Just My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires by Esther Pen novel Chapter 253

Chapter 253

JULIAN’S POV

The sharp slice of steel blades cutting into the fresh ice and the violent thud of a puck slamming agains plexiglass usually brought a sense of absolute control. Today, it was just grating noise.

I leaned against the boards, my breathing heavy beneath the weight of my shoulder pads and hockey jer Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Aria’s receptionist trembling, the shattered remains of that glass vase the office floor, and the suffocating grip of that brute Anthony pinning me against the wall.

“If you come back, the security detail outside the building has orders to take you down.”

I gritted my teeth, gripping my hockey stick so hard the composite frame creaked. Let them try. I was a Vance. My father’s name, Vance Enterprises, carried enough weight to crush a dozen cheap security guar

Aria was just scared. Once the shock wore off and she realized that Brandon’s dark past made him a liabil she would realize I was the only logical choice to give Amelia a stable future.

“Vance. Quit daydreaming and get back in the drill!”

Coach’s whistle blew loudly, echoing through the freezing air of the arena. I shook my head, skating lazily toward the center circle. As the star forward and the son of one of the city’s wealthiest elites, I didn’t need sweat the small stuff.

But as the team began to gather near the benches for a break, I noticed the heavy double doors of the rink swinging open. Walking out onto the sub-zero,concrete walkway wasn’t just our coach.

He was flanked by Henderson. Henderson didn’t look like a guy looking for talent today. His expression wa completely unreadable, his eyes sweeping across the entire roster.

“Bring it in, everyone,” Coach Miller called out.

The guys skated over, spraying ice against the boards as they came to a halt. I glided over at a leisurely pace, leaning against the glass with a smug, easy confidence.

“I have an announcement to make regarding the team’s sponsorship and scout funding.”

Henderson began, his authoritative voice cutting through the chilly arena. “Our primary corporate benefactor, Mr. Brandon, has just finalized a massive restructuring of our scouting syndicate’s budget. Movin forward, he is injecting an additional twenty percent into our facility development, doubling the performance bonuses for the rest of the season, and securing top-tier sports medicine contracts for the entire

roster.”

A collective murmur of excitement broke out among the guys. Sticks tapped against the ice in celebration. and a few teammates slapped each other’s pads. I smiled, tapping my own stick lightly.

Typical Brandon. Trying to buy his way into everyone’s good graces because he knew he was losing his grip on Aria. But money was money, and as the star player, a chunk of those doubled performance bonuses was going straight into my pocket.

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Chapter 253

“Enjoy the rest of practice, boys,” Henderson said with a tight nod. Then, his eyes locked dead onto m and piercing. “Julian. Step off the ice. I want to have a word with you.”

The smile faltered slightly on my face. The guys gave me a few curious glances as I unlatched the rink and stepped out onto the heavy rubber matting, the blades of my skates digging into the floor.

Henderson waited until we walked a few paces away from the bench, deep into the shadow of the conc corridor where the coaches couldn’t overhear.

“Mr. Henderson?” I asked, forcing a casual shrug. “What’s up?”

Henderson didn’t waste time. He stepped directly into my personal space, his voice dropping to a low, I whisper that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “You’re getting the bonuses, Julian. You’re the facility upgrades. Do you know why?”

I frowned. “Because I’m the top scorer-”

“Because Mr. Brandon ordered it,” Henderson cut me off, his eyes full of pure disgust. “He explicitly state that he wouldn’t let your pathetic, unhinged actions affect the livelihood of the rest of this team, or even own contract. He wants you to have every single dollar. He wants you to feel entirely secure.”

I blinked, completely caught off guard. “What?”

“He’s letting you keep your little playground, Julian,” Henderson sneered, leaning in closer. “But make no mistake, you are a dead man walking in this league. You thought you could play dirty? You thought you co put your hands on Aria and walk away clean? Enjoy the money while it lasts, kid,” Henderson sneered, lear in closer. “Because outside of this rink, Brandon is going to systematically strip you of absolutely everythi else. You’re an outcast. You just don’t know it yet.”

He turned on his heel and walked away, his heavy boots echoing down the concrete corridor before the double doors swung shut behind him. I stood frozen on my skates, my chest heaving beneath my pads, a toxic mixture of shock and sheer rage paralyzing me.

“Hey, Julian.” I flinched slightly as Seb skated up to the low half-wall of the corridor, leaning his arms over t barrier. He looked at me, his brow furrowed with curiosity. “What the hell happened out here? What did Henderson say to you?”

I swallowed hard, forcing my features into a mask of pure indifference. I shook my head, my voice tight. “Nothing. Just corporate scouting bureaucracy. Don’t worry about it.”

“You sure? You look like you’ve seen a ghost, man.”

“I’m fine,” I snapped, though my throat suddenly felt incredibly dry, itching for a harsh, burning drink to was away the bitter taste Henderson had left in my mouth.

I couldn’t stay here. The cold air of the arena was suddenly suffocating. “I need to get home. I’ll catch you later, Seb.

Without waiting for his reply, I stepped onto the rubber mats, walked straight to the locker room, and ripped my gear off in record time. I didn’t even shower.

I threw on a hoodie, grabbed my keys, and walked out to my car. The drive back to the penthouse was a blur

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Chapter 253

of aggressive lane changes and white-knuckled steering.

Brandon thought he could touch me? He thought an inflated scout budget and a few vague threats thro middleman would make me crawl into a hole? He was delusional. I was a Vance.

When I threw open the front door of the penthouse, the quiet luxury of the apartment did little to calm racing pulse.

Leonie was there, completely relaxed, lounging across the expansive leather couch with her phone in h She looked up lazily as the door slammed shut behind me. “Back early, aren’t we?”

I didn’t answer her. I walked straight past the living room and into the kitchen, ripping open the liquor cabinet. My hands gripped a bottle of premium whiskey. I didn’t bother with a glass.

I twisted the cap off and shoved the bottle to my lips, gulping the amber liquid down, letting the harsh b tear through my throat and chest.

I set the bottle down on the marble counter with a heavy thud, wiping my mouth with the back of my ha The alcohol hit my stomach, warming me, but the rage remained. I still couldn’t believe it.

Brandon actually thought he could intimidate me. He thought he could outmaneuver me just because he a dark reputation. Suddenly, the violent vibration of my phone against the counter shattered the silence.

I looked down. The caller ID flashed brightly. Father. I let out a harsh sigh, grabbing the device and slidin open. “Dad, look, I’m really not in the mood right now. The scouts just—”

“Julian, shut up and listen to me!” My father’s voice boomed through the receiver, entirely stripped of its u calm, calculated arrogance.

He sounded breathless, frantic, and older than he ever had. “Get yourself down to the company headquart immediately!”

“Dad, what-”

“Do not argue with me! Get here now!” The line went dead before I could even blink. I stood there, the pho pressed to my ear, a horrible, sinking feeling settling deep in my gut.

Leonie sat up on the couch, her eyes narrowing as she watched me drop my hands. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I brushed her aside sharply, my mind racing as I turned toward the hallway. “Stay here.”

I hurried into the bathroom, stripping down and taking a brutally fast, scalding bath to wash the scent of the rink off my skin.

I threw on a tailored suit, practically throwing myself out of the penthouse and speeding across the city toward the towering skyscraper that bore our family name.

When the elevator doors dinged open on the executive floor of Vance Enterprises, the atmosphere was chaotic. Employees were rushing down the halls with stacks of files, their faces pale.

I walked swiftly toward the massive double doors of the main boardroom. My father’s executive secretary

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