Julien Baker Partner Novels & Stories

"I want the intellectual property rights transferred by Friday, or I start pulling the funding from your other partners." Sloane leaned forward, her voice a cold blade. "You're overreaching, Julian. This isn't a hostile takeover of a failing startup; this is a partnership. You can't just gut the foundation because you enjoy the sound of things breaking." Julian’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smirk. He stood up, not to leave, but to circle the table. The sound of his leather shoes on the hardwood was rhythmic, like a countdown. He stopped directly behind her, the heat radiating from his body making the small hairs on her neck stand up. He didn't touch her—not yet—but he leaned in, his b

I followed, my footsteps echoing on the polished floor. Inside the elevator, Julian pressed the button for the penthouse. As the doors closed, his phone rang. He answered without hesitation. "Nate." He paused. "No, I can't meet tonight." A pause again. I could hear a male voice on the other end, questioning. "Because I just got married." Julian's jaw tightened. "It's complicated. Fine. Tomorrow." He hung up and glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "That was my business partner. He'll want to meet you." Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. "Fair warning—Nate has a habit of seeing good in people where none exists. Don't mistake his kindness for anything more than curiosity."

No matter how powerful I was, how much control I had, Elena always had a way of making me feel like a pawn in a game I no longer knew the rules of. Sighing, I pulled my phone out of my bag and dialed Alex’s number. It rang twice before he answered. "Gina," his voice was cautious, and I knew why. Our last conversation hadn’t ended well. "I’ve made a decision," I said, keeping my tone firm. "I’m going into a partnership with Julian’s company." There was silence on the line. Then Alex let out a breathy chuckle. "Excuse me? I thought you said that company was barely surviving. That it wasn’t worth your time."

"Especially now that I know what a real partner looks like." Nathaniel’s face twisted into an ugly, sneering mask of humiliation and impotent rage. "A real partner? Oh, please. Everyone in the city knows about your little arrangement, Ravencourt. It's a business contract. A PR stunt. You're paying her a retainer to play house for the tabloids!" Julian didn't blink. He didn't flinch or look away. Instead, a slow, terrifyingly arrogant smile touched the corners of his mouth.

We stood together for a moment, the noise of the gala continuing around us, neither of us quite certain how to fill the silence that stretched between us, though it carried none of the guarded tension I might have expected given everything we'd navigated this past year. "I heard about Hartford-Blackwood International," Julien said finally. "The merger, Veridian's collapse. You've built something remarkable." "We have," I said. "Ethan's been an extraordinary partner." Something flickered briefly across Julien's expression at Ethan's name, quickly smoothed away, though I noticed it clearly enough. "I'm glad," he said, and something in his voice carried genuine sincerity despite whatever discom

For a brief moment, something flashed across his face, surprise, recognition, and something warmer. Sarah continued talking. “Julian has worked at some of the biggest agencies in New York. We’re lucky to have him. He’ll be leading the new campaign for the Thompson account.” Julian smiled politely at the team. “I’m excited to be here. I’ve heard great things about all of you.” His voice was deeper than Lila remembered, more smooth and steady. When his gaze returned to her, he gave a small, professional nod. “Nice to meet everyone,” he said. But his eyes stayed on Lila a second longer.

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Lydia tilted her chin toward the backyard. “You see that man out there?” Violet followed her gaze. It landed on Henri—the same man from the hot tub—pacing the backyard with a glass in hand, scanning the crowd. “That’s Henri. One of the top execs of France’s biggest private fund. His family’s tied to the medical network across Europe—exactly the kind of connection Julian’s Medi AI company needs. With their backing, Julian’s businesses could expand into Europe overnight. He’d never have to bow to his stepmother or cousin again.”

"But seriously, what about Juliana? You guys dated back in the university days. I know it ended, but you’ve been seeing her a lot lately. Everyone thinks you two are getting back together." Juliana. She was the daughter of one of my father’s oldest business partners. She was polished, wealthy, and knew exactly which wine to pair with dinner. We had been the perfect couple on paper, but the spark had died out long ago. Now, we are just trying to merge a few businesses together. "It’s just business, Alex," I said firmly. "We meet because we have a contract to finalize. That’s it." "Is it just business, though?" Alex asked, his eyes turning serious for a second. "Because Juliana doesn't look at

“Rough first day, huh?” I turned to find a man leaning against the counter, all easy charm and sharp cheekbones. He’s in a suit almost as expensive as Damien’s, but his smile is warmer, less predatory. “I’m Julian,” he says, extending a hand. “Julian Carter. I do business with Damien. And you’re Ariana Blake, the talk of the office.” I shake his hand, warily. “Talk of the office? Already?” He laughs, a sound that’s too smooth, too practiced.

Jonah was right—Julien and Blake were polar opposites. Blake was gentle and quiet, with a demeanor so unassuming that it bordered on demure. He wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this, let alone interacting with such shady men. Jonah once said that being with Blake made him feel safe and content, leading Evan to believe he sought a loving and understanding partner. Julien, however, shattered that assumption. While strikingly handsome and bearing a resemblance to Blake, Julien was volatile and unyielding—the polar opposite of everything Blake represented.