push and pull

Chapter 009

Chapter 009: The Wedding Arrangement

My breath caught in my throat as Sarah’s next message flashed across the screen.

Maya, it's moving much faster than we thought. Arthur has already finalized the wedding plans for Julian. He is forcing him to marry Sophia, the daughter of one of the wealthiest tech magnates in the country. They are announcing it to the press at the gala next week.

I stared at the name on the screen. Sophia. I had seen her name in the financial columns before—she belonged to an incredibly powerful dynasty, the exact kind of high-society match Arthur had always wanted for his son to double the family's empire.

The realization hit me like a physical blow. Julian wasn’t just entering a long engagement; he was being fast-tracked into a marriage he didn't want, completely trapped under his father's thumb. Every ounce of progress I had made toward moving on felt completely distant now.

I stood up from the coffee shop table, my mind racing. Julian had completely ruined his own happiness to keep Arthur from destroying my career. Now that I was safely at Vance Global, I couldn't just sit back and watch him give up his entire life.

I typed back a furious, determined response to Sarah.

I'm not letting this happen. When and where is the gala?

A few seconds later, the address and time flashed on my screen. It was next Thursday at the Grand Plaza Ballroom. I locked my phone and gripped it tightly in my hand, looking out at the city skyline. The push and pull had taken us through boardroom battles and hidden corridors, but this was the final line. I had to find a way to get into that gala, confront Julian, and help him break the chains his father had locked around him.

The days leading up to the gala passed in a blur of anticipation and nerves. Every morning at my new job at Vance Global, I kept my focus locked on my duties, but the moment the clock hit five, my thoughts instantly shifted back to Julian.

I spent hours with Sarah over encrypted messaging apps, tracking the movements of the Kingston executive inner circle. Arthur had the entire event locked down. Security at the Grand Plaza Ballroom was going to be impenetrable, requiring custom digital invitations that couldn't be forged.

"I can't get you a ticket, Maya," Sarah had warned me over a tense phone call the night before the event. "Arthur personally vetted the guest list. If you show up, security will turn you away at the door."

"Then I'll find another way in," I told her, looking at the elegant evening gown hanging on the back of my door. "Julian sacrificed his career to protect mine. I owe it to him to try."

On the night of the gala, the Grand Plaza Ballroom was bathed in glittering gold lights. Paparazzi lined the velvet ropes outside, flashes exploding every time a high-profile executive or socialite stepped out of a limousine. I parked my car two blocks away, my heart hammering against my ribs as I walked toward the venue, adjusting the silk shawl around my shoulders.

As I approached the side entrance used by the catering staff, I spotted a delivery van unloading floral arrangements. Taking a deep breath, I slipped past the distracted guards, using the massive displays of white roses as cover. I was inside.

But as I navigated the winding, mirrored hallways toward the main ballroom, a sudden round of thunderous applause echoed through the heavy double doors. The master of ceremonies' voice boomed over the speakers, making me freeze in my tracks.

"Ladies and gentlemen, corporate partners, and distinguished guests... please raise your glasses to the newly consolidated power of our empires, and join us in celebrating the private union of Julian Kingston and Sophia Vance!"

My heart stopped. The applause grew louder, deafeningly triumphant. I rushed forward, pushing the heavy doors open just an inch to peer into the grand hall.

There, on the raised dais under the crystal chandeliers, stood Julian. He was dressed in a flawless black tuxedo, but his face was completely hollow, devoid of any joy. Standing beside him was Sophia, radiating high-society elegance. Arthur stood just behind them, a victorious, wicked smile on his face as he toasted the crowd.

I was too late. The ceremony had already happened in private before the press arrived. The papers were signed, the families were joined, and the trap had officially locked shut.