Chapter 5 - The Hidden Ledger

Marcus managed to delete twelve folders before the screen froze.

A message appeared.

REMOTE ADMINISTRATIVE LOCK.

He swore and struck the desk.

Julian stood behind him.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

“Don't lie to me.”

Marcus closed the laptop.

“We need to leave.”

“Leave where?”

“The building.”

Julian stared at him.

“This is my headquarters.”

“Not anymore.”

Julian seized Marcus by the jacket.

“What are you hiding?”

Marcus pulled away.

“You want to survive this?”

Julian's eyes narrowed.

“Then stop behaving like a king whose crown was stolen.”

Marcus lowered his voice.

“You never had the crown.”

Julian's face darkened.

Marcus moved toward the door.

Julian blocked him.

“What files were you deleting?”

Marcus said nothing.

Julian understood.

“Monaco?”

Marcus looked away.

The silence answered.

Two years earlier, Marcus had helped Julian establish a private investment structure.

Officially, the accounts were intended for international expansion bonuses and discretionary development expenses.

Unofficially, Julian had begun using them as a reservoir of money hidden from Elena.

He had told himself it was his compensation.

His reward.

His security.

Marcus had taken a percentage for arranging it.

At first, the transfers were small.

Then they grew.

Two hundred thousand.

Eight hundred thousand.

One point five million.

Tonight's planned five-million-dollar transfer was the largest.

Julian approached Marcus slowly.

“Can they trace it?”

“They can trace anything if they control the banks above us.”

“How much is exposed?”

Marcus swallowed.

“Twenty-three million.”

Julian stared at him.

“That account never held twenty-three.”

“Not just Monaco.”

A long silence followed.

“How many accounts?”

“Seven.”

Julian stepped backward.

“You opened seven?”

“You authorized them.”

“I authorized structures.”

“You signed every instruction.”

Julian's face went pale.

Marcus grabbed his briefcase.

“We need legal counsel outside the company.”

“Peter is legal counsel.”

“Peter represents Aurelia.”

Julian understood.

Not him.

For years, he had confused the company's lawyers with his lawyers.

The company's aircraft with his aircraft.

The company's buildings with his buildings.

The company's loyalty with his loyalty.

Now every distinction was becoming painfully clear.

His phone rang.

Vanessa.

He rejected the call.

Marcus headed for the door.

Julian stopped him again.

“Where is Elena?”

“I don't know.”

“You know more than you're telling me.”

“Right now, Elena is the least dangerous person in your life.”

Julian almost laughed.

“She just removed me as CEO.”

“No.”

Marcus looked straight at him.

“The trust removed you.”

“Because she asked.”

“Exactly.”

Marcus opened the door.

“That means she has spent nine years choosing not to.”

Julian stood still.

That truth struck harder than the suspension.

Elena could have ended him at any moment.

She never had.

Marcus disappeared down the corridor.

Julian remained alone.

Then the office phone rang.

He answered.

“Mr. Mercer?”

It was hotel security.

“What?”

“We have received an order regarding the presidential penthouse.”

Julian's jaw clenched.

“What order?”

“Ms. Cole must vacate immediately.”

Julian stared through the glass walls toward the city.

“On whose authority?”

The guard hesitated.

“Owner authority.”

Julian whispered the word.

“Owner.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And me?”

Another pause.

“Your accommodations have also been canceled.”

Julian closed his eyes.

“When?”

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“Immediately.”

For the first time in his adult life, Julian Mercer had nowhere inside Aurelia Grand where he was authorized to sleep.