Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO BECAME HIS WEAKNESS
Julian Croft had enemies.
Many of them.
But Vincent Hale was different.
Vincent didn't want money.
He didn't want territory.
He wanted humiliation.
He wanted to prove that Julian was not untouchable.
And now he had found the perfect weapon.
Maya.
The next morning, Julian canceled every meeting.
Every appointment.
Every business call.
Derek noticed.
"You canceled a billion-dollar negotiation."
Julian looked up from the documents on his desk.
"I know."
"Because of Vincent?"
"Because of Maya."
Derek studied him.
"You know this changes everything, right?"
Julian didn't answer.
Because he knew.
Before Maya entered his life, he never hesitated.
He made decisions quickly.
Coldly.
Without emotion.
But now?
Now every choice had consequences.
Because someone could use her to hurt him.
And worse…
Someone could hurt her because of him.
Maya spent the morning cleaning the penthouse in silence.
But something felt different.
Julian wasn't watching her like he was suspicious.
He was watching her like he was worried.
That scared her more.
Finally, she stopped.
"Why are you acting like this?"
Julian looked up.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm made of glass."
His expression softened.
"Because you keep pretending you're made of steel."
Maya looked away.
"I can handle myself."
"I know."
"Then stop protecting me."
Julian walked closer.
"I can't."
"Why?"
He hesitated.
And that hesitation told her everything.
"Because someone is coming after you."
Her face changed.
"What?"
Julian handed her his phone.
A picture.
A man standing outside the bakery.
Watching.
Maya's blood ran cold.
"Who is that?"
"Someone who wants to hurt me."
She looked at him.
"Because of me?"
Julian didn't lie.
"Yes."
Maya immediately stepped back.
"No."
"What?"
"No."
Her voice became sharper.
"This is exactly why I didn't want you to know."
"Maya—"
"I told you."
She pointed toward the phone.
"This happens around people like you."
Julian's jaw tightened.
"People like me?"
"Powerful people."
Her eyes filled with frustration.
"People who have enemies everywhere."
Silence.
Then Julian said quietly:
"And you think walking home alone at midnight, hiding your problems, and letting yourself break apart was safer?"
Maya didn't answer.
Because she knew.
It wasn't.
That evening, Maya received a package.
No return address.
No name.
Just a small black box.
Her hands shook as she opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A picture of her leaving the bakery.
Taken from across the street.
Under the picture was a handwritten message.
STOP MAKING JULIAN WEAK.
Her breathing stopped.
Another piece of paper fell out.
A second message.
NEXT TIME, WE WON'T JUST WATCH.
Maya dropped the box.
A moment later, Julian entered.
He saw her face.
"What happened?"
She couldn't speak.
She pointed.
Julian picked up the photograph.
The second he read the message...
The temperature in the room changed.
The calm disappeared.
The monster everyone feared returned.
"Derek."
He grabbed his phone.
"Find Vincent Hale."
A pause.
"And when you find him..."
Julian looked at Maya.
His voice became dangerously quiet.
"Make sure he understands one thing."
"What?"
May you like
Julian looked down at the picture.
"No one touches what is mine."
