Chapter 7 - The Phoenix Arises
I reached the side of Julian’s wheelchair. My hands were shaking so violently I could barely stand.
Julian reached out, grasping my wrist softly. "Maya? What happened? You're pale as paper. Where were you?"
I leaned down, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face, pretending to adjust his collar.
"Julian..." I whispered, my voice trembling so softly only he could hear. "Victor took Brandon and Emma. Vance has them on camera... in a warehouse. They gave me poison to put in your glass."
Julian’s posture went instantly rigid. A look of terrifying, apocalyptic fury flashed across his storm-gray eyes—a look so dark it could have withered steel.
"Where is Vance?" Julian asked in a low, deadly whisper.
"Standing near the rear exit... watching us with his phone in his hand," I sobbed. "If we don't do what they say, he's going to tell them to—"
"Maya," Julian interrupted, his voice extraordinarily calm, his grip on my hand steady as an anchor. "Look at me."
I raised my tear-filled eyes to his.
"Trust me," Julian whispered, his eyes burning with absolute confidence. "Do you remember the signal I gave Marcus?"
I blinked. "The encrypted tablet in your coat..."
"Two minutes ago, Marcus’s team intercepted Vance’s cell signal," Julian revealed softly, a cold smile touching his lips. "Marcus didn't just track the signal, Maya—his SWAT team breached that warehouse three minutes ago. Your children are safe. They are already in an FBI armored vehicle, on their way here."
My heart stopped. "Safe? You're... you're sure?"
"Marcus just sent the confirmation ping to my watch," Julian whispered, showing me a subtle green LED glowing on his smartwatch. "Brandon and Emma are unharmed. Vance is holding a dead phone."
Relief washed over me like a tidal wave, so intense I nearly collapsed.
At that moment, the fanfare sounded over the ballroom loudspeakers. The room fell silent as Victor Bennett stepped up to the podium, tapping the microphone with his gold ring.
"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished members of the board, and honored guests," Victor began, his voice booming across the grand hall. "Tonight is a bittersweet occasion. For three years, my beloved nephew, Julian, has fought bravely against his debilitating injuries. But alas, the burden of leadership is too great for a man in his state."
Victor signaled to a lawyer standing nearby, who brought forward a stack of legal documents.
"Tonight, with a heavy heart, I announce Julian’s full retirement from Bennett Global Enterprises, surrendering all executive power to me, so that he may spend his remaining days in peace."
Polite applause rippled through the brainwashed crowd. Victor raised a pen, preparing to sign the documents on live television.
"Vance," Victor called out smugly into the microphone. "Bring my nephew forward so he may witness this historic transition."
Vance smirked coldly from the back of the room, looking down at his phone, waiting for my sign.
Suddenly, a loud, clear voice echoed through the hall, cutting through the applause like a thunderclap.
"That won't be necessary, Uncle."
The crowd gasped. Every head turned toward the stage.
Julian Bennett set aside his wheelchair blanket. He placed his powerful hands on the armrests.
May you like
And then, in front of six hundred horrified, amazed guests, fifty news cameras, and his stunned uncle...
Julian stood up.
