Chapter 2 - The Aftermath
The heavy mahogany doors of Julian's private study shut, cutting off the sounds of the escalating scandal in the grand hall below.
I stood awkwardly near the door, Lily still clutching my leg, burying her face in the black fabric of my uniform. The study was a sanctuary of dark leather, rare books, and the scent of expensive bourbon.
Julian walked over to his desk, poured a glass of amber liquid, and stared out the window into the howling blizzard.
"Sit down," he ordered quietly. Not a request.
I moved to the edge of a leather chesterfield sofa, pulling Lily onto my lap. "Mr. Vance, I... I am so sorry. I didn't mean to cause a scene. I should have kept her quiet."
He turned, leaning against the edge of his mahogany desk, the glass in his hand untouched. "Do not apologize for the truth. You saved me from marrying a parasite." He paused, his gaze narrowing slightly as he took in my trembling form. "You said your husband died in a warehouse fire four years ago. A site missing sprinklers."
I swallowed hard, fear spiking in my chest. "Yes, sir."
"What was his name?"
"Michael. Michael Hayes."
Julian set his glass down with a heavy thud. He walked over to a filing cabinet, pulling a thick leather-bound ledger from the top drawer. "The warehouse on 5th and Main? Owned by the Sterling Group?"
My blood ran cold. The Sterling Group. Eleanor's family. "Yes."
Julian's jaw clenched so hard a muscle feathered in his cheek. He crouched down until he was eye-level with me. The sheer proximity of him—the heat radiating from his large frame, the faint scent of cedar and power—made my breath hitch.
"I suspected the Sterlings were falsifying safety inspections to cover embezzled funds," Julian said, his voice dangerously low. "I have been looking for the missing piece to destroy her father's empire. Michael Hayes was the whistleblower they silenced."
I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth. Tears spilled over my eyelashes. "They... they killed him?"
Julian reached out, his large, warm thumb gently wiping a tear from my cheek. The contact sent a jolt of electricity straight to my core. "They did. And Eleanor thought she could trap me with a fake heir to merge our assets and save her family from bankruptcy."
He stood up, his presence filling the room. "Pack your things. You and Lily are moving out of the staff quarters. You're taking the guest suite in the east wing."
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"Mr. Vance, I can't—"
"Julian," he corrected, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made the room spin. "And it isn't a request. The Sterlings are going to be desperate now. Desperate people are dangerous. You are under my protection."
