Chapter 166
Nora's POV
"Benjamin?"
He turned, and his face lit up. "Nora!"
He still looked like he'd just graduated yesterday—all eager energy and unguarded optimism. "HR called me this morning. They're transferring me to NPR. Told me to report here immediately."
Relief flooded through me, warm and immediate. Julian worked fast. "Congratulations. This place has more potential than DSW. Make the most of it."
Benjamin scratched the back of his neck, suddenly shy. "I know it was you. When I went to HR, the manager was on the phone. I heard him mention 'Mr. Sterling's office called ahead.'"
I squeezed his shoulder. "Don't thank me. You earned this with your own work. Just don't waste the opportunity."
"I won't." His expression turned serious. "Nora, about the others at DSW—have you heard?"
Curiosity stirred in me. "What happened?"
He glanced around, confirming we were alone. "Sarah. She wasn't supposed to be affected, but last week federal auditors found data falsification in her department's annual report. Serious misconduct. They terminated her."
My chest tightened. "Terminated?"
"HR tried to get her to resign quietly, save face. She refused. So they used the restructuring as cover and forced her out." He paused. "The weird part? I overheard someone from HR say it came from 'upstairs'—that people like her were making the whole department look bad."
Upstairs. Federal pressure. Julian's office.
"Do you think..." Benjamin's eyes searched mine. "Were you involved?"
"No." I kept my voice steady. "Sarah and I had history, but this wasn't me."
He nodded, accepting it. "Everyone at DSW knows she only got the position through connections anyway. Lots of people think she had it coming."
"Maybe she did," I said quietly. Whatever Sarah had done to me, at least she was finally paying for her own choices.
Benjamin's curiosity flared again. "So what's the deal with you and Inspector Sterling? Why would he personally arrange my transfer?"
I shot him a look. "Guess."
His eyes widened. "No way. You're really... with him?"
"Stop overthinking and get back to work." I grabbed my coffee and headed for the door, fighting a smile.
Behind me, Benjamin stayed rooted to the spot, grinning like he'd just uncovered state secrets.
---
That evening, I returned to Silver Ridge Estate to find Julian already home, working in his study. He looked up when I entered, his eyes softening.
"Hey. Dinner plans?"
"I need to ask you something first." I crossed to his desk. "Sarah Klein getting fired—that was you, wasn't it?"
Julian set down his pen and met my gaze without hesitation. "Yes."
Even though I'd expected it, hearing him confirm it sent a jolt through me.
"Why?" I kept my voice level. "Because she hurt me?"
He stood and pulled me close, hands firm on my waist. "I'm your boyfriend first, Federal Inspector second. Someone who hurt you—I won't let them go."
My heart hammered. I knew Julian was protective, but weaponizing his authority for me felt different. Dangerous.
"But doesn't that—"
"What are you worried about?" His thumb traced my jawline. "That I abused my power? Or that Sarah will retaliate?"
I shook my head. "I just think—"
"I deal with threats properly." His voice hardened. "Sarah Klein falsified welfare data, buried complaints, protected corrupt officials. Federal auditors confirmed all of it. I made sure she faced consequences for her actions. The fact that it also keeps her from bothering you again? That's just efficient."
I stared at him, struck by the cold pragmatism in his tone. This wasn't the man who sang to me over video calls or made me breakfast. This was the Federal Inspector who'd clawed his way to the top and stayed there by making ruthless decisions.
He'd told me once: I'm not a good man, Nora. You don't get to this position by being soft.
I'd thought I understood. I hadn't. Not yet.
We sat together on the living room couch, the silence stretching between us. I cradled a mug of tea, trying to process what he'd just revealed.
I turned to face him, something cold settling in my chest. "I don't understand your world."
"I know." He pulled me against him. "But you don't have to feel sorry for Sarah. She made her choices."
"I don't feel sorry for her." I rested my head on his shoulder. "I just... need time to adjust. To this side of you."
His arms tightened around me. "Take your time."
Julian might be ruthless in his professional life, but with me, he was still the man who'd drop everything to hold me when I cried. That had to count for something.
---
Half a month later, the merger was complete. I'd settled into the new office, learned new systems, met new faces. Vincent had survived the cuts, which was a relief. Benjamin fit in quickly, his enthusiasm infectious even in the anxious post-merger atmosphere.
The work was intense—more investigative pieces, more policy analysis, occasional live broadcasts. I barely had time to think, let alone worry.
Julian was equally swamped. His schedule was a relentless parade of meetings, inspections, political dinners, late-night briefings. We lived together now, but most days we only managed good mornings and good nights in passing.
Still, even on the worst days, I'd come home to find him already asleep and slip into bed beside him. He'd pull me close without fully waking, press a kiss to my forehead, and I'd fall asleep listening to his heartbeat.
It was enough. More than enough.
---
One Saturday in early summer, I opened the closet to find my winter clothes had been replaced by a collection of summer pieces—linen dresses in soft colors, cotton blouses, wide-leg pants, perfectly tailored skirts. Everything in my size, everything my style.
I held up a cream sundress, admiring the cut in the full-length mirror.
"Beautiful."
Julian's voice came from the doorway. He leaned against the frame, eyes warm with appreciation.
He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around me from behind, fingers tracing the curve of my neck. "You look so good, I don't want to let you leave."
I bit his finger playfully. He laughed, low and indulgent. "Like a little cat. Always biting."
"Then stop buying me pretty clothes if you don't want me to wear them out."
He turned me around and kissed me deeply, possessively. When he finally pulled back, his eyes had gone dark.
"It's rare that you have time off, and you're still going to leave me home alone."
"You kept me up until three a.m.," I reminded him. "If you'd shown some restraint, I wouldn't be going home."
His grin was unapologetic. "Can't help it when I miss you that much."
Julian held me from behind. "When are you going to officially introduce me to your family?"
I froze. Ever since we'd moved in together, I'd been dodging this. I'd told Marianne I was living in a company apartment, deflected her offers to visit, promised I'd come home on weekends. The lies were piling up.
"They already know we're together," I said carefully. "I just haven't brought you to meet them yet."
"So I'm supposed to stay here alone while you have family dinners without me?" His tone was light, but I caught the genuine hurt underneath.
I looked at his perfectly sculpted face, saw the vulnerability there, and my resolve crumbled.
"Come with me tonight. For dinner."
His eyes lit up, though he tried to play it cool. "Since you're asking so nicely, I suppose I could make time."
I poked his chest. "You've been waiting for this, haven't you?"
He caught my hand and kissed my palm. "You know me so well."