A Warning from Marcus

Julian Blackwood stood in his private office, the city lights sprawling beneath him like a glittering sea. His hands were tucked into his pockets, but his mind was far from calm. Emily Taylor's persistence was becoming a problem a problem he couldn't ignore.

The door opened behind him, and Marcus Reed strolled in without knocking, a glass of scotch already in his hand.

"You look tense," Marcus said, dropping into one of the leather chairs. "Let me guess our favorite journalist?"

Julian didn't turn around. "She's smarter than I gave her credit for."

"That's what you get for underestimating pretty faces." Marcus chuckled, but there was an edge to his voice. "I warned you she'd be trouble."

Julian finally turned, his expression unreadable. "And I told you I can handle it."

Marcus tilted his head, studying his old friend. "You sure? Because from where I'm sitting, she's getting under your skin. That's not like you."

Julian's jaw tightened. He had spent years building an empire, controlling every detail of his life. No one got too close. And yet… Emily Taylor was dangerously close to unraveling everything.

"I'm handling it," Julian repeated, his voice colder this time.

Marcus took a sip of his drink, leaning back. "Fine. But don't forget if she digs too deep, she won't just find skeletons in the closet. She'll find everything."

The warning hung heavy between them.

Julian knew exactly what Marcus meant. There were things in his past choices he had made that couldn't see the light of day. Not if he wanted to protect everything he'd built.

"Keep an eye on her," Julian ordered quietly. "If she steps too far, I want to know."

A slow smile spread across Marcus's face. "Consider it done."

As Marcus left, Julian returned to the window, but his thoughts stayed on Emily.

She wasn't just a threat to his business.

She was becoming a threat to the walls he had so carefully built around himself.

And that made her the most dangerous kind of distraction.