Chapter 4
The path to the north shore boathouse was unlit, demanding careful footing through the tangled roots and damp moss of the estate’s neglected acreage. Julian walked alone, the damp autumn fog clinging to the dark velvet of his tuxedo jacket. The lake water lapped softly against the rotting wooden pilings of the structure, creating a rhythmic, hypnotic sound that masked his footsteps. A single yellow light burned inside the dusty window of the upper loft, casting a warm, inviting glow against the dark, looming pines.
Julian climbed the creaking wooden stairs, his heart beating a steady, measured rhythm against his ribs. He did not knock; he simply turned the brass knob, finding the door unlocked as if an invitation had been waiting for him all along.
Inside, the loft was surprisingly sparse, devoid of personal clutter except for a leather briefcase resting on a rustic wooden table. Maya sat in a wicker rocking chair by the window, having changed out of her glittering evening gown into a simple charcoal turtleneck and dark denim. She was looking out at the dark expanse of the water, holding a mug of steaming black coffee.
"You took your time getting here, Julian," Maya said without turning around. "I expected you right after midnight."
Julian closed the door quietly behind him, leaning his back against the heavy wood. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Maya. Aunt Eleanor is terrified, and desperate people do irrational things. She won’t hesitate to use her connections to make you disappear from this town."
Maya finally turned her head, her dark eyes catching the single bulb’s light. A faint, knowing smile touched the corners of her lips. "Let her try. Disappearing me only proves that the rumors about my mother’s departure thirty years ago were true. Every single newspaper in the tri-state area would love to dig into the Vance family archives."
"What do you actually want?" Julian asked, stepping further into the room. "Is it money? A seat on the board? Name your price, and let's settle this away from the public eye."
May you like
Maya set her mug down on the table, the ceramic clinking softly against the wood. She stood up, walking slowly toward him until she was standing just a foot away. "I don’t want your money, Julian. I want the truth written into the history books. I want the people who destroyed my family to look me in the eye and admit what they stole."
Julian looked down into her resolute face, realizing with a sinking feeling that financial bribes were entirely useless against her.
