Chapter 9 - THE RECORDING
Eleanor’s apartment overlooked Central Park.
Julian arrived at 9:05 p.m.
Victoria opened the door.
“You came.”
“Of course I came.”
She hugged him.
Julian did not return the embrace.
Eleanor waited in the living room.
A bottle of wine sat open on the table.
“You look terrible.”
Julian gave a tired laugh.
“My wife left me.”
Eleanor’s expression softened.
“She lied to you.”
Julian sat down.
“She lied about her name.”
“Exactly.”
Victoria sat beside him.
“She manipulated you.”
Julian stared at the floor.
“I do not know what to believe anymore.”
The sentence worked.
Eleanor relaxed.
For the next twenty minutes, Julian let them talk.
They told him Elena had targeted him.
They told him Thomas Sterling wanted Vance Holdings.
They told him Arthur had become too old to recognize danger.
Then Julian asked the question he had come to ask.
“What happens if the board removes me?”
Eleanor leaned forward.
“We protect the company.”
“How?”
“A temporary voting structure.”
“Controlled by you?”
Eleanor hesitated.
“By people who understand what is at stake.”
Julian nodded slowly.
“And Northstar Meridian?”
Victoria froze.
Eleanor’s eyes sharpened.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Grandfather.”
Silence.
Julian looked at his mother.
“Tell me the truth.”
Eleanor studied him.
Then she sighed.
“Northstar is leverage.”
“Against whom?”
“Arthur.”
Victoria interrupted.
“You do not need the details.”
Julian turned toward her.
“I am the one losing everything.”
That struck the right nerve.
Eleanor reached across the table.
“You are not losing anything.”
“Once Arthur is removed from active control, the board will appoint temporary leadership.”
“Then you return.”
Julian looked confused.
“Why would they return control to me?”
“Because the scandal will disappear.”
“How?”
Victoria smiled.
“Because Elena will take the blame.”
Julian’s heartbeat accelerated.
He forced himself to remain still.
Eleanor continued.
“The forged documents establish that she influenced the transfers.”
“Her hidden identity establishes motive.”
“Her father’s debt purchases establish coordination.”
Julian swallowed.
“And the necklace?”
Victoria laughed.
“That was just to start the fire.”
May you like
Inside Julian’s jacket pocket, his phone continued recording.
For the first time in his life, he understood exactly what betrayal sounded like.
