THE BILLIONAIRE’S BARGAIN

CHAPTER 9: THE EX

They didn't speak on the ride home.

Julian sat beside Maya in the car, staring out the window, his jaw ticking. She'd destroyed Victoria's phone. She'd defended him. She'd crossed a line from contract into something messier.

The penthouse elevator opened. Julian walked straight to the bar. Poured whiskey. Drank it like water.

"Julian," Maya said.

"Don't." He didn't turn around. "Don't ask if I'm okay. Don't ask what I'm thinking. Just... don't."

"She had a photo of the contract. She could have destroyed everything."

"She still can." Julian poured another drink. "She'll get another copy. She'll find another way. Victoria doesn't lose, Maya. She buries people."

Maya walked to him. Took the glass from his hand. Set it down.

"Then we tell the truth," she said.

Julian laughed. It was bitter. Broken. "The truth? That I paid a florist to pretend to love me so I could close a business deal? That'll go over well."

"Not that truth." Maya reached up. Touched his face. He flinched, then leaned into her palm. "The truth that this stopped being fake somewhere between the balcony and the piano. The truth that I—"

The elevator chimed.

They both turned.

Victoria walked into the penthouse. Like she owned it. Like she still had a key.

"Did you really think a broken phone would stop me?" she asked. She held up a manila envelope. "I have copies. I have everything. And Julian? I have something better."

"Get out," Julian said. "Or I call the police."

"Call them. I'll wait." Victoria opened the envelope. Pulled out a photo. "Recognize this?"

Maya looked. A car. Crumpled against a guardrail. Black and white. Police evidence.

"Julian," Victoria said, her voice dripping with poison. "Tell your little florist what really happened that night. Tell her how you were high."

Maya's world tilted. "What?"

"I wasn't—" Julian's face went white. "That's a lie."

"Is it?" Victoria held up another paper. "Toxicology report. Traces of amphetamines in your system. You were sixteen, trying to stay awake to study, to be perfect, to be enough. You took pills. Then you drove your dying mother to chemo. And you killed her."

Maya looked at Julian. He wasn't denying it. He was frozen. A statue of guilt.

"Julian?" Maya whispered.

"It was one time," he said. His voice was hollow. "One pill. I was exhausted. I wanted to help her. I wanted to—" He stopped. "I fell asleep. The report is real. The pills are real. Everything is real."

Maya felt sick. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I knew you'd look at me like that." Julian's eyes were dead. "Like I'm a monster. Like I'm the man who killed his own mother because he wanted to be perfect."

Victoria smiled. "There it is. The real Julian Voss. Broken, guilty, and alone. Just like his father said he'd be."

"Get out," Julian said. Not loud. Defeated.

"Gladly." Victoria dropped the envelope on the coffee table. "You have until midnight to call off the engagement. Publicly. Or I send this to every reporter in New York. Your choice, Julian. Your empire... or your florist."

She left. The elevator chimed. She was gone.

Silence. Heavy. Crushing.

Maya stood in the middle of the penthouse, staring at the man she'd almost kissed. The man who'd played piano for his dead mother. The man who carried a guilt so heavy it bent his spine.

"Is it true?" she asked.

Julian walked to the window. Put his forehead against the glass.

"Yes," he said.

Maya's heart cracked. "Julian—"

"Don't," he said. "Don't say it's okay. Don't say you forgive me. Don't say anything. Just... go to your room. Please."

"Julian—"

"Please."

The word broke. Shattered. Fell to the marble floor in pieces.

Maya went to her room. Closed the door. Sat on the bed.

The envelope sat on the coffee table. The truth sat in her chest like a stone.

*11:42 PM.*

She couldn't sleep. The words kept replaying. _Toxicology report. Amphetamines. You killed her._

Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.

*Unknown*: _He’s lying to you too. Check the news at midnight. -V_

Maya's blood ran cold.

11:58 PM.

11:59 PM.

12:00 AM.

Her phone exploded with notifications.

*BREAKING: BILLIONAIRE JULIAN VOSS IN SECRET ENGAGEMENT SCANDAL*

*EXPOSED: CONTRACT FOR LOVE - $200K FOR 30 DAYS*

*VOSS ACCUSED: DUI, DRUG USE, AND COVER-UP IN MOTHER'S DEATH*

Photos. The contract. The police report. All of it.

Maya ran out of her room. "Julian!"

The penthouse was empty.

The bar was empty.

The library was empty.

The piano bench was empty.

Only one door was open. The balcony door.

Rain poured in.

"Julian?" Maya whispered.

He stood at the very edge of the balcony. No coat. Shirt soaked through. 20 stories above Fifth Avenue.

The wind tore at his hair. He didn't turn around.

"Don't come any closer," he said. His voice was empty. "If you do, I might believe I deserve to be saved."

Maya's heart stopped. "Julian, please. Step back."

"I can't," he said. "Because she was right. I'm a killer. And now I've ruined you too."

"You haven't ruined me."

"I have. Look at your phone."

Maya looked. Her shop's i********:. Comments flooding in.

_Fraud. Gold digger. Scammer._

Her landlord had texted: _Eviction moved up. 48 hours._

"See?" Julian said. "Everything I touch turns to ash."

The rain fell harder. Julian took one step forward. The edge crumbled slightly under his shoe.

"Julian, NO!" Maya screamed.

He turned halfway. Rain on his face. Or tears. She couldn't tell.

"I love you," he said. "That's why I have to let you go."

And he lifted his foot to step off.