Chapter 12 - An Unlikely AllyLate that night, someone knocked on Maya's office door.
Julian Vance stood outside.
His expensive hoodie was gone.
So was the arrogance.
"I didn't come here to fight," he said.
Maya didn't invite him in.
"What do you want?"
"To apologize."
She studied him.
"For what?"
"My mother."
A long silence followed.
Then Julian placed a small encrypted USB drive on the desk.
"My father has offshore accounts."
Maya's expression hardened.
"How do you know?"
"Because I found them."
"Why give this to me?"
Julian swallowed.
"Because I don't want to become them."
For the first time, Maya saw something beneath the spoiled teenager.
Fear.
Shame.
And perhaps the beginning of a conscience.
She picked up the drive.
"You're making a dangerous choice."
May you like
Julian nodded.
"I know."
Related Stories
Chapter 13 - Eleanor's Desperate PloyEleanor refused to surrender.
Chapter 14 - The Charity GalaThe Ritz-Carlton ballroom glittered beneath crystal chandeliers.
Chapter 15 - CheckmateMaya returned to the podium.
Chapter 16 - The Fall of the House of VanceRichard Vance stood near the back of the ballroom.
Chapter 17 - A New OrderWeeks passed.
Chapter 18 - RedemptionOne morning, Maya walked onto the showroom floor.
