Chapter 2 - The Man Who Finally Stood UpJulian Vance was not a man who enjoyed attention.
At thirty-eight, the billionaire technology investor had built an empire without becoming a fixture on magazine covers. His fortune was enormous, but his personality was almost painfully restrained.
He had spent the evening observing the hypocrisy around him.
Until now.
The sight of the frightened child being treated like an unwanted object changed something inside him.
Julian crossed the marble floor.
"Step away from her."
The guard stopped.
Genevieve turned sharply.
"Julian? This doesn't concern you."
"It does now."
The room became completely silent.
Julian approached the girl and slowly lowered himself to one knee.
The child stared at him with frightened brown eyes.
"Hey," he said gently. "You're safe."
She didn't answer.
"Nobody is going to hurt you."
His voice was so different from everyone else's that her breathing gradually slowed.
Julian noticed the pearls scattered across the floor.
Then one of them caught the light.
He froze.
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There was something carved into its surface.
Something he had not seen in ten years.
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