Chapter 2 - The Shadow of Sterling Tower
"Who is him?" Captain Vance demanded, his hand hovering over his holster as he sensed the sudden shift in atmosphere. "Mr. Sterling, what is going on here? This was reported as an internal corporate embezzlement case by your board of directors three hours ago."
Julian didn't answer the captain. He dropped to one knee in front of Laya, completely ignoring the slush soaking through his trousers. He looked into her face, seeing the unmistakable features of the only woman he had ever loved—the woman who had vanished overnight seven years ago, leaving behind a shattered company, a dead murder investigation, and an empire built on lies.
"Laya," Julian said, his voice trembling with a raw emotion his security team had never heard from him before. "Where is your mother right now?"
"In the basement on Elm Street," Laya said, tears finally spilling over her lashes as the cold and fear caught up to her. "The boiler broke two days ago. She's really cold, mister. She told me to stay inside, but she was sleeping too long and her chest was making a rattling sound."
Julian stood up so fast his chair knocked against the wall. "Marcus!" he barked at his head of security. "Get the SUV around front. Call Dr. Harrison. Tell him to prepare the private ICU suite at St. Jude’s immediately. Have an advanced life-support team meet us at 1412 Elm Street."
"Sir?" Marcus hesitated. "The board meeting regarding the audit is in twenty minutes. Your uncle, Arthur Sterling, is waiting at the penthouse—"
"Cancel the meeting!" Julian roared, a sound that made every officer in the room jump. "If Arthur asks where I am, tell him I’m reclaiming what he stole seven years ago."
Julian picked up Laya's small body, wrapping her inside his own heavy cashmere coat. She felt impossibly light, like a bundle of dry twigs. He held her securely against his chest, stepping toward the door while Marcus grabbed the three-million-dollar suitcase.
"Mr. Sterling, wait!" Vance called out. "You can't just take the child and the evidence!"
Julian stopped at the glass doors, looking back over his shoulder with eyes filled with cold fire. "That suitcase doesn't contain embezzled funds, Captain. It contains the ledger that proves my uncle poisoned Evelyn Mercer’s father and framed her for the collapse of Mercer Logistics. And that little girl... is my niece."
May you like
Laya looked up from the folds of the warm coat, her small hands clutching Julian’s lapel. "You know my mommy?"
Julian looked down at her, his eyes softening as a single tear escaped down his cheek. "I’ve been looking for your mommy every day of my life for six years, little one. And tonight, you just saved us both."
