Chapter 5 - The Masquerade of Lies
The gunfight outside lasted less than four minutes.
Julian and Marcus moved through the dark pine forest like ghosts, eliminating Dominic’s hired mercenaries before they could even reach the front porch.
When Julian pulled open the heavy steel door of the safe room, he found Sarah standing behind the door—not cowering in fear, but holding a heavy steel fire extinguisher above her head, ready to strike down anyone who walked through.
Julian let out a low, rich laugh—the first real laugh he had uttered in years.
“Put the extinguisher down, Nurse Miller,” Julian teased softly, walking up to her and gently taking the heavy canister from her hands. “The house is clear.”
Sarah let out a long, shaky breath, her knees wobbling slightly. Julian caught her by the waist, pulling her flush against his chest, holding her steady.
The closeness was breathtaking. Sarah could feel the heavy, powerful beat of his heart beneath his tactical vest, the scent of rain and gunpowder clinging to his skin. She looked up into his eyes, her breath catching in her throat.
“You’re unhurt?” she whispered.
“Not a scratch,” Julian murmured, his hand lingering on her waist, his fingers pressing into her soft curves. “We found a encrypted phone on one of the mercenaries. Dominic and Emily are holding a private victory party tonight at the Drake Hotel downtown.”
Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “A party?”
“Dominic invited seventy of the city’s top investors,” Julian explained, his eyes darkening with cold purpose. “He intends to announce my 'permanent institutionalization' and take full control of Vance Global by midnight.”
“Then we go to the Drake,” Sarah said instantly.
Julian raised an eyebrow. “It’s a black-tie gala, Sarah. There are fifty armed security guards and federal officers looking for us.”
“I don't care,” Sarah said, her voice filled with unshakeable resolve. “Clara is strong enough to give her testimony. We dress up, we walk through the front door, and we tear their lies apart in front of the entire world.”
Julian stared at her, his dark eyes blazing with deep admiration. He reached out, his thumb gently tracing the line of her cheekbone.
“You are extraordinary, Sarah Miller,” Julian whispered softly. “All right. We go to the gala. But if we’re going to crash a billionaire’s party... we’re going to do it in style.”
Two hours later, a sleek silver phantom limousine pulled up to the rear service entrance of the lake house.
A high-end celebrity stylist—a loyal friend of Julian’s—stepped out, carrying three garment bags containing the finest evening wear in Chicago.
When Sarah stepped out of the dressing room thirty minutes later, Julian stopped breathing.
She wore a strapless midnight-blue silk gown that clung flawlessly to her delicate waist before sweeping down to the floor. Her dark brown hair was styled in soft, radiant waves over her shoulders, and around her neck sat a platinum necklace fitted with a twenty-carat sapphire from the Vance family estate vault.
Julian stood up from his chair, wearing an immaculate black tuxedo. He walked over to her, his dark eyes scanning her from head to toe with pure, unadulterated awe.
“You look like a queen,” Julian murmured, his voice rough with emotion.
May you like
Sarah blushed, a brilliant smile lighting up her face. “And you look like a man about to take back his kingdom.”
Julian held out his arm, his fingers locking securely around hers. “Then let’s go destroy a ghost.”
