Chapter 5 - The Shadow of the Past
Two weeks passed. The news of Evelyn Sterling’s total purge from Sterling Global sent shockwaves through the financial world. The company’s stock soared to an all-time high as investors praised Riston’s decisive restructuring and the elimination of internal family squabbles.
For the first time since Clara’s birth, peace seemed to settle over our home.
It was a quiet Tuesday evening. The rain tapped softly against the high glass windows of the estate's conservatory. Clara lay on a soft quilted blanket on the floor, kicking her tiny feet and gurgling happily as a plush silver bear dangled above her.
I sat on the low velvet sofa, sipping chamomile tea, watching Riston build a fire in the wide stone fireplace. The flickering orange light cast long shadows across the room, illuminating the quiet warmth of a real home.
"She picked up the rattle today," I said, smiling softly as Clara made a soft squeaking sound.
Riston turned, his face softening instantly as he walked over and sat beside me on the sofa, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "She’s growing too fast. In a few months, she’ll be crawling all over these floors."
"We'll need to baby-proof the entire ground floor," I laughed softly, resting my head against his chest. "Starting with those marble edges."
"I'll have Marcus order soft corner guards tomorrow," Riston whispered, kissing my forehead.
The peace was broken by the sharp chime of Riston’s encrypted phone resting on the coffee table. He picked it up, pressing it to his ear. "Talk to me, Marcus."
I watched Riston’s face as he listened. The soft, relaxed expression melted away, replaced by a sudden, sharp tension that made my stomach drop.
"Where?" Riston asked, his voice low. "Are you sure?"
He listened for another ten seconds, then replied, "Keep a discrete tail on them. Don't engage until I arrive."
He hung up the phone and set it down.
"What happened?" I asked, sitting up straight, my hand instinctively dropping to rest near Clara's blanket. "Is it Evelyn again?"
"No," Riston said slowly, his eyes fixed on the fire. "It’s not Evelyn. It’s Julian."
My breath caught in my throat. Julian Sterling. Riston’s older half-brother. The black sheep of the family who had vanished into South America six years ago after being caught embezzling millions from the family's shipping division.
"Julian is back in D.C.?" I breathed.
"He landed at a private airfield in Virginia two hours ago," Riston said, turning to look at me. "And he didn't come alone. He was met at the hangar by Evelyn’s former chief of staff."
"They're working together," I realized, a cold dread creeping into my veins. "Evelyn knew she was losing the company, so she brought in Julian."
"Julian doesn't care about the company, Maya," Riston said, his voice dropping to a grim whisper. "Julian only cares about revenge. When my father chose me over him to inherit the chairman seat, Julian swore he would destroy everything I built."
Riston stood up, picking up his coat from the chair. "I need to meet Marcus downtown. Julian is meeting with several high-level figures from the port authority. If he’s trying to disrupt our maritime shipping routes, I have to block him before the morning markets open."
I stood up too, taking his hand tightly in mine. "Riston, be careful. Julian isn't like Evelyn. He doesn't play by boardroom rules."
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Riston leaned down, pressing a deep, passionate kiss against my lips, his hand cupping the back of my neck. "I know. That's why I'm taking half the security detail with me. Marcus and six men are staying here with you and Clara. The house is on maximum lockdown."
"Go," I whispered, pulling back gently. "Protect our company. I'll protect our home."
