Julian doesn’t wait for the court date to arrive.
He schedules the meeting at 6:00 a.m., in his private office, before the city fully wakes. Floor-to-ceiling glass. Controlled light. His table. His chairs. His terrain.
Evelyn arrives exactly on time.
She takes the seat opposite him without invitation.
A thin folder rests in front of him, aligned perfectly with the edge of the desk. Legal language tabbed. Bullet points marked.
“This doesn’t have to become hostile,” he begins, tone even, professional. “We can recalibrate privately.”
She folds her hands in her lap. “Go on.”
He nods once, as if presenting to a board.
“First: we agree to a formal reconciliation statement. Joint. No admission of fault—on either side. We frame the filing as precautionary stress management.”
Her expressio
