Chapter 7 - The Beggar in White
I had just unlocked the door to my apartment in Belltown when headlights swept across the brick alleyway outside. Tires squealed against wet asphalt, followed by the violent slam of car doors.
I turned around, leaning casually against the iron railing of my steps.
A sleek black Mercedes had parked crookedly across my driveway. The door flew open, and Lauren stumbled out into the cold night. She wasn't wearing her coat. Her designer gown was dragged through dirty puddles of rain and street grime, the hem soaked in black mud. Behind her, Julian stepped out, his tuxedo tie undone, his face twisted in desperate rage.
"Lucas!" Lauren cried out, her voice raw from screaming. She ran toward the steps, almost tripping over the train of her ruined dress. "Lucas, look at me! Look what you did!"
I stood still, hands in the pockets of my wool coat, watching her approach like a ghost from a past that no longer held any power over me.
"Good evening, Lauren. Congratulations on your marriage," I said evenly.
"You ruined it!" she shrieked, stopping at the base of the stairs, trembling from the biting wind. "Julian’s father canceled our honeymoon! He’s canceling the reception! He called my mother a fraud and threatened to sue us for breach of faith! How could you do this to me? On my wedding day?!"
Julian came up behind her, but he didn't look angry anymore; he looked terrified. He pushed Lauren slightly aside, stepping up one tier of the concrete stairs with his hands raised in surrender.
"Mr. Vance... Lucas," Julian stammered, his polished country-club bravado completely dismantled. "Look, there was a misunderstanding. Lauren didn't know. The event planners made an executive decision at the door. We didn't know you were the principal of Summit Bridge."
"You knew I was her brother," I said quietly, looking down at him. "And you stood by the entrance and chuckled when the security guard handed me back my coat."
Julian swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. "We made a mistake. A massive, stupid mistake. But my father... my father’s business has twelve commercial notes due with Summit Bridge next week. If you recall those loans, we lose the firm. We lose everything."
"That sounds like an internal matter for Thorne Financial," I said calmly.
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"Luke, please!" Lauren dropped to her knees right there on the wet concrete, the expensive lace absorbing dirty rainwater. She reached out, trying to grab the cuffs of my trousers. "I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I’ll post a public apology! I’ll tell everyone you gave us the venue! Just call Marcus... please, tell them to turn the lights back on! The Thorne family is leaving! Julian is going to annul the marriage!"
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