Chapter 10: The Price of Redemption
That evening, stripped of his authority and escorted from the building by security guards he had hired years ago, Julian met Maeve at a quiet diner on the city outskirts.
"They took the company," Julian said, staring into his black coffee. "Cassandra and Marcus are pushing the merger through on Friday. They're going to liquidate the original holdings to hide the paper trail forever."
"They can only hide what remains in the dark," Maeve said, placing her scarred hand over his. "You gave them the company, Julian. But you still have the narrative."
"If I go to the federal authorities, I won't just ruin Cassandra and the board. I will ruin myself," Julian said directly. "I signed off on those financial statements for a decade. I am legally liable for maintaining the fraud."
"Is that what frightens you?" Maeve asked softly. "Losing your freedom? Or losing the illusion that you were a good man?"
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Julian looked out the rain-slicked window at the distant skyline of the city, where the glowing blue logo of Vane Holdings lit up the clouds. He thought of the diamonds, the applause, the years spent standing on polished marble while built upon a foundation of ashes.
"I spent twenty years being my father's son," Julian said. "It's time to pay the debt."
