Chapter 6 - KNEELING FOR MERCY
At 1:00 PM, the grand lobby of Vance Tower was cleared of all personnel except for Julian’s elite security team. I stood beside Julian near the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, dressed in a sleek, powerful black dress, my hair perfectly styled. There was no trace of the humiliated waitress left.
The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open.
The four fathers walked out, looking like condemned men approaching the gallows. Trailing behind them were their sons: Preston, Bryce, Cole, and Tyler. The arrogance from the previous night had been entirely erased from their faces, replaced by dark circles and raw fear.
"Mr. Vance," Richard Hale began, his voice trembling as he stopped a respectful ten feet away. "We beg you for an audience."
Julian didn't say a word. He simply gestured to the floor.
Richard swallowed hard, turned to his son Preston, and delivered a backhanded slap so hard it echoed through the massive room. Preston stumbled, falling to his knees.
"Get on your knees," Richard hissed at the other boys. "All of you. Now!"
Bryce, Cole, and Tyler dropped to the marble floor instantly, keeping their heads bowed. The men who had laughed at my silence were now begging in theirs.
"We apologize for our sons," Bryce's father pleaded. "They were drunk, they were stupid. Please, Mr. Vance. You are destroying decades of our family's work in a single morning. Name your price. We will pay anything."
Julian finally spoke. "You seem to misunderstand the situation. I am not a negotiator. I am an executioner. And the one you offended is not me." He stepped aside, leaving me in full view of the kneeling men. "Speak to my wife."
Preston slowly looked up, his eyes meeting mine. The sheer panic in his gaze was intoxicating.
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"Anna—Mrs. Vance, please," Preston begged, tears freely falling down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry. I swear I'll never do anything like that again. Please don't let him ruin my family."
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