CLAIRE

HOURS LATER

Blake was lounging on our couch, scrolling through his phone when he suddenly sat up straight. "Well, this is interesting," he said.

Julian looked up from his laptop. "What?" he asked.

"Cross Industries stock just dropped fifteen percent," Blake replied, showing his phone screen. "Market opened twenty minutes ago."

Julian's expression didn't change. "Not surprising," he said. "The CEO was just arrested for embezzlement."

"It's worse than that," Blake continued, reading. "Board of directors called emergency meeting, investors are panicking, three major clients pulled contracts this morning."

"Let it burn," Julian said coldly, returning to his work.

Blake exchanged a glance with me. "Julian," Blake started carefully....