Chapter 2 - The Echoes Behind Closed Doors
The metallic click of the heavy steel door echoed down the corridor, sounding like a gunshot in the silent corporate wing. Julian stood frozen for a fraction of a second, his grip tightening instinctively on the fabric of his black shirt beneath his dark suit. The realization hit him like a physical blow: Arthur hadn't just lured him away from the main conference room to disrupt the voting process; he had isolated Julian’s younger brother, David, inside the high-security vault room with someone who wished him absolute harm.
Lily buried her tear-streaked face against Julian’s thigh, her small shoulders shaking with quiet, muffled sobs. Julian gently placed a calming hand on her blonde head, his fingers tangling softly in her curls. He looked down at the woman in the evening gown who was now struggling to her feet, dusting off her sequined hem with trembling fingers. It was Victoria, the chief financial officer’s estranged wife, though she had no legitimate business being on this floor today.
“Victoria,” Julian said, his voice laced with venom and suspicion. “What were you doing running from that room?”
Victoria refused to meet his eyes. She clutched a gold clutch bag tightly to her chest, her breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. “I dropped my earring,” she muttered defensively, her voice cracking. “I was looking for it before the security detail swarmed the hallway. It has nothing to do with David.”
“Everything here has to do with David,” Julian retorted, his patience wearing dangerously thin.
From the floor, Marcus shoved a heavy cardboard box off his chest and coughed loudly, hauling his bruised frame upright. He straightened his wrinkled suit jacket, glaring daggers at Julian.
“You’ve lost your mind, Julian,” Marcus spat, wiping a smudge of black ink from his cheek. “Assaulting a board member in broad daylight? The disciplinary committee will strip you of your shares before the sun sets. Arthur holds the majority now, and David is signing away his voting rights as we speak.”
Arthur remained seated in his mahogany chair, looking remarkably serene. He crossed one leg over the other, folding his wrinkled hands neatly across his knee. He didn't acknowledge Marcus's rant, nor did he look at Julian. Instead, Arthur stared intently at the framed portrait hanging crookedly on the wall—a younger version of himself standing proudly beside their late father, the founder of the conglomerate.
“You always were too impulsive, Julian,” Arthur finally spoke, his voice dry and devoid of familial warmth. “You inherited our father’s temper without his patience. David was always the fragile one. Do you truly believe he can survive the board’s audit on his own?”
Julian ignored the psychological jab. He stepped over the scattered papers, his hard-soled shoes clicking sharply against the marble. He approached the sealed steel door, raising his right hand, and slammed his fist hard against the reinforced surface. No sound came from within. It was completely soundproofed—a custom installation Arthur had ordered last month under the guise of 'executive privacy.'
“Open the override code, Arthur,” Julian demanded, his voice dangerously low as he slowly turned to face the patriarch.
Arthur slowly stood up from his chair, smoothing the front of his navy suit. He walked past Julian without a word, pausing just inches away.
May you like
“The override was deleted twenty minutes ago,” Arthur whispered coldly into Julian’s ear. “And inside that room, David just signed the confession.”
---
