Chapter 6 - The Unraveling
Julian was sitting behind his massive glass desk, reviewing a series of urgent, red-stamped legal documents that had just been delivered to his desk. His face was pale, beads of sweat glistening along his hairline.
"Chloe, not now," Julian barked frantically, pulling at his tie. "Something is happening. The parent board just froze all discretionary accounts. I can't even authorize payroll!"
"Julian, look who’s outside!" Chloe demanded, pointing back toward the doorway where I stood framing the entrance. "That crazy intern is back! She's doing something to the system!"
Julian looked up from his papers. His eyes landed on me standing in the doorway—clean, elegant, wearing the diamond crest of the Pendelton Group on my lapel.
He froze.
He looked at the diamond crest. Then he looked at the red-stamped documents on his desk bearing the signature of Evelyn Pendelton Vance, Group Chief Executive Officer.
The blood drained from Julian's face so fast I thought he might faint right onto his leather chair.
"Evelyn..." Julian stammered, his voice dropping an octave into a pathetic, trembling whisper. "What... what is that crest?"
"You know what this crest is, Julian," I said, stepping smoothly into his office. "It’s the family seal you’ve spent ten years trying to earn."
Chloe looked between us, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Julian? Why are you talking to her like that? She’s just a nobody!"
May you like
"Shut up, Chloe!" Julian suddenly screamed, slamming his palms onto his desk as he stood up, trembling. "SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"
Chloe flinched, stepping back in absolute shock. She had never heard Julian raise his voice to her.
