Chapter 6 - The Fire TestWhen Julian burst through the glass doors of Appleton Media’s lobby, he was met with a swarm of reporters flashing cameras and shouting aggressive questions about fraud and municipal corruption. Security guards were struggling to hold the press back at the elevators.
Julian pushed through the pack, his jaw set like granite, ignoring the microphones shoved in his face. He swiped his security card and rode the private elevator up to the executive floor in tense silence.
When the doors opened, Sarah was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows of her office, looking out over the city. She wasn't crying. She wasn't panicking. But the rigid stiffness of her shoulders told him everything he needed to know.
"I saw the news," Julian said, walking quickly across the room. "Sarah, listen to me. This wasn't us. This was my father’s loyalists on the Vancorp board. They’re trying to sink the deal and destroy you."
Sarah turned around slowly. Her face was dangerously calm, but her emerald eyes burned with a cold, terrifying fire.
"I know it wasn't you, Julian," she said softly.
"You do?"
"Do you really think I didn't run a full forensic background check on Vancorp’s board members before signing the contract?" Sarah walked over to her desk, picked up her tablet, and tapped the screen, projecting a secure document onto the smart-board behind her. "I knew your father’s faction would try something like this the moment we threatened their monopoly. That’s why all of our asset transfers from three years ago were preemptively notarized and cleared by the federal commerce commission."
Julian stared at the documents on the screen, a slow, disbelieving smile spreading across his face. "You anticipated the sabotage before it even happened."
"I survived in this city by expecting the worst from powerful men who think rules don't apply to them," Sarah said, stepping closer to him. "The press outside? They’re about to get a very different press release."
She tapped her tablet once more.
Downstairs in the lobby, the chaotic shouting of reporters suddenly died down as Appleton Media’s automated public relations feed broadcasted a live, unassailable legal clearance directly to every media outlet in the city, accompanied by a federal injunction against the Vancorp board members who had filed the fraudulent tip.
Julian let out a breath he didn't realize he’d been holding. He reached out, gently grabbing her shoulders, pulling her against his chest.
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"You are incredible," Julian whispered against her hair.
"I told you, Julian," Sarah murmured, her hands resting softly against the lapels of his suit jacket. "Some things are out of your reach. But if you’re brave enough to keep up... I might let you stay."
