Chapter 6 - The Currency of Love
By mid-afternoon, the reality of Julian's world began knocking at the perimeter. His phone buzzed persistently on the marble island—calls from legal teams, European investors, and his chief of staff.
Finally, Julian slid the phone across the counter and tapped the screen to power it off completely.
"You have an earnings call at three," Clara observed, noticing the caller ID before the display went dark. "I still read the financial papers."
"Let them wait," Julian replied evenly. "For five years, I let paper determine my worth. It won't happen today."
He walked over to his briefcase, retrieved a thick leather folder, and placed it before Clara.
"What is this?" she asked warily, crossing her arms.
"A trust indenture," Julian answered. "It transfers forty percent of my personal equity in Vance Capital directly to Leo, overseen by an independent guardian trust. And a deed to a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, registered entirely under your name. No nondisclosure agreements. No conditions. No Vance board oversight."
Clara didn't touch the folder. Her eyes hardened with a flash of the woman who had walked out of his life without a dime.
"Take it back," she said flatly.
"Clara, please. It’s security—"
"I told you, Julian! I didn't come here to trade my son for real estate!" Her voice rose, vibrant and raw. "You think money fixes the fact that you weren't there when he had roseola? You think a brownstone replaces the nine months I carried him alone? Leo doesn't need your millions. He needs to know if his father is a man of substance or just another wealthy specter who buys his way out of guilt!"
May you like
Julian flinched, the words striking straight into his marrow. He looked at the folder, then slowly picked it up and dropped it into the wastebasket beside the island.
"You’re right," Julian whispered, his head bowed. "Forgive me. It's the only language I was ever taught. Teach me another one."
