Chapter Eight
Julian
The boardroom at Novus Urban Innovations was a theater of glass and chrome, designed specifically to intimidate. The long, polished table usually sat twelve of the most ruthless real estate executives in the city.
Julian Pierce knew this room well. He had sat in these exact leather chairs, brokering multi-million-dollar engineering contracts. But today, he wasn’t here to negotiate. He was here to watch.
He stood quietly in the shadows at the very back of the room, having slipped in through the rear doors just as the lights dimmed. Sebastian, the CEO of Novus, had given Julian a subtle nod of acknowledgment before turning his attention back to the front of the room.
At the head of the table stood Sarah.
Julian leaned against the cool glass wall, crossing his arms over his chest, his heart swelling with an absolutely devastating amount of pride.
She was wearing a sharp, tailored emerald-green suit that made her look like a weapon.
Beside her, Lily was manning the projector, flawlessly navigating through a presentation that looked like it belonged on the cover of a high-end architectural digest. The branding for Bennett she was dismantling Ryan Sinclair’s generic, overpriced methodology piece by piece, right in front of the city's biggest developers.
She didn't look like a woman who had been betrayed, divorced, and driven out of her job. She looked like a titan.
Ten minutes later, the lights came up. The executives didn't just clap politely; Sebastian stood up, extending his hand across the table.
"Ms. Bennett. Ms. Mendoza," Sebastian said, looking between Sarah and Lily. "That was, without a doubt, the most structurally sound and visually compelling pitch we've seen all quarter. We'll have our legal team draft the consulting contracts by Friday."
Sarah shook his hand, her smile brilliant and completely unwavering. "We look forward to it, Sebastian."
As the executives filed out of the room, chatting excitedly amongst themselves, Sarah began gathering her notes. Julian pushed off the glass wall and walked slowly down the length of the empty table.
Sarah looked up, freezing as she finally spotted him. Her eyes widened, the fierce, professional mask instantly melting into a look of absolute, breathless joy.
"Julian?" she gasped, dropping her file folder onto the table. "What are you doing here? How did you even get in?"
"I built the structural framework for this building six years ago. I know the security codes," Julian smiled, closing the distance between them. He pulled Sarah directly into his arms, kissing her deeply, right there in the center of the boardroom.
When he pulled back, he kept his hands on her waist. "You were magnificent. You absolutely owned them."
"We got the contract," Sarah laughed, a slightly dizzy, euphoric sound. "Julian, we actually got it."
"Sinclair never stood a chance," Julian murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Julian!"
He turned as Lily walked over, a bright, victorious smile on her face as she clutched her tablet to her chest.
"Lily," Julian smiled warmly, releasing Sarah's waist just enough to greet her business partner. "Congratulations. The branding work was flawless."
"I told you we were going to build an empire," Lily beamed.
Julian looked at her as the two women celebrated.
He remembered the dinner Sarah had hosted at her house a little over two months ago, where she had officially introduced them.
Over roasted chicken and wine, he had watched Lily closely.
She was undeniably beautiful, sharply intelligent, and had a razor-quick wit that kept pace with his own.
But beneath the sharp jokes and the professional drive, Julian had recognized a deep, lingering sadness in her eyes.
It was the look of someone carrying the heavy, exhausting weight of a recent betrayal.
She was fighting through it, just like Sarah had.
"Now, pack up your things, you two," Julian said, his voice full of easy affection. "I'm taking the city's newest lead consultant home for dinner. Lily, you're welcome to join us."
"And third-wheel your celebration? Absolutely not," Lily laughed, waving them off. "I'm going home to sleep for fourteen hours. Go celebrate."
***
Julian’s penthouse was a study in modern masculinity—high ceilings, exposed concrete pillars, and massive floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the twinkling skyline.
Usually, the sheer size of the space felt a little empty to him. But tonight, with Sarah sitting at the sprawling marble kitchen island, holding a glass of Cabernet and laughing as he chopped garlic, the penthouse finally felt like a home.
"I still can't believe you snuck into the back of the room," Sarah said, taking a sip of her wine.
She had kicked off her heels and was wearing one of his soft gray t-shirts over her suit trousers, looking perfectly relaxed.
"If I had known you were watching, I would have stuttered over the carbon-fiber calculations. "
"You didn't stutter once," Julian corrected, tossing the garlic into a hot pan of sizzling butter. "You are terrifyingly competent, Sarah. I’m just glad I get to cook for the boss."
Sarah blushed, a warm, beautiful color rushing to her cheeks. She smiled into her wine glass.
Julian turned down the heat on the stove and walked around the island to grab a towel. As he did, his eyes snagged on a small stack of mail his assistant had left on the polished entryway table that afternoon.
Sitting on top of the pile was a thick, heavy envelope made of expensive cream cardstock.
Julian recognized the specific, ostentatious calligraphy immediately. It was the same font Ryan Sinclair used for his firm's annual holiday gala invitations.
Frowning, Julian picked up the envelope. It was addressed to Mr. Julian Pierce it was a pathetic, arrogant power play from a man who was still smarting from being publicly humiliated. It was Ryan trying to poke the bear.
"Julian?"
Sarah’s voice broke through his anger. He looked up. She had put her wine glass down and was watching him from the kitchen island, her brow furrowed in concern.
"What is it? Did something happen at work?" she asked, sliding off the stool.
Julian looked down at the invitation. He wanted to throw it in the trash and never let her see the names printed on the card. He wanted to shield her from the toxic debris of her past. But they had promised each other absolute honesty.
He took a slow breath and walked back into the kitchen, holding the thick card out to her.
"It’s from Ryan," Julian said, his voice hard, his protective instincts vibrating on high alert. "He sent it to my office, and my assistant forwarded it here. I'm sorry, Sarah. The man is entirely shameless."
Sarah took the invitation from his hand.
Julian watched her face closely, bracing himself for the anger or the sudden, shattering grief that usually accompanied any mention of her sister or her ex-boss. He stepped closer, ready to pull her into his arms.
Sarah read the swirling calligraphy. She read the date, the venue, and the names.
Then, she did something Julian completely didn't expect.
She let out a soft, indifferent sigh and tossed the heavy, expensive invitation onto the marble counter like it was a piece of junk mail.
"Well," Sarah said casually, reaching for her wine glass again. "If they're happy, then good for them."
Julian blinked, completely thrown off guard. "Sarah... you're okay? I can have my lawyers—"
"Julian, stop," Sarah smiled, looking up at him with eyes that were completely clear and unburdened. "I really don't care. It doesn't bother me at all. They can have their expensive wedding and their life together. It has absolutely nothing to do with us."
She took a sip of her wine, her expression perfectly serene. "They're living their lives, and we're living ours. Let them be happy. I know I am."
Julian looked at the woman standing in front of him. She wasn't carrying the wreckage anymore; she had simply stepped over it and walked away.
He let out a soft chuckle, his chest suddenly incredibly light, completely free of the anger he'd felt moments before. The tension drained from his shoulders.
He reached out, intertwining his fingers with hers, feeling the warmth and strength of her grip.
"Come on," Julian murmured, his eyes filled with absolute adoration as he gently pulled her toward the stove. "Let's finish making this dinner together."