Chapter 2 - Five Minutes
Julian's phone wouldn't stop vibrating.
He ignored one call. Then two. Then six.
A notification flashed across the screen.
EMERGENCY BOARD SESSION - 11:30 P.M.
Selene's glass shattered.
"What happened?"
Julian stared at his phone. "The banks froze draw access."
"To what?"
"Everything that matters."
I pushed myself onto my knees.
Julian snapped his head toward me. "What did you do?"
"I made a call."
He crossed the room and yanked me up by my arm. Pain flashed through my back so sharply that my vision went black at the edges.
"To who?"
"My father."
"Your father is nobody."
"You keep saying that."
His grip tightened. "Who is he?"
His phone rang again: FIRST NATIONAL - EXECUTIVE CREDIT.
He answered with a curse. "Vale Meridian has never missed a payment. What change-of-control trigger?"
Selene backed away. Julian checked his banking app and swore.
"What?" she demanded.
"The emergency line is locked."
"Unlock it."
He turned on her. "That's not how banks work, Selene."
She flinched.
Julian shoved me toward the sofa. "Tell him to stop."
"No."
"Call him back."
"No."
His expression hardened. "You think a few calls make you safe?"
He reached for the belt again. I didn't move.
"Go ahead," I said.
That stopped him.
"What?"
"Pick it up. Hit me again."
Selene whispered, "Julian, maybe don't."
He looked between us, furious.
Then the elevator chimed.
All three of us froze.
Nobody was supposed to be coming.
The elevator doors opened.
Four men in dark suits stepped out with a woman carrying a medical bag.
The man in front looked at me. "Ms. Arden?"
Julian turned his head.
May you like
"Arden?"
He said my real family name out loud.
