Chapter 6 - The Name on the Document
The flight attendant returned.
“Ms. Elena?”
Elena looked up.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Sterling asked whether you needed anything.”
Julian froze.
Sterling.
He knew the name.
Everyone in the industry did.
Adrian Sterling was one of the most respected corporate executives in the country.
But Adrian had never worked for Julian.
He had always been considered too independent.
Julian looked at Elena.
“You hired Adrian Sterling?”
She smiled.
“No.”
“Then why is he here?”
“You'll ask him yourself.”
Julian felt the blood drain from his face.
Adrian had been negotiating with several major investors.
If he took control of Julian's company, the market would react immediately.
Julian whispered:
“You planned this months ago.”
Elena shook her head.
“I discovered your transfers four months ago.”
He stared.
“And you said nothing?”
“I wanted to see what you would do.”
Julian's voice cracked.
“And you watched me.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me move money.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me lie.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me bring Chloe into my life.”
Elena's eyes hardened.
“Yes.”
Julian leaned back.
For the first time, he understood the scale of her silence.
She had not been unaware.
She had been collecting evidence.
Chloe looked at Elena.
“Why didn't you confront him earlier?”
Elena answered quietly.
“Because people tell the truth when they think they're safe.”
Chloe looked down.
Julian stared at the floor.
He had given Elena everything she needed.
His own messages.
His own transfers.
His own signatures.
His own lies.
Then the captain announced the estimated landing time.
Two hours.
Julian looked toward first class.
“I want to talk to Adrian.”
Elena shook her head.
“You will.”
“When?”
“When we land.”
“Why?”
She smiled faintly.
May you like
“Because the board meeting begins twenty minutes after touchdown.”
👉 Julian had two hours left in the air before facing the man who would inherit the company he believed belonged to him.
