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
Brandon, clearly shocked, tried to regain his footing, but Julian was already on the offensive. He moved swiftly, landing a flurry of punches and kicks that forced Brandon to go on the defensive. His confidence slipping away with each hit. Claire’s face scowled with disbelief. She thought Brandon was the martial artist here and Julian didn't know how to fight. ‘Is this real?” another comment appeared. “I thought Brandon was supposed to be a fighter?’ Brandon finally tried to throw another punch, but Julian sidestepped and swept his legs out from under him. With a loud thud, Brandon hit the ground, gasping for air. Julian didn't stop, seizing the opportunity that Brandon was down to beat him down. The chat exploded as they witnessed everything. ‘NO WAY! Brandon’s down?!’ ‘Julian is kicking his ass! This is wild!’ ‘Bro, Brandon’s got nothing. Julian’s owning him.’ Claire’s grip on her phone tightened in anger, as she watched Brandon struggle to get back up. The satisfact
Julian didn’t have to wait long. As he sat back in the chair, the soft ding of the elevator doors opening caught his attention. He looked and saw Vera stepping out. She looked very stunning, elegant, yet approachable, a blend of confidence and friendliness that seemed effortless. She wore a blue female blazer that fit her well, over a white blouse, pairing it with blue trousers and sleek black heels. Her hair was neatly styled in a bun, with a few loose strands framing her face. Her eyes landing on Julian, her face lit up with a smile that was as genuine as it was welcoming. She made her way over with an ease, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. "Julian!" she greeted him, her voice was cheerful as she extended her hand. "I’m so glad you could make it. Welcome to Prescott and Lawson." Julian stood up, offering a nod of acknowledgement before shaking her hand,"Thanks, Vera," he replied casuallyl,"I’ve been looking forward to our meeting." "I’m glad to hear that
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
The man was unconscious, stripped down to his boxers and vest. Julian’s eyes narrowed in surprise. But, it didn’t take long for Julian to put together what was happening; the man who had left the room wasn’t a real waiter. He had overpowered the actual staff member and taken his uniform as a disguise.Julian crouched beside the unconscious man, checking his pulse. It was faint but still beating . Letting out a sigh of relief, he quickly activated his earpiece. “Celeste, the situation is worse than I thought. The suspect has incapacitated a real staff member and is disguised as a waiter. He just left the room heading toward the gala.”Celeste’s voice came through, calm but urgent as usual. “Understood. I’ll alert the team to keep an eye out for anyone acting suspicious. We’ll tighten security immediately.”Julian returned downstairs where the gala was taking place. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the suspect. The waiter’s disguise should have made him easier to spot, but ther
Julian? Her mind raced. What was he doing here… with Helen? Did the two of them know each other already? She watched how close Helen was standing to him, as if they were very familiar with one another, and it didn’t sit well with her. Perhaps it was jealousy she was feeling. After all, who would be happy to see their friend acting so close to their husband?Deep down, Scarlett knew it herself: the reason she was this uncomfortable seeing Julian so close to Helen was because she had started to develop a soft spot for Julian…. And maybe even feelings for him. She wouldn’t admit it to his face, though.Her expression shifted briefly, but she quickly masked her surprise,or the jealousy. “Hi,” she said, her tone smooth, her lips curving into a controlled smile. “What are you doing here?” she asked, directing her question at Julian.Julian smiled slightly. “I’m here on business.” he said casually.Helen didn’t pay that much attention to their exchange as she was eager to introduce them. Sh
The mayor sighed, his voice heavy with regret as he continued,“At first, they seemed harmless. Backroom deals, a little influence here and there, some people to help me push policies. But as time went on, the favors got… darker. They wanted things that went against everything I believe in: dirty money, shady deals.” He paused, taking a shaky breath. “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t be controlled like that.”Julian’s eyes narrowed, understanding dawning on him. “And they couldn’t have that. They needed someone they could control.” It was easy for juliam to understand what the mayor was saying and what the organization was hoping for in return for helping the mayor. After all these were tactics Julian was all too familiar with. Growing in a powerful family he had witnessed firsthand how the same practices the organization was using were used by his grandfather and father to control people in key positions.In fact, Julian vividly remembered one of the lessons his father had imparted about
The mayor’s eyes widened in alarm. “What… what are you talking about?” His eyes darkened slightly as he gritted his teeth. “The Sterlings again…they’ve been relentless. But they won’t win. Not this time.” His tone hardened, as though trying to convince himself as much as anyone else. The Sterling family had long been fierce rivals of the Sullivans in both business and politics. When Wendell Sterling had lost the mayoral election, he had apparently stooped to drastic measures, resorting to attempts on his opponent’s life. Julian couldn’t help but wonder if the same Sterlings the mayor was talking about had any connections to this organization. And if they were connected—and it also turned out that the old woman, Elizabeth Sterling, whom he had met at Harper & Co. Headquarters had ties to them, then Julian would need to be wary of her intentions. Helen sighed, exasperation evident in her words. “Don’t worry, Master Julian. We’ve set up enough security to handle the Sterlings. There’s
Master Julian? Who the hell was that? Helen had no idea who the new woman was talking about but she couldn’t help being intrigued because the title meant he was important.The mayor, despite not being in control here, had a dark expression as he asked. “Who are you, how dare you…” “Quite, mayor Sullivan.” Celeste demanded sharply as she stopped beside Julian and Nyx.Julian finally stepped forward, addressing the mayor directly. “I can assure you that I'm not here to cause harm. “ He promised.The mayor and Helen both seemed to ease slightly at his words, but Helen’s expression quickly hardened into a scowl. “What do you want, then?” she demanded, her voice sharp. “And did your friend really have to kill our security team?”Julian’s gaze drifted briefly to the bodies on the floor. He couldn’t suppress the faint chill that ran through him at the sight. Nyx’s methods, while undeniably effective, were far from ideal. He didn’t approve of the bloodshed, but he also understood the reality
For the first time, Helen’s aloof mask slipped, revealing some doubt in her eyes. Seeing how unfazed Julian was, despite his life being on the line here, she wondered why? What was he planning? No, a better question was who was this man?“Is that supposed to be believable?” she began, her voice laced with sarcasm.Before she could finish her sentence, the sound of heavy footsteps filled the air. Julian turned to see more than a dozen men entering the terrace. At their center, walking with them into the terrace was an imposing and intimidating figure: the mayor himself. His presence commanded respect, but his sharp gaze was filled with suspicion as he shot julian a look.“Father,” Helen said, her voice shifting to relief. She felt relived knowing that she didn have to deal with this assassin, the mayor would take care of it.The mayor didn’t acknowledge his daughter because his attention was locked on Julian. And, with a single hand gesture from the mayor, his men pointed their weapo