After leaving the chairman's office, Julian headed to the grand meeting room, with Nyx and Celeste by his side. He walked in with confidence and authority, his presence commanding attention.The meeting room was filled with the most influential figures in the consortium from board members to other key executives, including the President. Blackwood consortium's president was Damien Emerson, a man in his fifties, known for his strategic mind and loyalty to the company. Julian remembered him, because he used to work very close to Julian's family back then.All eyes turned to Julian as he walked around the table and took a seat reserved for the head of the consortium, making it clear who was in charge now. But, his action caught some in the room off guard. They didn't know who he was, so they exchanged puzzled glances, some whispering among themselves, questioning who he was and why he dared to sit in the seat meant for the most powerful person in the room. That seat was reserved for Da
Tate was very calculative, and Julian knew he had to be careful around him. Julianโs expression remained unreadable, but inside, his irritation sharpened. โRedistribute?โ he asked, as if he didn't hear him the first time.Dave nodded, โA small adjustment. Nothing drastic. But by allowing select board members to increase their stakes, youโd be demonstrating your commitment to the stability.โ His tone was smooth and practiced. โA show of trust, Julian.โA show of trust huh? Julian thought to himself. At this moment, he couldn't trust Dave Tate. A tense silence settled between them.Julian let the silence go on for a little bit longer, he studied Dave, trying to figure out what he was thinking. What was he planning?Well, he didn't need to think too much about it, he could already see the game Dave was playing, disguising a power grab as an act of goodwill. If Julian had to guess, Dave Tate was the one who wanted the shares for himself, so that he can have even more influence in the co
Only when Julian spoke did Dave Tate finally look up from his documents.He had heard Julian walk in, of course. But being the man that he was, he had deliberately chosen to ignore him and make him wait. It was a silent display of power from him, a reminder that when it came to the Blackwood consortium, time moved at his pace and not Julianโs. He might be the heir to the consortium, but that hardly mattered here, especially when he had been away for so long.Slowly moving his gaze away from the documents and looking at Julian, Dave Tate finally acknowledged him, setting the document aside. His expression was casual, unreadable, yet there was an undeniable weight behind his eyes, one that spoke of experience, calculation, and quiet authority."Mr. Blackwood," he said, his tone cool and controlled. "I was wondering when we'd finally meet.โDave Tate leaned back in his chair, studying Julian for a moment before gesturing to the seat across from him. "Take a seat."Julian gave a little n
Meanwhile, Julian arrived at the headquarters of the Blackwood Consortium.It was a luxurious skyscraper, towering over the city with its sleek glass exterior reflecting the afternoon sun. The structure had an impressive modern design, with its dark tinted windows. It was a very tall building. Julian took a moment to admire the view. A faint smile made its way to his lips, a part of him was glad he was back here again after being away for so long. The building was one of the tallest and most luxurious buildings, with more than 200 floors and a design that stood as a testament to the sheer power and influence of the Blackwood Consortium. From the moment he stepped foot here, Julian felt a strange sense of belonging, maybe it was because he was stepping back into a world that had always been his. But at the same time, there was also an unease at the pit of his stomach. It scared him, knowing that he wasnโt just returning as an heir. He was stepping into a battlefield. His enemies
Julian stood over the captive, his cold gaze locked onto him, as he was lying on his back, still tied to the chair. There wasnโt a trace of mercy in his expression, only a chilling look and unrelenting determination.Without needing a command, one of the guards stepped forward, gripping the chair and hauling both it and the captive upright. The man gasped, his breathing ragged, his earlier smugness shattered and nowhere to be seen.When the captive realized that his earlier answer didnโt satisfy Julian, he was even more afraid. โThatโs all I know!โ the captive blurted, shaking his head violently. โI swear! I never met the guy who paid me. Got the job through a middleman. No names, no details, just a target and a payout!โ The same person who was acting all tough earlier and claiming he would never break, was now revealing every thing before Julian, hoping that by the end of this, he would he able to save his skin.Julian stood still, his gaze cold as he studied the captive. He wonder
The shooter had a fearful look for half a second after he heard Julianโs words, but then he chuckled dryly, shaking his head. โYeah? And what are you gonna do, tough guy? Older you lackeys to beat me until I pass out again?โ He tilted his chin up, his smirk resembling that of someone filled with arrogance, despite the fact that he had no control here,โYouโre wasting your time. Iโm not saying a damn thing. So do what you gotta do.โJulian exhaled audibly, a hint of irritation flashing across his face. He was already getting fed up with this person. He was playing tough, but that wouldnโt last, not with what Julian had planned out for him. One way or another, Julian had to make him speak, and so he needed to shift tactics. Julianโs expression darkened as he shot a look at Nyx. No words were needed from Julian, Nyx already understood the assignment.Without hesitation, she stepped forward and grabbed the manโs hand, twisting it at an unnatural angle. A loud crack echoed through the holdi
Julian laid down on his bed, thinking about his and Scarlettโs relationship, eventually sleep overtook him before he even knew it.The following day in the morning, Julian arrived at a warehouse where he was keeping the person who had shot the mayor. He walked through the warehouse entrance with Nyx and a bunch of armed security personnel following behind him.He made his way into the holding area with Nyx, while the armed men remained outside, securing the perimeter for any danger. If the shooterโs associates, or anyone else, tried to interfere, theyโd be ready. Inside there were about five guys dressed in tactical gear, watching over the shooter to make sure he didn't escape.Julian gave a small signal with his fingers, and one of the guards yanked the blindfold off the captives head. The man blinked rapidly, his eyes adjusting to the dim light, before they shifted slowly to stare at Julian and Nyx who stood before him. His eyes lingered longer on Nyx, remembering that she was the
After leaving the hotel, Julian returned home. In the evening around 10 pm as he lay on his bed, scrolling through his phone, trying to find some public Information about his enemies . His eyebrows arched when it suddenly vibrated. Seeing that Scarlett was calling, he paused for a moment.He had forgotten that Scarlett was in the hotel ballroom during the shooting. He wondered if she had made it out safely amidst all the chaos and panic.He answered the call and pressed the phone to his ear.โHey, Julian,โ Scarlettโs voice came through, soft but concerned.โAre you okay?โ she asked. โHow are you feeling?โJulian couldnโt help but grin, leaning back on his bed. She asked how he was doing. Was she worried about him now? He didnโt expect that. Honestly, Scarlett had always been aloof and cold toward him at first. It was hard to believe that now she could tolerate him like this. It was almost as ifโฆ she cared about him all of a sudden.โAw, look at that,โ he couldnโt stop himself from te
โWhere is he?โ the mayor demanded as Julian approached him and Helen. He rose from the stretcher, his face was a mask of anger and determination. โWhere is the son of a bitch who dared to shoot me? Bring him to me.โJulian was taken aback by the mayors sudden behavior. All of a sudden he was acting like this? Julian expression remained calm, almost indifferent. โHeโs in my custody,โ he replied, his voice showing how much he couldnโt care less about the mayor's outburst, โIโll interrogate him and let you know what I find out.โBut Mayor Sullivan frowned after hearing Julianโs words. He glared deep into Julianโs eyes as if trying to scare him into giving up custody of the shooter. The mayor didnโt agree with Julian because he wanted to do the interrogation himself. Actually, he didnโt need to interrogate the shooter because he already knew who had sent him and why. But that wasnโt the point. He wanted to use the shooter to send a message to the organization, letting them know that the