Chapter 5 - The Man in First Class
Julian stood.
“Where did this come from?”
The flight attendant looked confused.
“I was told to deliver it.”
“By whom?”
She glanced toward the front.
“Someone in first class.”
Julian's eyes narrowed.
He looked at Elena.
“You knew.”
She didn't deny it.
“Who is sitting in first class?”
“You'll find out.”
Julian wanted to walk forward.
But the seatbelt sign was on.
He sat down.
Chloe leaned toward him.
“What's happening?”
Julian whispered:
“I don't know.”
That answer frightened her more than anything.
Elena opened her bag again.
This time, she removed a second document.
Julian recognized the signature.
His own.
“What is that?”
“The original shareholder agreement.”
He stared.
“This is fake.”
“No.”
“I never signed this.”
“You did.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
Julian remembered.
The day Elena's family invested in the company.
He had signed dozens of pages.
He hadn't read them carefully.
He thought the documents gave him control.
But Elena pointed to one paragraph.
In the event of marital misconduct involving company assets, controlling authority may be transferred to the majority family shareholder.
Julian stared at the clause.
His face went pale.
“You knew.”
“I didn't know you would betray me.”
“But you protected yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because my father taught me never to build a life on trust alone.”
Julian laughed bitterly.
“So this was all a trap?”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
“What was it?”
“A marriage.”
She looked at him.
“I just never expected you to turn it into a business transaction.”
Chloe looked down.
She suddenly understood something.
Julian hadn't simply cheated.
He had used her too.
He had promised her a future using assets that didn't belong to him.
She whispered:
“You lied to me.”
Julian turned.
“Chloe—”
She pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
The plane continued through the clouds.
Elena closed the folder.
Then she looked toward first class.
May you like
“Your new CEO is waiting.”
👉 Julian had finally understood that Elena had protected the company before he ever betrayed her—but he still had no idea who was about to take his place.
