Chapter 2: Old Wounds, New Battles

I stride through the glass doors of Hartfield Technologies, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor.

The cold, modern architecture of the building does nothing to soothe the storm brewing inside me.

My mind is still reeling from Julian’s surprise appearance at the conference and his audacious announcement.

His smug face, the way he looked at me, the challenge in his voice—it’s all seared into my brain like a bad dream I can’t shake.

As I step into the elevator, I slam my finger against the button for the top floor. The doors close with a soft ding, and I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

I need to get a grip. I can't let Julian Sterling, of all people, see me rattled. He thrives on chaos and feeds off of other people's weaknesses. I won’t give him the satisfaction.

When the elevator doors slide open to the executive floor, I step out and immediately spot Ethan Clarke, my business partner and one of the few people I trust implicitly. He’s pacing in front of my office, his expression tense, phone in hand.

"Isobel," he says as soon as he sees me, hanging up the call. "I just heard. Julian announced an investment in CoreTech? What the hell is he playing at?"

I brush past him, pushing open the door to my office. "That’s what I’d like to know," I say, dropping my bag on my desk. "He did it right in the middle of my keynote.

Just waltzed up there like he owned the place and made his little announcement. It was all about disrupting us, Ethan."

Ethan follows me in, shutting the door behind him. "Bastard," he mutters under his breath. "We need to be prepared, Isobel. If Julian’s making moves like this, it could mean he's planning something bigger."

I turn to face him, my arms crossed over my chest. "You think he’s aiming for a hostile takeover?"

Ethan nods, his jaw tight. "It’s a classic Sterling move. Cause chaos, lower the stock price, and swoop in to buy it all up for pennies on the dollar."

I grit my teeth, anger bubbling up inside me. "Not on my watch. Hartfield Technologies is my life’s work. I won’t let Julian or anyone else tear it apart."

Ethan’s eyes soften slightly, and he places a hand on my shoulder. "We’ll figure this out, Isobel. We always do. But we need to act fast. Get ahead of this before it spirals out of control."

I nod, taking a deep breath. "You’re right. Let’s call an emergency meeting with the board. We need to rally the troops and make sure everyone’s on the same page."

Ethan pulls out his phone, already dialing. "I’ll get it set up. We’ll meet in the conference room in ten minutes."

As he steps out to make the call, I collapse into my chair, running a hand through my hair. Julian’s face flashes through my mind again, that damn smirk that always used to drive me crazy.

I close my eyes, forcing the image away. I don’t have time to get lost in old memories. I need to stay focused.

A knock on the door pulls me out of my thoughts. I look up to see Lydia, my younger sister, peeking in. "Hey, are you okay?" she asks, stepping into the office.

I force a smile. "I’m fine, Lydia. Just dealing with the usual corporate drama."

Lydia frowns, crossing her arms. "I heard about Julian’s announcement. Are you sure you’re okay?"

I sigh, leaning back in my chair. "I’m not going to lie, it threw me. But I’m not going to let him derail everything I’ve worked for."

Lydia nods, sitting down across from me. "You’re stronger than he gives you credit for, Isobel. He always underestimated you."

I smile, a real one this time. "Thanks, Lydia. That means a lot."

Before she can respond, Ethan pokes his head back in. "The board’s ready. We should get going."

I nod, standing up. "Let’s do this." As we head to the conference room, I feel a renewed sense of determination.

Julian may have blindsided me today, but I won’t let him win. I’ve come too far to let some arrogant billionaire ruin everything.

The meeting is intense, filled with heated discussions and strategic planning. We go over every possible scenario, preparing for the worst while hoping for the best. By the time it’s over, I’m exhausted, but at least I feel like we have a plan.

Ethan stays behind to finalize some details with the legal team, and I make my way back to my office, ready to collapse. But as I step through the door, I notice something on my desk that wasn’t there before.

A small, rectangular package wrapped in plain brown paper.

My heart skips a beat, and I approach it cautiously. There’s no return address, no indication of who sent it. Just my name, scrawled across the top in familiar handwriting.

Julian’s handwriting.

I swallow hard, my hands trembling slightly as I pick up the package. I tear open the paper, revealing a wooden box inside. I open it slowly, my breath catching in my throat when I see what’s inside.

A photograph. Of me and Julian.

It’s from years ago, back when we were still married. We’re standing on a beach, the sun setting behind us, looking so damn happy. My heart clenches as I remember that day. How carefree we were, how in love. It feels like a lifetime ago.

I turn the photo over, my blood running cold as I see the words scrawled on the back: "Remember this?"

I drop the photo like it’s burned me, my mind racing. What the hell is Julian playing at? Why send me this now?

I sink into my chair, staring at the photo on the desk. The familiar pang of old wounds reopens in my chest, mingling with the anger and frustration already simmering there.

Julian is trying to mess with my head, trying to throw me off balance. But why? What’s his endgame?

I’m jolted out of my thoughts by the sound of my phone buzzing on the desk. I grab it, my pulse quickening when I see the caller ID.

Julian.

I hesitate for a moment, my thumb hovering over the screen. Part of me wants to ignore it, to toss the phone out the window and forget he ever existed.

But another part of me—perhaps the part that’s still tied to him in ways I don’t want to admit—presses the answer button.

"Isobel," Julian’s voice purrs through the line, sending a shiver down my spine. "I see you got my little gift."

"What the hell do you want, Julian?" I snap, unable to keep the anger out of my voice.

He chuckles softly. "Straight to the point, as always. I just wanted to remind you of the good times we had. Before things got... complicated."

I grit my teeth, my grip tightening on the phone. "Those times are long gone, Julian. And no amount of nostalgia is going to change that."

"Maybe," he says, his tone suddenly serious. "Or maybe I’m just trying to remind you of who you were before all of this. Before the company, the boardrooms, the deals. Before you became this... version of yourself."

I laugh bitterly. "You mean before I became someone who wouldn’t let you walk all over them? I’m not that naive girl anymore, Julian."

"No," he agrees, his voice softening. "You’re not. But I can’t help but wonder if you’ve lost something along the way."

I shake my head, frustration boiling over. "I’m done with this conversation. Whatever game you’re playing, Julian, leave me out of it. I have a company to run, and I don’t have time for your mind games."

I’m about to hang up when his next words stop me cold. "This isn’t a game, Isobel. This is about us. About what we could still be, if you’d just let yourself see it."

I’m speechless for a moment, caught off guard by the raw emotion in his voice. But I force myself to stay strong. "There is no us, Julian. There hasn’t been for a long time. And there never will be again."

He’s silent for a moment, and I think he might have finally given up. But then he speaks again, his voice low and dangerous. "We’ll see about that. Just remember, Isobel—nothing is ever truly over between us."

Before I can respond, the line goes dead. I stare at the phone in my hand, my mind spinning. Julian’s words echo in my ears, a chilling promise that sends a shiver down my spine.

I look back at the photo on my desk, the happy smiles on our faces now feeling like a cruel joke. Whatever Julian is planning, it’s clear he’s not done with me yet. And as much as I hate to admit it, a part of me is terrified of what he might do next.

But I can’t let him see that fear. I can’t let him win.

With a determined breath, I stand up, grabbing the photo and shoving it back into the box. I’ll deal with Julian Sterling and whatever twisted game he’s playing. But on my terms, not his.

As I turn to leave my office, my phone buzzes again with a text message. I glance at the screen and feel my blood run cold.

It's another message from Julian.

"Check your email. You’re going to want to see this."

My stomach twists as I quickly open my laptop and navigate to my inbox. The newest email, from an anonymous sender, has the subject line: "Memories of Us."

I hesitate for a moment, my finger hovering over the mouse, my heart pounding in my chest.

With a deep breath, I click on it. My eyes widen as a video begins to play. It’s another memory—Julian and I at our wedding, laughing and dancing, lost in our own world.

The footage, clearly from an intimate perspective, sends a chill down my spine. How did Julian get this? Why would he send it to me now?

As the video plays, my gaze drifts to the timestamp at the bottom corner. That’s when I notice it. The date isn’t from our wedding day. It’s from three weeks ago.

My breath catches. My heart races. I quickly pause the video, but not before catching a glimpse of a familiar figure in the background—Julian, watching us from the shadows.

This isn’t just some old memory. This is now. He’s been watching me.

A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead as I realize the depth of his intrusion. He’s not just targeting my company. He’s targeting my life. My privacy.

Then, the final text comes through: "You can't hide from the past, Isobel. It’s already caught up with you."

I drop my phone, my pulse roaring in my ears. My office feels suddenly too small, too suffocating. Julian’s right outside my door, metaphorically if not literally, and he’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants.

Whatever he has planned, it's already in motion.

And I’m right in the middle of it.