Chapter 4 - The Betrayal
Julian spun around, his heart hammering against his ribs. The balcony door was slightly ajar, the sheer curtains fluttering in the cool night breeze.
"Who's there?" he demanded, his voice sounding thin and weak even to his own ears.
A figure stepped out from the darkness of the balcony. It was Sarah, his father’s executive assistant. She looked different—less poised, more dangerous. In her hand, she held a small, black pistol.
"You were never supposed to find the Ledger, Julian," Sarah said, her voice devoid of its usual professional warmth. "Your father, for all his flaws, was predictable. He knew how to play the game. You... you were always a liability."
"Sarah?" Julian stammered, his mind struggling to process the betrayal. "We’ve worked together for years. You’re the one who managed everything!"
"I managed you, Julian," she corrected, stepping closer. "I managed the lies, the leaks, and the accounts. I was the one who fed information to the Auditor. And now, I’m the one who’s going to make sure the Vane legacy ends with you."
Julian backed away, his eyes darting around the room, looking for an escape, a weapon, anything. "Why? Why do this?"
"Because power isn't about being the loudest voice in the room," she replied, her eyes narrowing. "It’s about being the one holding the strings. The Auditor offered me a seat at the table. All I had to do was eliminate the prince."
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She raised the pistol. Julian braced himself for the end, but suddenly, the lights in the office flickered and died. A deafening boom echoed through the penthouse as something—a flashbang—detonated outside the glass wall.
In the chaos, Julian dove behind his mahogany desk. He heard the sound of glass shattering, the smell of ozone, and the distinct sound of a struggle.
