Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 235

Chapter 235

They didn’t touch me. Didn’t need to. Just stood there, bracketing me, making it clear I had no choice but to leave.

I turned and walked toward the exit, my face burning. Behind me, I heard the woman speak into her radio: “We’ve got a lingerer in section two. Competitor trying to access closed booths. Situation resolved.”

The warehouse doors closed behind me with a heavy clang. I stood on the sidewalk, portfolio case digging into my shoulder, and stared back at the building.

The evidence was in there. Whatever Sloane’s assistant had been passing her, whatever advantage she’d been cultivating during those hourly visits–it was all in that booth. But I couldn’t get to it. Couldn’t prove anything.

The security had been designed to protect us. To prevent sabotage. But it also meant I couldn’t investigate, Couldn’t gather proof of what I knew–what I

“knew–was happening.

I pulled out my phone, thought about calling someone. But who? Raven would tell me to let it go, focus on the finals. Mom would worry. Julian would-

No. I wasn’t calling Julian. I’d told him I needed to do this alone, and I meant it.

I opened my email instead, started typing to Dr. Sterling. Then stopped. What would I say? “I think Sloane’s assistant was passing her information during medical check–ins, but I have no proof and the security footage probably just shows them talking?”

I deleted the draft.

A text came through. Raven: “How’d it go???”

Me: “Made it to finals. 4th place.”

Raven: “HOLY SHIT!!! That’s amazing! Celebration dinner?”

Me: “Can’t tonight. Need to prep for finals.”

Raven: “You just finished semifinals. Take one night off.”

Me: “Can’t. Sloane placed 6th. She’s going to come at me hard in the finals.”

Three dots appeared, disappeared, appeared again.

Raven: “Then we definitely need to celebrate tonight. You beat Sloane Kennedy. You BEAT her. Let yourself feel good about that for five seconds.”

I looked back at the warehouse. At the glass walls I could just barely see through the entrance windows. At the booths where we’d been contained and observed and judged.

Sloane had advantages I couldn’t match. Connections I’d never have. And now, apparently, some kind of information pipeline I couldn’t prove existed.

But I’d still beaten her.

Fourth to her sixth.

Not a huge margin. But enough.

1/2

9:11 am Pppp

Chapter 235

Me: “Okay. One dinner. But somewhere cheap.”

Raven: ‘Deal, Mexican restaurant near your home? 7pm?”

Me: ‘See you there.”

I hit send and looked up, already turning toward the subway station.

And stopped.

Julian was leaning against his car. He looked terrible. Pale, with shadows under his eyes like he hadn’t slept in days. His suit jacket was unbuttoned, tie

loosened. I’d never seen him look so undone.

He straightened when he saw me, but didn’t move closer. Just stood there, hands in his pockets, watching me.

“Congratulations,” he said. His voice was quiet, rough. “On making the finals.

“Thank you.” The words came out automatically, formal. Like we were strangers.

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The expression made him look even paler, if that was possible. He took a step toward me, then his face went strange. His hand shot out toward the car like he was trying to catch himself, but his knees buckled.

I dropped my portfolio case and lunged forward, catching him under the arms before he hit the pavement. His weight nearly took us both down.

“Julian!” My heart was hammering. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

He was leaning heavily against me, his breathing shallow. Up close, I could see the fine tremor in his hands, the way his skin had gone clammy.

“I’m fine,” he said, but his voice was weak. “Just stood up too fast.”

“Bullshit. If you don’t tell the truth, I’m done with you forever!”

Comments

1

Write Comments

<SHARE

2/2

9:11 am P P P P

Reborn at Eighteen: The Billionaire’s Second Chance