Page 61 of Julian

“I appreciate how thoughtful you were with the menu option. And of course, the setting is… I mean, this place is… unreal,” I say. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the city like this.”

Julian watches me before answering. “You know, I own the building. Did I already tell you that?”

There’s no arrogance to it, just the simple acknowledgment that this is his normal.

“No, you didn’t. It’s a lot,” I admit, glancing back out at the view before returning to him. “Not in a bad way. Just… a lot. This is all very different from a small, rent-controlled apartment in the Lower East Side.” I consider the chasm between our lives and sweep my hand out indicating the room, the ability to command hot dogs and the city view. “How did you get all this?”

He leans back slightly in his chair. “It didn’t start this way.”

“Darn,” I say, snapping my fingers. “I was hoping I could get in on the action.”

Julian tips his head back and laughs. “If only it were that easy, right?” His chuckles wind down. “My father built most of it. Hotels, real estate, infrastructure. I inherited the framework… but not the influence. That part had to be earned.”

“How?” I ask, crossing my arms on the table and leaning forward.

“By proving I wasn’t just his son,” he says simply. “I took over smaller divisions first. Operations. Then acquisitions. I made decisions that worked… and a few that didn’t. But over time, people stopped seeing the name and started seeing the results.”

“Why hockey and the Vipers?” I ask. “What got your family into this business? You seem to have a special love for the Vipers over anything,” I point out.

“Well, it was the only thing my father and I ever shared,” he says. “And I knew I could build a team and organization better than most who had done it in the past, including my father.”

I absorb that for a second, then let out a quiet breath. “You sound very… confident.”

“That’s the key to success, Harper. It’s all about confidence.”

I nod slowly, then glance down at my hands before looking back up at him. “My life’s been a little less… structured.”

“I gathered as much,” he says. “Tell me more about Dylan. Why is he with you?”

“I guess I’ve been taking care of him most of his life. My mom and stepdad are what you would call free spirits. Let’s just say I was the responsible one in the family but given our age difference, it worked out.”

Julian’s expression turns curious. “And where are your parents now?”

“Our mom’s… not exactly reliable, and my stepdad lives in his own world most of the time. They moved to a small mountain town in North Carolina a few years ago, chasing dreams of being artists, although honestly, they’re not very good at it. But Dylan wasn’t doing well with them, getting in a lot of trouble at school, so when things started going sideways for him, I brought him back to New York to live with me. It wasn’t really a discussion. It was just… what needed to happen.”

“And you’ve been managing that on your own?” he asks.

I lift a shoulder. “Work, school, bills, making sure he stays on track. It’s not glamorous, but it works.”

He smiles. “You stepped in where someone else didn’t. That’s not something people do lightly.”

I look away for a second, suddenly unsure how to respond. “He’s my brother. It wasn’t really a choice.”

“It was,” he says, just as calmly. “You made it.”

I’m overcome by a rush of pride. It’s nice to be acknowledged every now and then.

“So,” he says after a beat. “What’s your plan for Christmas? Do you two have any Christmas traditions?”

“Dylan’s actually going to North Carolina to spend it with our mom and his dad. It’s good down there for him… in doses.”

“How about you?” he asks.

“I’ll stay here,” I say with a small shrug. “Maybe order takeout, watch Elf a few times, and probably check out the windows by Rock Center. Take our dog Beau for lots of walks. I’m good with a low-key holiday.”

“No other family here?” he presses gently.

“No. It’s usually just me and Dylan.”