Chapter 5: The Contract
Julian held up a hand, stopping Marcus.
"I don't believe in destroying people for their ignorance," Julian said. "Ignorance is a condition that can be cured. If they’re willing to put in the work."
Julian turned back to Carter, who was now trembling, his leather jacket looking less like armor and more like a costume.
"You promised your audience an apology on live stream," Julian reminded him. "You said you’d drop to your knees and kiss the floor."
Carter’s throat clicked as he swallowed. He looked at the gleaming marble floor, then at his phone, where fifty thousand concurrent viewers were watching in stunned silence. The humiliation was absolute.
"Don't do it," Julian said before Carter could drop.
Carter blinked, confused. "What?"
"Empty theatrical apologies mean nothing to me," Julian said, his voice firm. "Kissing the floor doesn't make you a better man. It just makes you a coward trying to avoid consequences."
Julian turned to Marcus. "Draft an auxiliary community service apprenticeship for the upcoming winter quarter at the Newark Restoration Lab. Carter will report there every Saturday morning at six sharp."
Carter looked stunned. "The... the restoration lab? In Newark?"
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"You wanted to show your viewers what real luxury looks like," Julian replied calmly. "You’re going to spend the next six months polishing rusty gears, cleaning machine oil, and learning the actual cost of a second. If you miss a single shift, your father’s contract is terminated permanently."
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