Chapter 10 - The Trojan Director
Julian’s eyes narrowed into slits of ice. ""Who?""
""Arthur Vance,"" Victoria replied, pulling up a series of transaction logs on the tablet. ""Your father's oldest confidant. The man who gave the eulogy at his funeral.""
Julian felt a cold fury settle in his chest. Arthur Vance was the godfather who had presented Julian with his first pocket watch when he was ten. Vance had been the one to guide Julian through the complex legal maze of reclaiming the Ashford empire after his father’s suspicious plane crash in the Andes.
""Vance orchestrated the crash,"" Julian whispered, the pieces violently slotting into place. ""He didn't just help my father; he eliminated him. And when I survived the wilderness and came back to claim the seat, he realized he couldn't control me. So he manipulated Eleanor into believing she was protecting the bloodline, while feeding Marcus the promises of total monopoly.""
""Precisely,"" Victoria said. ""Vance is coming here right now under the guise of an emergency board intervention to demand your resignation following the 'tragedy' of the failed wedding. He doesn't know Marcus failed. He doesn't know the FBI is already in the east wing.""
Julian looked over at Clara and Leo on the terrace. The child was laughing faintly as Clara wiped hot chocolate from his chin. Clara looked up, catching Julian’s eye across the patio. In her expression was no lingering resentment—only the fierce, protective determination of a mother who had survived hell to bring her family together.
Julian set his coffee cup down on the stone balustrade.
""Victoria,"" Julian said calmly. ""Are you prepared to play the grieving, betrayed bride one last time?""
Victoria touched the faint red mark on her neck where the thermite choker had rested hours before. A predatory, razor-sharp smile touched the corners of her lips.
""I was born to play this role, Julian. What do you need me to do?""
""Go to the drawing room. Sit by the fire. Look ruined, hysterical, and defeated. Let Vance believe his plan worked completely. Let him confess his leverage to you before the federal agents step out from behind the mahogany panels.""
Victoria nodded once, turning on her heel with immaculate grace, her silver gown rustling across the marble.
Julian walked toward the terrace. As he approached, Leo looked up, his small face brightening.
""Are the bad men gone, Dad?"" Leo asked.
Julian knelt before the bench, taking the boy’s small, warm hands into his own. ""Almost, Leo. Just one more snake to catch. Then we go home.""
Clara placed her hand over Julian’s knuckles, her eyes searching his. ""Where is home, Julian?""
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Julian looked at her, the ghost of the boy who had loved her in Valparaíso surfacing through the billionaire’s armor.
""Wherever you and our son are,"" he said. ""Even if I have to burn this entire empire to the ground to keep it safe.""
