She returned to her office, her bag already half-packed. Dusk had fully settled when the door swung open.
Julian.
He stood there, casually leaning against the frame, the last rays of sun casting golden shadows behind him.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
Rose hesitated. Her mind flashed back to the last time he'd driven her—when he had practically carried her to the car.
"Actually," she began, firming her tone, "I'm not going with you."
Julian raised an eyebrow. "Because last time, you were... uncooperative?"
Her cheeks heated, but she stood her ground. "I can get home on my own."
He stepped in, picking up her bag with a smooth motion that brooked no refusal.
"Oh, I don't think so," he murmured, voice low and velvet-like.
Rose glared. "Julian, don't make a scene."
His smirk grew. "Trust me, Rose. If I wanted to make a scene, the whole building would know."
Her heartbeat quickened, not just from annoyance—but from that annoying spark again. The one she tried to ignore.
Julian stepped closer, offering her the bag again, but not letting go. "This job... it's not ordinary. And neither are you. Let me do this one thing. Then I'll let you win the next argument. Deal?"
She hesitated.
Then, with a reluctant sigh, she nodded.
Rose narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She didn't want to cause a scene, not here, not now. With a quiet sigh, she gave in, following him out of the office.
They walked in silence through the now-dimmed corridors of the building. Most of the staff had gone home for the day, and their footsteps echoed softly on the sleek marble floor. The silence between them was heavy with unspoken thoughts—hers, a mix of suspicion and curiosity; his, unreadable.
The elevator ride down was tense. Rose kept her gaze ahead, watching the numbers descend while Julian stood close beside her, his hands in his pockets, eyes occasionally flicking to her face. When the doors opened, his hand instinctively moved to guide her out, resting lightly on the small of her back.
She flinched slightly at the touch but didn't pull away.
Outside, the evening air was cool, brushing against her skin like a whispered warning. A sleek black car waited at the curb, engine purring like a panther ready to pounce. Of course, it was his.
Julian opened the passenger door and gestured for her to get in. Rose hesitated for just a moment—one more second of pride clawing at her—before slipping inside. The leather interior smelled expensive, and the seat cradled her like it had been made for her.
He got in beside her, and the driver pulled away smoothly from the curb.
For a while, they didn't speak. The city lights streaked past the windows, casting shadows that danced across Julian's face. He looked like something out of a noir film—dangerous, alluring, unreadable.
Then, without turning to her, he asked, "So... first board meeting. What did you think?"
Rose blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. "Honestly? It was intense. Everyone looked like they were two seconds away from flipping the table."
Julian chuckled, a deep, amused sound. "They probably were. Welcome to the world of high-stakes business. Glamorous, isn't it?"
She gave a dry laugh. "If by glamorous, you mean aggressive and slightly terrifying... then yeah. Super glamorous."
His eyes met hers then, sharp and assessing. "But you handled yourself well. Better than I expected."
That surprised her. "You expected me to panic?"
"I expected you to leave halfway through," he said honestly. "But you stayed. You listened. You even smiled at Alex's nonsense."
Rose smirked. "That man doesn't take anything seriously."
Julian tilted his head. "He's a lot smarter than he acts. The clown mask throws people off. Sometimes that's useful."
There was a pause.
"Karen seemed... intense," Rose added.
Julian's lips twitched. "She is. She doesn't tolerate incompetence. But she's loyal. If she sees something in you, she'll be your biggest supporter."
Rose folded her arms, still peering out the window. "She didn't give me a tour. Just pointed at doors and dumped restricted files on me."
Julian smiled. "Consider it your trial by fire."
She shook her head with a soft laugh. "You have an odd way of welcoming people."
"I'm not exactly known for being soft," he said, almost proudly.
The car rolled to a stop outside her apartment building.
Before she could open the door, Julian turned to her again, more serious now. "Be careful in that position, Rose. People in this company—especially at the top—they notice things. Some don't like change. Some don't like... trust being given so freely."
Her brows furrowed. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying," he leaned in a little, his voice dropping, "that you being here will rattle a few cages. Keep your eyes open."
Rose nodded slowly, a tight feeling settling in her chest. The job was more than it seemed—she had suspected that—but hearing it confirmed made her heartbeat quicken.
"Thanks for the ride," she said, reaching for the handle.
Julian's hand shot out, covering hers lightly. "And Rose?"
She looked back at him.
"If anything—or anyone—makes you uncomfortable... come to me. Don't play brave."
Her chest tightened a little more. "I'll think about it," she said softly.
And with that, she stepped out of the car and into the evening air, the door clicking shut behind her. As the car pulled away, she stood there for a moment, staring after it.