Chapter 2 - The Shattered Illusion
Julian physically recoiled as if Gabriel had struck him across the face.
The color completely drained from his cheeks, leaving him looking pale and terrified under the crystal chandeliers.
"That is impossible," Julian stammered, looking frantically around the room.
"You cannot legally acquire that debt without a formal board review."
I stepped out from behind Gabriel, resting my hand securely on my baby bump.
"The board voted unanimously this morning while you were busy doing a photoshoot with your new girlfriend," I explained calmly.
Julian’s eyes widened as the reality of his financial ruin began to set in.
Dalia hurried over to us, her silver dress swishing loudly against the marble floor.
"Julian, baby, what is going on?" she asked, clinging tightly to his arm.
He aggressively shook her off, his panic quickly mutating into vicious anger.
"You think you can just waltz in here and ruin my life?" Julian yelled, drawing the attention of several nearby senators.
"You ruined your own life the day you started taking credit for my intellectual property," I replied.
Julian let out a desperate, ugly laugh.
"You signed an ironclad non-disclosure agreement, Khloe!" he shouted.
"If you or your new billionaire boyfriend breathe a word about my company, I will sue you for every penny you possess."
He pointed a shaking finger directly at my face.
"I will drag you and that bastard child through court for the next decade."
Gabriel’s jaw tightened dangerously, but I placed a calming hand on his chest.
I opened my small velvet clutch and pulled out a folded piece of heavy legal paper.
"You really should have read the final divorce settlement before you rushed off to Miami with a beauty queen," I smiled.
I handed the document to Julian, watching his hands tremble as he unfolded it.
"My lawyer buried a void clause in the seventh section," I told him.
"The NDA completely expired the moment you used company funds to purchase an engagement ring for another woman."
Julian stared at the signature on the paper, his breathing growing shallow and erratic.
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"You are completely exposed, Julian," Gabriel added softly.
"And tomorrow morning, the New York Times is publishing a front-page exposé on exactly who wrote the code for your entire empire."
