Chapter 10
The elevator chimes rang softly as the doors slid open to the fortieth floor. Leo stepped out, wearing a clean blue button-down shirt that bore a striking resemblance to the tan one he had worn months ago, though this one fit a little better. He held his father's hand tightly for a brief second before letting go, stepping into Julian’s spacious office with an air of quiet confidence.
Julian stood up from his desk, walking over to meet the boy. He wasn't wearing a tuxedo jacket today; just a simple dark blazer over an open-collared shirt, looking far more approachable than he had at the head of that long wooden dining table.
"Hey, Leo," Julian said, offering his hand.
Leo shook it firmly, remembering his manners. "Hi, Mr. Vance."
"Call me Julian," he corrected gently. He turned back to his desk and picked up a small, heavy rectangular box wrapped in dark blue paper, sliding it across the polished wood toward the boy.
Leo looked up at his father, who nodded encouragingly, before stepping forward to unwrap the package. Inside rested a brand-new, high-end tablet computer, alongside a thick, hardbound book on architecture and engineering—subjects Arthur had mentioned his son was obsessed with.
"You saved my life, Leo," Julian said, his voice carrying a quiet, resonant gravity that made the room fall still. "And because of that, I wanted to make sure you have the tools to build whatever future you want. No limits, no obstacles."
Leo traced his fingers over the cover of the book, his eyes wide with wonder. "Is this... are these real blueprints?"
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"Real architectural drafts of skyscrapers and bridges," Julian confirmed. "If you want to build things that last, you have to start with a solid foundation. You taught me that lesson, and now I'm passing it on to you."
Arthur stood near the window, watching the interaction with a thick tightness in his throat. He cleared his throat quietly, blinking away the sudden moisture in his eyes. The nightmare of the past year felt like a distant shadow, completely swallowed by the bright afternoon light streaming through the massive glass windows.
