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His threat hangs unfinished as my phone rings, slicing through the heated moment with the shrillness of reality calling. With a sigh, I pull the device from my pocket and glance at the caller ID. It's my boss, who despite her intensity about our work, never calls me on weekends.
"Hello?" I answer, trying to keep the frustration from my voice.
"Natalie, there's been another problem at the Langford Building," Lottie says without preamble, her voice tight with stress. "More sabotage. It's bad this time."
The news hits me like a physical blow, the anger at Hayden's betrayal momentarily eclipsed by a fresh wave of concern for the project that's become so much more than just a job to me, and the realization that Lottie has somehow learned about what's been going on. My stomach churns as this sinks in, and I stutter as I try to find the right words to smooth over the many delicate points of this situation.
The Langford Building, with all its complexities and challenges, has been my refuge, a place to lose myself in the work and forget the mess of my personal life.
Now, it seems, that sanctuary has been violated once again. And there's a possibility it could be ripped away from me all together.
“Lottie, I—I should have told you about—” I stammer nervously.
“We can deal with that later,” she interrupts, her voice rushed. “Right now, you need to get to the building ASAP.”
"I'll be right there," I say, the words automatic as I gather my things, the anger at Hayden's deception simmering beneath the surface, now joined by a renewed sense of purpose. The Langford Building needs me, and I won't let it down—not because of Hayden, not because of any vandal, not even because of the rash decision I made to hide the vandalism from my boss.
Jack watches, concern etched in his features. "I'm coming with you," he declares with full big-brother authority.
I appreciate the depth of his concern for me, and while part of me would love to have him come along, this is something I need to handle myself.
“Thanks, but I'm okay,” I decline with a timid smile. “I'm a big girl now, remember? I can do this. I have to do this.”
Jack hesitates, but eventually agrees, and I head out into the night, leaving behind the pain of Hayden's betrayal for the immediacy of a crisis that demands my attention. The drive to the Langford is a blur, rain pounding the windshield as I speed toward the building, mirroring the torrent of emotions whirling around in my mind like a hurricane.
My harbored anger propels me forward with determination and an unshakeable resolve to protect what has become so important to me.
CHAPTER 10
JULIAN
Aria and I are nestled on the couch, watching some cartoon I don’t know the name of. She's engrossed, her eyes wide as she watches the antics of animated characters. I glance at her, my heart swelling with a simple, profound joy.
"Daddy, did you see that? He almost fell off the cliff!" she giggles, pointing at the screen.
"I saw, sweetheart. That was a close one, huh?" I respond, my laughter mingling with hers. These moments are my sanctuary, Aria filling my whole world until all the outside problems seem to disappear.
The peace is shattered by the shrill ring of my phone. Glancing at the caller ID, I see Natalie's name, and my stomach tightens. I'm still figuring out my feelings about the other day—uncertainty and desire tangled tightly together.
"Hello?" I answer, trying to keep my voice even.
"Julian," she answers, her voice cracking over my name like she's fighting for her composure, "there's been another break-in at the Langford Building. Some of the artwork... it's been stolen."
My heart drops as a series of emotions run through me, starting with disbelief and ending in frustration. "Damn it," I swear under my breath, immediately regretting my choice of words as Aria looks up at me with wide eyes.
"Sorry, Aria," I murmur, patting her head. Then back to the phone, "I'm on my way. I just need to?—"
I pause, glancing down at Aria. It's too last minute to ask the babysitter to watch her, and my guilt over leaving her so much lately wouldn't let me, anyway. Making a split-second decision, I continue, "I'll be there as soon as I can."
I hustle to get Aria ready, explaining the situation as best as I can to a six-year-old. "We need to go help Natalie with a problem at work," I tell her, slipping her shoes on.
“Who's Natalie?” she asks. The question is an innocent one, but so much more complicated than she could comprehend.
I decide the simplest answer is best. “She's another person who's working on the Langford Building with me. I'm working on the outside part, and she's working on the inside.”
“Oh,” Aria says simply, and I'm grateful that answer was enough for her, that she still lives in a world without the millions of complex layers that adults wade through every day.
"Is it a bad one, Daddy?" she asks, her small face pinched with concern.
