The car came to a smooth stop.
Julius didn't move immediately.
His gaze rested on the structure in front of him.
The building didn't look like anyone lived inside it.
It felt out of place.
Almost not part of this world.
The building was covered in gold.
It shone like diamonds under the light.
It felt controlled.
Isolated.
Like everything inside it followed a different set of rules.
Even from outside, there was a quiet weight pressing against him.
Something he couldn't see but could feel settling under his skin.
His driver stepped out and opened the door.
"Sir, we've arrived."
Julius stepped out.
The air felt different the moment his feet touched the ground.
Cooler.
Heavier.
His body reacted before his mind could explain it.
His shoulders tightened slightly.
His senses sharpening as if something unseen was watching him.
His eyes moved across the entrance.
Men in black stood at every visible point.
Still.
Alert.
Not security.
Not ordinary guards.
Something else.
Everything was arranged neatly.
Like nothing was allowed to be out of place.
Julius walked forward without hesitation.
No one stopped him.
That alone was wrong.
He reached the entrance.
Still no movement.
No challenge.
No question.
They saw him.
He knew they did.
Every one of them was aware of his presence.
Yet none of them stepped forward.
It wasn't neglect.
It was permission.
The doors opened.
Julius stepped inside.
The interior was quiet.
Too quiet.
Marble floors stretched beneath his feet.
Every surface was polished.
Every detail intentional.
The silence wasn't empty.
It felt controlled.
Like even sound had rules here.
His footsteps echoed lightly as he walked.
No receptionist.
No voices.
No movement.
Just silence.
Julius didn't stop.
He moved forward like he already knew where he was going.
Because he did.
There were no signs.
No directions.
Yet his steps didn't hesitate.
Something in him moved him forward.
The elevator doors opened before he even touched anything.
That made him pause for half a second.
Then he stepped in.
The doors closed behind him.
No buttons were pressed.
The elevator moved.
Julius's expression didn't change.
"So this is how it is."
This level of control meant one thing.
He wasn't just allowed here.
He was expected.
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
A long hallway stretched in front of him.
Empty.
Silent.
He stepped out.
At the end of the hallway, a single door stood slightly open.
Julius walked toward it.
No hesitation.
No slowing down.
Each step felt heavier.
Like something unseen was measuring him as he got closer.
He pushed the door open.
Harrison was already there.
Seated.
Waiting.
Like he had known Julius would come.
There was no surprise in his expression.
Only calm patience.
Julius stopped a few steps inside.
His gaze was cold.
Controlled.
"What do you want?"
Harrison didn't answer immediately.
He simply looked at him.
Unshaken.
His gaze didn't waver.
It held Julius in place without effort.
Julius's jaw tightened slightly.
"What do you really want from me?"
Silence.
That silence pressed against him harder than any words.
"I regret it," Julius said.
His voice lowered slightly.
"The day I walked through that tunnel. I regret meeting you."
Something shifted.
Subtle.
But there.
Harrison's gaze remained steady.
"You think that was the first time we met?"
Julius frowned.
"What do you mean?"
For a moment, it felt like Harrison might answer.
But he didn't.
Instead, he stood.
Slowly.
Then stepped closer.
Julius didn't move.
The distance between them closed.
The air thickened instantly.
Julius felt it again.
Stronger now in the confined space.
"What do you want?" Julius repeated.
Quieter.
Harrison stopped in front of him.
"Nothing."
Simple.
Calm.
Julius's eyes narrowed.
"I don't believe that."
"You don't have to."
A brief pause.
"If I wanted something from you, I would take it."
The words landed with weight.
Julius held his ground.
"Then stop interfering in my life."
Harrison's gaze lowered briefly.
Then it returned.
"End the engagement."
Direct.
Cold.
"No."
Julius answered immediately.
Firm.
Too fast.
Almost like a reflex he refused to examine.
Harrison watched him.
"You want to go against me?"
His tone didn't rise.
But the pressure behind it was clear.
Julius's expression hardened.
"I don't belong to you."
The air shifted again.
Heavier.
Tighter.
Julius felt it.
But he didn't step back.
"I'm not afraid of you."
Harrison didn't react.
But his hand moved.
Slowly.
It stopped at Julius's waist.
Not rough.
Not gentle.
Just there.
The contact was light.
But it sent a sharp reaction through Julius's body.
His breath catching for a brief second.
Harrison's fingers adjusted slightly.
Holding him in place.
"Don't you eat?" Harrison asked quietly.
Julius frowned.
"How is that your problem?"
Harrison's hand tightened just a little.
"Your waist is too thin."
A pause.
"You should eat more."
Julius's expression hardened.
"That's none of your concern."
Harrison didn't move his hand.
"It is."
Julius's breathing shifted again.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
He hated it.
Harrison leaned closer.
Just enough.
"You came to me," he said quietly.
Julius's hand clenched at his side.
"This ends now."
Harrison pulled back slightly.
Just enough to meet his eyes again.
"No," he said calmly.
"It doesn't."
There was no threat in his voice.
Just certainty.
And that made it harder to resist.
Silence settled between them.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Julius held his gaze.
Unmoving.
Unyielding.
But something inside him had already shifted.
And he knew it.
Julius exhaled slowly.
But it didn't steady him.
Something about this felt wrong.
Not the place.
Not the man in front of him.
But himself.
His reaction.
His control.
It wasn't slipping.
But it wasn't as firm as it should have been either.
And that— that alone was unacceptable.
He had come here to take control.
To confront and leave.
But standing this close, he realized this was not something he could end on his terms.