Chapter 7
With my side of the mess wrapped up, it was time for Julian to clean house on his end.
Ever since our marriage, opportunists had started crawling out of the shadows, eager to strike before Julian could fully settle into his position.
In his office, he slammed a stack of documents onto the desk in front of me. His finger tapped the top report: an internal audit.
“My uncle embezzled twenty million last month. He really thinks I’m just a seat warmer.”
I flipped it open. Everything was there: transactions, bank trails, even hotel receipts with his mistress.
I shut the folder. “What’s your next move?”
Julian stood, the lines of his black tailored suit razor–sharp. “Tomorrow’s board meeting. I’m making them cough it all up.”
The next day in the Executive Boardroom at Grant Corp headquarters, Julian sat at the head of the long mahogany table. His uncle, Richard Grant, was already pounding the desk.
“Julian! Who gave you the right to freeze my accounts? I’m your elder!”
Julian didn’t flinch, casually spinning his pen. “Uncle Richard, how much did you lose at the Vegas tables on March 16, 2019?”
The room went dead silent.
“Want me to jog your memory?” he said, pressing a button.
The projector lit up with bank records.
“$2.3 million–pulled from the Educational Fund of Grant Corp. Ring a bell?”
Murmurs rippled through the board. Only one person jumped in to deflect–Julian’s other uncle, Andrew.
“Julian, come on now. Family matters shouldn’t be aired like this…”
Julian cut him a glare, appearing cool and dangerous.
“Uncle Andrew, considering your own fire’s already licking your heels, maybe you should stay quiet.” He tilted his head. “Or do you want me to talk about the land you sold at a loss to your mistress last year?”
I passed Julian another folder, which he flicked onto the table.
“Here’s a full breakdown of funds all of you have been ‘borrowing‘ over the years. Two options, folks.” He raised one finger. ” One: repay every penny within three days, interest included.”
A second finger joined. “Two: I call Captain Whitman at the Economic Crime Unit and let him take it from here.”
Jackson, another uncle of Julian’s, shouted with gray face. “You–are you trying to destroy us?!”
Julian smiled a slow, cold smile that made every hair on my arms rise. “Oh, and Uncle Jackson? Your grandson’s tuition in the UK must be expensive.”
He leaned in. “Imagine if the school received a little package–say, some evidence of his mother’s involvement in the misuse of public funds…”
Jackson lurched to his feet, nearly knocking over his chair. “You wouldn’t dare!”
Julian didn’t move or interrupt. He just stared him down.
These men had once seen Julian as a harmless party boy, someone easy to control and ignore. A pawn.
1/2
Chapter 7
+15 Bonus
However, now faced with undeniable proof, none of them dared to test where his limits ended.
Unsurprisingly, Jackson folded first. “I’ll pay it. I’ll have it all returned tomorrow.”
Within ten minutes, the boardroom was empty–except for us.
Julian loosened his tie and let out a heavy breath.
I walked over and gently massaged his temples. “You handled that beautifully.”
He leaned into my touch, his eyes closed. “Claire, was I too brutal?”
I kissed the top of his head. “This is business. Mercy to your enemies is cruelty to yourself.”
Julian turned and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me in tight. “Good thing I’ve got you in my corner.”
Three days later, every cent was returned.
At the next board meeting, Julian announced the formation of a new Oversight Committee under my direct control. He swept his eyes across the room, his voice calm but sharp enough to draw blood as he declared, “I will cut the hands off anyone caught stealing again.”
That night, we celebrated with a private dinner.
Tipsy and flushed, Julian curled up on the couch like an oversized golden retriever, head buried in my neck.
“Babe, I did good, right?”
I laughed, tucking the blanket around him. “You were brilliant, Mr. Grant.”
He chuckled lowly, then caught my lips with his, stealing kiss after kiss. Eventually, he sighed and whispered against my skin,‘ I’m tired. It’s been so long since I let myself be vulnerable. Since I let anyone in.
”
“Ever since my parents died, everyone’s been trying to push me out of the family. Every mistake, every rumor… they pounced on it, trying to bury me.
“There was a time I didn’t even dare eat the eggs my housekeeper brought me. I thought they might be poisoned.
“I had to make myself look harmless. Useless. Just to survive.”
My heart ached for him. I pressed my lips to the corner of his eye, gently brushing away the tears.
“You’ve been strong for so long. I can’t promise to shield you from everything, but I’ll always be right here. Your anchor. Your partner. Whatever fight you want, I’m in it with you.”
Julian blinked at me, then tugged me closer, his voice low and mischievous as he asked, “You mean that? Then how about… giving me a little genius version of you? A smart, tiny Claire?”
I laughed as he kissed me, gentle yet hungry, pouring every shred of emotion into it.
The stars glittered outside the window, but nothing outshone the warmth of the man beside me, and in that moment, I knew.
This marriage? It was never just about business.
It could only be him.
