Chapter 23
The next morning broke with a brilliant golden sunrise illuminating the quiet Hamptons estate in pristine morning light. Julian walked out onto the front porch with a steaming mug of coffee, watching the coastal birds soar overhead.
He took a slow, comforting sip of his coffee as a gentle breeze rustled through the blooming jasmine bushes nearby. He turned to go back inside, but stopped when he noticed a small, unsealed manila envelope tucked behind his porch column.
May you like
There was no return address, no postmark, and no stamps—just his name written in sharp, unfamiliar handwriting. He picked it up with a cautious frown, sliding his finger under the flap to pull out a single sheet of heavy parchment paper.
The paper was entirely blank except for a single line of typed text that made the coffee mug slip from his fingers and shatter on the wooden boards: "The trial was a distraction, Julian; the real audit has only just begun."
