Chapter 9 The fallout

Julian's phone clattered to the floor.

Isla sat up, the blanket slipping from her shoulders. She didn't even reach to cover herself.

"What did she say?" she asked, voice tight.

Julian's jaw was clenched so hard his teeth might crack. "She has a photo."

"Of us?"

He nodded. "Kissing."

Isla's stomach twisted. "How?"

"Security's airtight. The only explanation is surveillance. High angle. Long lens." He shook his head, pacing. "This building was supposed to be untouchable."

Her pulse thundered. "So she leaks a photo of us kissing. Big deal. You're a man. I'm a woman. We kissed. That's hardly a scandal."

Julian looked at her like she was naive-and it stung.

"You don't understand what she's doing," he snapped. "This isn't just about a kiss. It's about control. Power. She's not leaking the photo for attention-she's framing a narrative."

He picked up the phone again and read aloud:

"EXCLUSIVE: Julian Cross seduced by opportunistic journalist - Inside the scandal that broke the world's most untouchable man."

Isla's chest tightened. "She's making it look like I used you."

He didn't answer.

"Julian."

Still nothing.

"Do you think I did?"

He looked up-fast, sharp. "No. Never."

Relief punched through her, but it was short-lived.

"What now?" she asked.

Julian turned away, his voice distant. "Now you'll be hunted. Paparazzi. Trolls. Every mistake you've ever made will be pulled into daylight."

She laughed bitterly. "Too late. I already Googled myself this morning-my freshman-year DUI is trending."

He turned back, storm in his eyes. "This is my fault."

"No, it's not. She leaked it."

"I should've protected you."

"You let me in," Isla said, standing, fierce and bare. "You trusted me. That's the bravest thing you've ever done."

"I was selfish," he said. "I gave in. I knew what would happen. I knew what Veronica was capable of."

Something flickered in Isla's eyes. "What does she want, Julian?"

A long silence.

Then-

"Me."

Isla's blood turned cold.

"You dated her?"

His nod was slow. Regretful. "Briefly. A long time ago. Before the transplant. Before everything. I was no one. She liked that. She liked being the powerful one."

"And when you became someone?"

"She couldn't stand it."

He walked to the window, jaw tense.

"She's been waiting for me to slip. And I just handed her the match."

"Then we burn brighter," Isla said, crossing to him. "We don't hide. You don't hide. Let her leak the damn photo. Let her spin the story."

"You want to go public?"

"I want the truth to go public," she said. "That we met. That we fell. That we made love on a rainy night in a glass tower and didn't give a damn who was watching."

Julian looked at her like she was made of fire and grace.

"But what if I lose everything?"

She stepped in close. "Then we rebuild. Together."

His hands trembled. "I'm scared."

"Me too."

A long beat passed.

Then Julian kissed her-hard, desperate, grounding.

And when they pulled apart, Isla smiled.

"I guess the billionaire virgin just became the man with everything to lose."

---

Across the City

Veronica Chase watched her phone light up with messages.

The photo had gone live. The article was trending.

And she knew one thing for certain:

Julian Cross was about to make the biggest decision of his life.