pit of his stomach. It scared him, knowing that he wasn’t just returning as an heir. He was stepping into a battlefield. His enemies
Julian stood over the captive, his cold gaze locked onto him, as he was lying on his back, still tied to the chair. There wasn’t a trace of mercy in his expression, only a chilling look and unrelenting determination.Without needing a command, one of the guards stepped forward, gripping the chair and hauling both it and the captive upright. The man gasped, his breathing ragged, his earlier smugness shattered and nowhere to be seen.When the captive realized that his earlier answer didn’t satisfy Julian, he was even more afraid. “That’s all I know!” the captive blurted, shaking his head violently. “I swear! I never met the guy who paid me. Got the job through a middleman. No names, no details, just a target and a payout!” The same person who was acting all tough earlier and claiming he would never break, was now revealing every thing before Julian, hoping that by the end of this, he would he able to save his skin.Julian stood still, his gaze cold as he studied the captive. He wonder
The shooter had a fearful look for half a second after he heard Julian’s words, but then he chuckled dryly, shaking his head. “Yeah? And what are you gonna do, tough guy? Older you lackeys to beat me until I pass out again?” He tilted his chin up, his smirk resembling that of someone filled with arrogance, despite the fact that he had no control here,“You’re wasting your time. I’m not saying a damn thing. So do what you gotta do.”Julian exhaled audibly, a hint of irritation flashing across his face. He was already getting fed up with this person. He was playing tough, but that wouldn’t last, not with what Julian had planned out for him. One way or another, Julian had to make him speak, and so he needed to shift tactics. Julian’s expression darkened as he shot a look at Nyx. No words were needed from Julian, Nyx already understood the assignment.Without hesitation, she stepped forward and grabbed the man’s hand, twisting it at an unnatural angle. A loud crack echoed through the holdi
Julian laid down on his bed, thinking about his and Scarlett’s relationship, eventually sleep overtook him before he even knew it.The following day in the morning, Julian arrived at a warehouse where he was keeping the person who had shot the mayor. He walked through the warehouse entrance with Nyx and a bunch of armed security personnel following behind him.He made his way into the holding area with Nyx, while the armed men remained outside, securing the perimeter for any danger. If the shooter’s associates, or anyone else, tried to interfere, they’d be ready. Inside there were about five guys dressed in tactical gear, watching over the shooter to make sure he didn't escape.Julian gave a small signal with his fingers, and one of the guards yanked the blindfold off the captives head. The man blinked rapidly, his eyes adjusting to the dim light, before they shifted slowly to stare at Julian and Nyx who stood before him. His eyes lingered longer on Nyx, remembering that she was the
After leaving the hotel, Julian returned home. In the evening around 10 pm as he lay on his bed, scrolling through his phone, trying to find some public Information about his enemies . His eyebrows arched when it suddenly vibrated. Seeing that Scarlett was calling, he paused for a moment.He had forgotten that Scarlett was in the hotel ballroom during the shooting. He wondered if she had made it out safely amidst all the chaos and panic.He answered the call and pressed the phone to his ear.“Hey, Julian,” Scarlett’s voice came through, soft but concerned.“Are you okay?” she asked. “How are you feeling?”Julian couldn’t help but grin, leaning back on his bed. She asked how he was doing. Was she worried about him now? He didn’t expect that. Honestly, Scarlett had always been aloof and cold toward him at first. It was hard to believe that now she could tolerate him like this. It was almost as if… she cared about him all of a sudden.“Aw, look at that,” he couldn’t stop himself from te
“Where is he?” the mayor demanded as Julian approached him and Helen. He rose from the stretcher, his face was a mask of anger and determination. “Where is the son of a bitch who dared to shoot me? Bring him to me.”Julian was taken aback by the mayors sudden behavior. All of a sudden he was acting like this? Julian expression remained calm, almost indifferent. “He’s in my custody,” he replied, his voice showing how much he couldn’t care less about the mayor's outburst, “I’ll interrogate him and let you know what I find out.”But Mayor Sullivan frowned after hearing Julian’s words. He glared deep into Julian’s eyes as if trying to scare him into giving up custody of the shooter. The mayor didn’t agree with Julian because he wanted to do the interrogation himself. Actually, he didn’t need to interrogate the shooter because he already knew who had sent him and why. But that wasn’t the point. He wanted to use the shooter to send a message to the organization, letting them know that the
The room froze, it was like everything happened in slow motion. Some couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed; had the mayor been shot right in front of them? Others, too terrified to think beyond their own survival, scrambled for safety.Panic erupted in the ballroom. Screams filled the air as chaos took hold. Guests scrambled for cover, tables overturned, and a stampede surged toward the exits. Julian’s heart beat rapidly, worrying for the mayor's life, but his focus never got affected by this. His eyes were still locked on the shooter, who was already making his escape.But Julian wasn’t going to let him get away, he walked through the terrified crowd chasing after the shooter. It wasn’t easy because bodies pressed against him, some ducking behind overturned tables, others panicking as they rushed for the exits. But he still pushed forward relentlessly. By the time Julian burst out of the ballroom and into the narrow corridor beyond, the assassin had gained significant groun