Chapter 2 - The Viper in Silk
The master study was a massive room lined with dark mahogany shelves and soundproof glass windows overlooking the raging Atlantic Ocean.
Julian poured himself two fingers of neat bourbon, staring at the gray waves crashing violently against the rocky cliffs below.
The heavy oak doors swung open smoothly, and Victoria Sterling confidently glided into the room.
She wore a breathtaking crimson designer dress, her blonde hair styled to absolute perfection.
"Darling, you are home a whole day early from Miami," she purred, walking gracefully toward him.
Julian did not offer her a drink, nor did he move to embrace his beautiful, treacherous bride-to-be.
"Why did you lock Elena Evans in the sub-basement three days ago?" Julian asked, skipping the pleasantries entirely.
Victoria stopped dead in her tracks, her perfectly manicured hands fluttering nervously to her diamond necklace.
"Julian, whatever you have heard, that crazy little boy is simply making up malicious stories," she laughed nervously.
"The kitchen staff said she had a sudden family emergency and carelessly abandoned her post."
Julian picked up a heavy crystal decanter and suddenly smashed it violently against the stone fireplace.
Shattered glass exploded across the Persian rug, making Victoria scream and jump backward in genuine terror.
"I pulled her out of that freezing room myself twenty minutes ago, Victoria," his voice dropped to a lethal, terrifying whisper.
Her beautiful face drained of all color, instantly transforming her from a confident queen to a terrified prisoner.
"She was listening at the door of my private sitting room," Victoria finally confessed, her voice shaking violently.
"She heard a highly sensitive phone conversation that she was absolutely never supposed to hear."
Julian closed the distance between them, his towering shadow completely engulfing her trembling figure.
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"Who were you talking to on that phone, Victoria?" he demanded.
She opened her mouth to speak, but a sudden, massive explosion violently rocked the eastern wing of the estate.
