Chapter 24 - Julian's Blind Spot
I requested a private lunch with Julian in his executive suite. I didn't bring accusations, rumors, or corporate gossip; I brought cold, hard data. I laid the thick, printed ledgers across his polished mahogany table, taking a red pen and highlighting the 4.2% algorithmic discrepancies across a dozen random shipments.
Julian stared at the numbers in absolute silence, the muscles in his jaw tightening so hard I thought his teeth might crack. Marcus Vance had been his mentor. Vance was the man who had helped Julian navigate the treacherous political waters during his early days as a young, newly appointed CEO.
"Are you absolutely certain about this?" Julian finally asked, his voice low and strained.
"Numbers don't have mentors, Julian," I replied evenly, meeting his troubled gaze. "They don't have loyalties, and they don't care about past favors. They only represent facts. Marcus Vance is bleeding your company to the tune of twelve million dollars a year."
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Julian closed his eyes for a brief, heavy moment, rubbing his temples. The weight of the corporate crown was visibly pressing down on him. When he opened his eyes, the warmth was gone, replaced by the ruthless pragmatism required to run an empire.
"Do whatever you have to do," Julian said softly. "But listen to me carefully. Vance is a deeply entrenched, highly dangerous man. If you strike at the king, you absolutely cannot miss. If he slips the net, he will destroy us both."
