Chapter 129
Less than ten minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Lucas went to answer it. Outside stood several Europeans in suits, their expressions solemn. They bowed respectfully to Lucas.
They entered the room and efficiently dragged out the two unconscious men. Others pulled out professional cleaning supplies and began erasing all traces of blood and the struggle.
Juliana sat on the couch, watching this scene straight out of a spy movie, finally realizing that Lucas's overseas influence was far bigger than she'd imagined.
When they finished cleaning, the men bowed to Lucas again and silently filed out.
The door closed. It was like nothing had happened at all.
Lucas walked back to the couch and scooped Juliana up in his arms.
She let out a surprised squeak, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
"What are you doing?"
"Changing rooms." Lucas carried her toward the door. "This one's dirty."
He carried her through the hallway and used a backup keycard to open the presidential suite next door.
The layout was identical to the previous room, but everything was pristine and untouched.
Lucas set her down on the plush bed, then went into the bathroom to run water. The sound of rushing water carried a comforting warmth.
Juliana lay on the bed, staring at the elaborate crystal chandelier overhead, her mind replaying those heart-stopping fifteen seconds.
Lucas emerged from the bathroom, bringing damp warmth with him.
"Go take a bath. Relax a bit."
Juliana nodded and headed for the bathroom.
When she came out, Lucas was standing by the window on the phone. His voice was low, and he wasn't speaking English—it was some language Juliana didn't recognize.
She didn't interrupt, just climbed back into bed.
Soon Lucas ended the call and lay down beside her. His arm reached out and pulled her into his embrace, his chin resting on top of her head.
"Sleep."
"Logan... what are you going to do to him?" Juliana asked quietly from within his arms.
"Whatever he wants, I'll destroy." Lucas's voice was calm. "What he cares about most is the Sharp family's power and that ridiculous ambition of his. I'll make him watch as it all slips through his fingers, piece by piece."
Juliana went silent.
She suddenly felt that her declaration of war over the phone was child's play compared to Lucas's methods.
"Stop thinking." Lucas tightened his hold. "Leave it all to me."
His chest was broad and warm, his heartbeat steady and strong.
Juliana's nerves, wound tight all evening, finally completely unwound.
She closed her eyes, found a comfortable position in his arms, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
This time, she slept exceptionally well.
……
When Juliana woke the next morning, the bed beside her was empty, retaining only a trace of coolness.
Water was running in the bathroom.
She sat up. Last night's terror had completely evaporated, replaced by a strange sense of calm. That feeling of fighting alongside Lucas—it was like an invisible thread binding them even tighter.
When Lucas emerged from the bathroom, he'd already changed into a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, his hair still damp, looking crisp and sharp. He walked to the bed and bent down to press a kiss to her forehead.
"Sleep a bit more. I need to handle something."
"I'm coming with you." Juliana threw off the covers and got out of bed.
She couldn't keep hiding under his protection. This fight was hers too.
Lucas looked at her for two seconds, then didn't argue. "Alright."
……
Half an hour later, they appeared in the top-floor conference room of the Sharp family's European division.
Around the long conference table sat a group of executives. The man in charge, Peter, had sweat continuously beading at his temples. He'd already caught wind of what happened at the hotel last night. The CEO getting attacked on his turf, using the company's internal intelligence lines no less—he couldn't shoulder that responsibility.
Lucas sat at the head of the table. Juliana took the seat beside him. She didn't speak, just observed quietly, yet her presence commanded respect. No one dared underestimate her.
"Last night's incident—I'm very disappointed."
Lucas spoke, his voice not loud, but like ice shattering glass. The temperature in the entire conference room seemed to drop.
Peter immediately stood, bowing. "Mr. Sharp, it was my negligence. I—"
"Sit down." Lucas raised a hand but didn't look at him. Instead, his gaze slowly swept over everyone present. "Using my own people to kill me. You all find that amusing?"
No one dared respond.
"Starting today, Logan is no longer in charge of any Sharp family overseas operations." His tone was as casual as announcing the weather. "Any company resources he's used for personal matters, any losses he's caused—he'll bear them personally. The Sharp family won't pay a single cent."
Everyone present felt their hearts lurch. They'd seen plenty of family power struggles, but never anyone this decisive, cutting off a whole arm so cleanly.
Peter's heart sank to the bottom.
He hadn't expected Lucas to be so ruthless.
Lucas seemed to read everyone's thoughts. He leaned forward slightly, elbows on the table, fingers interlaced.
"I came here nominally to inspect operations."
He paused. "But now, I'll be staying a few days to personally select someone new. Someone who can manage things and understands how things work."
The next second, everyone's expressions changed.
The atmosphere of solidarity instantly fractured.
A huge prize had been dangled in front of them. Everyone wanted a piece.
Lucas stood and adjusted his cufflinks.
"Meeting adjourned."
He dropped those two words, took Juliana's hand, and walked straight out of the conference room under their complicated, awed gazes.
He didn't even glance at Peter again, as if the man was already dead.
……
In the car, Juliana watched the streetscape rush past outside, still processing everything.
She'd witnessed Lucas's business tactics before, but seeing him stir up an entire division without breaking a sweat was still shocking.
Logan's influence in Europe, carefully built over years, probably wouldn't survive the night. Those "colleagues" eager to climb the ladder would tear it apart completely.