Chapter 51 - A Familiar Face
|
The rain lashed against the tall windows of the St. Moritz lobby, casting distorted, watery shadows across the marble floor. It was late on a Tuesday evening, and Sienna was the last executive left in the building, finalizing the payroll for the upcoming month.
The heavy front doors swung open, letting in a gust of cold wind and damp air.
Sienna looked up from the concierge desk, expecting a late-arriving guest. Instead, a figure stepped out of the shadows, shaking the water from a sleek, unmarked umbrella.
It was Julian Thorne.
He looked different. The immaculate, arrogant posture that had once defined him was gone. He wore a simple, dark trench coat, and the sharp lines of his face were softened by exhaustion. He did not look like a corporate king; he looked like a man who had spent months wandering in the wilderness.
Sienna immediately stiffened, stepping out from behind the desk.
"Julian," Sienna said, her voice echoing slightly in the empty lobby. "I did not expect to see you here again. Especially not at this hour."
Julian stopped a few feet away, offering a small, self-deprecating smile.
"I know I am the last person you want to see, Sienna," Julian said, his voice quiet and devoid of its usual sneer. "But I didn't know where else to go. I don't have many allies left in this city."
"We are not allies, Julian," Sienna reminded him firmly. "You tried to destroy my legacy."
"I tried, and I failed," Julian acknowledged, his eyes meeting hers with genuine humility. "You showed me mercy in The Vault when I deserved absolute ruin. I have spent the last six months reflecting on that."
"Reflection is good," Sienna said cautiously. "But why are you standing in my lobby soaking wet?"
Julian reached into the inner pocket of his trench coat and pulled out a damp, folded dossier.
"Because Vanguard is coming for you, Sienna," Julian said, his expression turning deadly serious. "Evelyn, the woman who took my job, is the one funding Obsidian Holdings. She plans to use the minority shares to initiate a massive, fraudulent class-action lawsuit against the St. Moritz to bankrupt your legal reserves."
May you like
Sienna stared at him, her heart skipping a beat. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because Vanguard took my life's work," Julian whispered, a flicker of his old fire returning to his eyes. "And Evelyn thinks she is untouchable. I want to help you destroy her."
