Chapter 195

Vivian propped her face in her palms, batting her eyelashes dramatically. "You should feel honored to receive this rare token of appreciation from Newport City's most exquisite rose!"

"Try harder."

Julian Blackthorn dismissed her with a wave, sprawling across the leather sofa. His long legs stretched out as he idly bounced one foot. "My standard consulting fee starts at 150 million. You're asking for pro bono work? Not happening."

Vivian's fingers twitched with the urge to smack that infuriating smirk off his face.

But she needed his skills. Forcing a saccharine smile, she asked through gritted teeth, "Fine. Name your price."

Julian suddenly perked up, sitting ramrod straight. "Well, I'll be hitting thirty soon. My grandfather keeps nagging about settling down, so—"

"Hard pass!"

Vivian crossed her arms in an X before he finished. "My heart's locked away in a vault. The only romance in my life is with my career. Friends? Great. Lovers? Not in this lifetime."

Amusement danced in Julian's hazel eyes as his lips curved into that trademark devil-may-care grin. "Relax, Lockhart. You're decent company, but I'd rather swim with sharks than walk down the aisle. Marriage is a scam."

"Ahem. Right."

Heat crept up Vivian's neck.

God, when had she become as arrogant as Nathaniel Blackwood? Assuming every man wanted her? This was beyond embarrassing.

"Then what's your actual demand?" She quickly changed the subject.

"Grandfather's eightieth birthday gala is coming up. He's threatened to disinherit me if I don't bring a date." Julian shrugged. "You're the only woman in my contacts who wouldn't faint at my family's... eccentricities."

"Fake girlfriend gig?" Vivian tapped her chin, then grinned. "Consider it done. I've maintained twelve burner social media accounts without getting doxxed. Acting's my second nature."

"Deal."

Their palms met in a crisp high-five.

Julian swiveled to the holographic keyboard. Within minutes, his fingers flew across the interface, bypassing firewalls like they were child's play. The hospital's encrypted surveillance footage materialized on screen.

Vivian gaped. "That's impossible! You just cracked S-tier military-grade encryption in eight minutes flat!"

"Obviously."

Leaning back, Julian raked a hand through his tousled chestnut hair. Sunlight caught the sharp angles of his face—all smirking lips and dangerous charm.

For a heartbeat, Vivian's pulse stuttered.

Unlike Nathaniel's glacial perfection, Julian was wildfire wrapped in Armani—all easy smiles masking untouchable mystery. The kind of man no woman could ever cage.

Then his next words nearly made her choke.

"Because I designed this encryption. Your ex-husband paid me forty million to upgrade the system last night." Julian's grin turned wolfish. "Hacking my own work? Child's play."

"What?"

Vivian's blood ran cold.

So Nathaniel knew Margaret was innocent. Yet he'd destroyed the evidence instead of freeing her. The depth of his cruelty still shocked her.

Thank God for Julian's intervention. Now she had the unedited footage.

"Will he know you accessed it?" she asked urgently.

Julian winked. "My lips are sealed... for the right price."

"Keep it that way."

She couldn't wait to see Nathaniel and Cassandra's faces when this footage played in court.

"Brilliant, really." Julian stretched like a satisfied cat. "Your ex pays me to lock you out. You sweet-talk your way in. Meanwhile, I collect from both sides. Everyone wins."

That roguish glint in his eyes deepened.

What began as casual amusement now sparked with genuine interest. The game just got far more intriguing.