Chapter 28: The Cracks That Remain
The corridor walls of the Paris hotel seemed to close in on Julian. The white marble that usually looked elegant now appeared pale and cold, just like Scarlett's skin in his mind. Julian stood upright, yet the hand gripping his phone trembled violently. The anger he had suppressed beneath his mask of professionalism was now boiling, spilling over, ready to burn anyone who stood in his way.
He no longer cared about the guests who glanced at him with curiosity. He no longer cared about the classical music still drifting faintly from the gala hall.
Julian dialed Arthur, the director of The Silent Heart. If Julian was ice that froze everything, then Arthur was steel, rigid and unyielding. Both carried reputations as men without compromise, but tonight, those two cold forces clashed through the line of a phone call.
"How does a lead actress disappear without any of you noticing, Arthur?" Julian's voice came out low, like the growl of a predator.
