Chapter 5: The Perfect Fiancé

Julian Ashford arrived at Sterling Group headquarters a little after one in the afternoon.

Audrey had called him almost immediately after the board meeting ended.

She wanted him to hear two things from her before the formal request reached Ashford Global: Sterling would be asking for additional financial records, and she wanted the guarantee terms on their joint project reviewed.

Julian had not sounded surprised.

“I understand. I’m nearby anyway. Have you eaten?”

When she admitted she had not, the conversation had ended there.

Less than an hour later, he appeared in Audrey’s office carrying a paper bag from one of the restaurants she used regularly.

“I assumed you’d forget to eat after the board meeting.”

“I didn’t forget. I postponed it.”

“In most civilized parts of the world, that still counts as forgetting.”

Julian smiled as he set the bag on the table.

He looked exactly as he had the night before.

Calm voice. Immaculate clothes. The kind of effortless presence that never seemed to demand attention and yet always belonged wherever he happened to be.

There was only one difference today.

Another man stood near the wall.

Nathan remained a few feet from the windows, making no attempt to involve himself in the conversation.

Julian looked toward him.

“Nathan Mercer?”

“Yes.”

The two men exchanged a brief handshake.

“Richard told me what happened last night. Thank you for taking care of Audrey.”

“It’s my job.”

“I’m grateful anyway.”

Julian did not seem bothered by Nathan’s lack of warmth. He simply turned back to Audrey.

“All right. Tell me what you found in Ashford’s numbers.”

Audrey opened the documents she had reviewed that morning.

She explained the revised guarantees, the increased capital exposure, and her request for additional records connected to Ashford’s funds over the previous three years.

Julian listened without interrupting.

When she finished, his expression had not changed.

“I think that’s reasonable.”

Audrey looked up.

“You’re not angry?”

“Why would I be?”

“I’m effectively asking for additional scrutiny of my fiancé’s company.”

“Which is exactly why you should. If anything, it would be worse if people thought Sterling lowered its standards because we’re engaged.”

Julian pulled the documents closer and read Section Seven.

“I’ll review this change myself. I’ll have the team that restructured the terms explain exactly why they did it. And we’ll provide the fund records from the last three years. There’s no reason not to.”

The answer came so easily that Audrey let out a quiet breath.

“I thought you’d say that.”

“Then you probably didn’t need to worry quite so much.”

“I’m not questioning you personally.”

“I know.”

Julian smiled.

“How many years have we known each other? I’m well aware you’re merciless when it comes to business.”

That drew a small smile from Audrey.

This was what made being with Julian easy.

He understood her family, her work, and what the Sterling name demanded of her. There were things she did not have to explain to him because he had spent his life inside the same kind of world.

In that sense, they spoke the same language.

As they unpacked lunch, Julian’s expression grew more serious.

“What about last night?”

“The police and security are looking into it. There was another delivery this morning. Flowers with no sender.”

Julian’s hand stopped.

“Flowers?”

“White roses. Nothing dangerous was found in them, but they were left outside a conference room that had only been added to my schedule this morning.”

The smile disappeared from his face.

“Why didn’t you tell me that on the phone?”

“Because we don’t know whether it’s connected.”

“Audrey.”

There was no accusation in his voice.

That was what made the concern in it more obvious.

“You try to handle everything yourself. I know that. But this isn’t the kind of problem you get to evaluate alone.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

Julian watched her for a moment, then exhaled.

“I’m not going to tell you to stop working. You wouldn’t listen anyway.”

“You know me well.”

“I’m asking you not to decide by yourself what counts as dangerous. Richard, me, Mercer—it doesn’t matter who. Let someone else make that call with you.”

Audrey could not argue with him.

The night before, she had opened the white envelope alone.

This morning, she might have touched the roses herself if Nathan had not stopped her.

“All right.”

Only then did Julian smile again.

“Good.”

By the time they finished lunch, Audrey’s afternoon schedule was about to begin.

She walked Julian as far as the office entrance. He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

“I’ll call tonight.”

“My meetings may run late.”

“I’ll be awake.”

Julian started toward the elevators, then glanced back at Nathan.

“Mercer.”

“Yes.”

“If there’s anything about Audrey’s schedule I should know—changes, security concerns—would you let me know?”

Nathan’s answer was calm.

“Any information relevant to Ms. Sterling’s protection will be shared through Ms. Sterling herself or Mr. Sterling.”

There was the briefest pause.

Then Julian smiled.

“Of course. That makes sense.”

He disappeared into the elevator as though nothing unusual had happened.

Audrey watched the doors close before turning toward Nathan.

“You won’t tell my fiancé either?”

“If there’s a reason he needs to know, he’ll know.”

“You’re thorough.”

“We discussed this morning that too many people already have access to your schedule.”

It was difficult to argue with that.

Audrey turned back toward her office with a sigh.

“Dating you must be exhausting.”

“I have no plans to date anyone.”

The answer was so flat that Audrey looked back before she could stop herself.

Nathan was already watching the corridor again.

He almost certainly had no idea he had said anything remotely amusing.

Audrey shook her head and kept walking.

At that point, there was no reason whatsoever for her to suspect Julian Ashford of anything.