Chapter 5 - The Glass Castle
The penthouse at the top of the Cross Tower on Fifth Avenue was, as Julian had implied, built entirely of glass, polished concrete, and severe dark wood. It looked over the vast, ink-black expanse of Central Park, the city lights below sparkling like scattered diamonds.
It was almost two in the morning when the private elevator opened directly into his foyer.
“Guest room is on the left,” Julian said, taking my small overnight bag from my hand. “It has an attached bath. Everything you need should be in the drawers.”
I stood near the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, looking out at the city skyline. I felt like an imposter who had accidentally wandered into a architectural magazine.
“Drink this,” Julian said, reappearing beside me with a glass of ice water and two aspirin.
“Thank you,” I murmured, taking the pills and swallowing them down. “I feel like I’m in a movie. A terrifying movie where I get kidnapped by finance executives.”
Julian leaned against the glass frame, staring down at me. He had removed his tie, the top two buttons of his white shirt undone, revealing the strong column of his neck.
“No one is kidnapping you, Nora,” he said gently. “Tomorrow at ten o'clock, we present the corrected audit to the board. Victor Vance will be there as a minority shareholder. He will attempt to discredit the findings.”
“And I have to testify?” I asked, my anxiety spiking again.
“You don't have to testify,” Julian said, stepping closer until his shadow enveloped me. “You just have to sit beside me and hand me the files. I will handle Vance.”
I looked up into his gray eyes. Under the ambient light of the city skyline, they looked almost metallic, bright and fierce.
“Why are you doing all this for me?” I asked softly. “Any other CEO would have given me a security detail and left me in a hotel. You brought me to your home.”
Julian reached out, his thumb gently tracing the line of my jawline, sending a tremor straight down to my toes.
“Because,” he whispered, his voice dangerously low, “when I saw that man touching your arm in that bar, I realized something, Nora.”
“What?” I breathed.
“I realized that keeping you at arms' length for eight months was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.”
My heart slammed against my ribs like a trapped bird. I couldn't move. I couldn't blink. I could only stare at his mouth, inches away from mine, smelling the sharp scent of mint and cedar on his breath.
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“Go to sleep, Nora,” Julian murmured, pulling his hand back with obvious effort. “We have a war to win tomorrow.”
He turned and walked down the long corridor toward his master suite, leaving me standing alone against the glass wall, my heart beating fast enough to wake the dead.
