Chapter 10 - The True Owner
Red and blue police lights flooded the lobby as tactical SWAT teams poured into the building.
Paramedics rushed in behind them, checking the vital signs of the unconscious billionaires and senators.
The authorities quickly moved to the balcony, safely securing the detonator from Evelyn's exhausted hand.
Both Evelyn and Vance were placed in heavy steel handcuffs and dragged out of the hotel.
Julian stood quietly in the corner, watching the chaotic scene finally resolve into order.
Ryan walked over to him, holding an ice pack against the side of his bruised head.
"So, you really own this entire place?" Ryan asked, looking around the extravagant lobby.
"I own the company that owns the company that built it," Julian clarified with a modest shrug.
"Well, I guess I owe you an apology for tearing up your invitation," Ryan muttered awkwardly.
Julian reached into his pocket, pulled out his battered cell phone, and tapped a few buttons.
Ryan's personal cell phone immediately chimed with a loud notification.
The guard pulled out his phone and stared at the screen in absolute disbelief.
Julian had just transferred two million dollars into Ryan's personal bank account.
"Consider it a bonus for driving a truck through my front door," Julian smiled warmly.
The core conflict was finally over, the villains were captured, and the global markets were entirely safe.
Julian walked out of the ruined hotel, slipping quietly past the reporters and flashing cameras.
He hailed a simple yellow cab and rode back to his heavily secured, private penthouse across town.
Julian poured himself a glass of water and walked into his dark study to relax.
He turned on the desk lamp and instantly froze in his tracks.
Resting perfectly in the center of his glass desk was a crisp, blood-red envelope.
Julian carefully opened it to find a recent photograph of his supposedly dead brother holding today's newspaper.
May you like
A single sentence was scrawled across the back of the photo in black ink.
"You protected the building, Julian, but you forgot to protect your family."
