The air shifted the moment he walked in.
I stared, completely frozen, like my brain had short-circuited and needed to reboot. Julian. He was right there, tall as ever, leaning casually on the doorframe like he hadn't just disappeared for days without a trace.
Before I could even blink again, Vivienne ran to him and wrapped her arms around his waist with the biggest grin I'd seen on her. I couldn't help it—I smiled too. It was… soft. Sweet. Like a moment straight out of a picture book. And just for a split second, a very quick heartbeat, I thought... he'd make a good father.
Then I mentally slapped myself and shook it off. Nope. Not going there.
I kept watching as they exchanged words—her giggles, his amused responses—and then suddenly, his gaze met mine.
That stare.
Intense. Quiet. Heavy.
"Rose?" he said my name like it had a deeper meaning.
I exhaled sharply. I hadn't even realized I was holding my breath.
I stood up quickly and gave a polite smile. "Welcome, Sir Julian."
"Sir?" he repeated, eyebrows raised. "Rose, call me Julian. Just Julian."
I nodded slowly, though every cell in my body was screaming to leave the room. I couldn't take the heat, the tension… being this close. It felt like I was suffocating, but not in a bad way. It was the kind of suffocation that made your heart beat faster for no reason.
He tilted his head. "I heard you've been looking for me?"
God. Why did he have to say it like that?
I looked down at Vivi, still by his side, watching me with that mischievous grin like she already knew where my thoughts had gone. Of course she had twisted the story in her head. And I—like a complete fool—just gave a tiny nod.
Julian smirked. Oh, he knew exactly what he was doing.
Then he squatted down to Vivi's level and said, "I got something for you. Go downstairs and meet Mr. Whitaker, he'll give it to you."
Vivienne's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Yay!" she squealed and darted out of the room, leaving me—alone with Julian.
I cursed internally. Why did I come here again?
"So…" he said, taking a step forward, "why were you looking for me, Rose?"
My tongue betrayed me. I couldn't find my words, not even a single syllable. I stammered like a lost tourist in a foreign country. He stepped in, closed the door gently behind him and walked past me, sitting on Vivi's bed like he owned the air in this room.
I exhaled—finally.
"I heard you stationed people around my home," I said carefully. "And you've appointed Laurence to drive me around. Everywhere."
Julian looked straight into me. "Yes."
That's it? Just… yes?
"Why?" I asked, holding his gaze.
"For safety," he said, calm, unbothered.
I frowned. "Just because of that incident? Isn't this a bit… much?"
"It's not just an incident, Rose," he replied, voice dropping. "You're going to be a target now. They think you know more than you should, and they'll come for you. Again. And again. I'm not taking chances."
"Protecting me?" I raised a brow, sarcasm sharp in my tone. "Would you have done all this for any of your workers?"
He didn't even blink. "Yes."
That shut me up for half a second.
I scoffed, "You didn't even tell me. You had guards outside my house and I didn't even know."
"It's better that way," he said coolly. "If you knew, you'd panic."
I was just about to snap when he cut me off, his voice low, steady, and laced with something darker. Realer.
"You're not just Rose anymore," he said, his eyes burning into me, "You're my girl."
Those words.
My breath hitched.
He didn't say it like a sweet confession. He said it like a vow. A promise backed with power. And something about the way he said my girl—not possessive like a toy, but protective, dangerous even—sent butterflies crawling up my spine.
"I made that clear in the kitchen," he added.
I narrowed my eyes. "No, you didn't. You asked me and I turned you down."
"And now," he said with a playful glint in his eye, "you're finally speaking to me informally. That's progress."
I rolled my eyes, but my heart betrayed me, fluttering with heat.
"You're mine, Rose," he said again, this time firmer, lower, like a statement that would hold in court. "And that's final. Anyone who dares to hurt you hurts me. That's why I'm here. That's why I do what I do."
That voice. Calm but lethal. This wasn't Julian the charmer. This was Julian Carter Jr—the man with power, with shadows behind his name. A man that doesn't bluff.
Just then, the door burst open and Vivi ran in, holding a new iPad and a tiny bouquet.
"Thank you, Julian!" she beamed, wrapping him in another hug.
"You're welcome," he said, ruffling her hair as he stood up.
"I just got back," he said, now facing the door. Then he glanced at me, his voice softer—still powerful. "You too, Rose… I got something for you. It's downstairs. Meet Mr. Whitaker when you're ready."
And with that, he left.
I stood there, stunned.
He got something for me?
Vivienne squealed in excitement beside me, practically dragging me toward the door. "Let's go see! I wanna know what he got you!"
I followed her, still reeling.
But in my mind, I kept repeating those words.
You're not just Rose anymore… You're my girl.
What does that even mean? Who does that?
Who claims someone like they're the headline of a war declaration?
And… why did a part of me like it?