Chapter 5 - Julian Drives Through The Bitter Midnight Chicago Snow
The heater inside the black sedan roared quietly, pumping warm air against the frosted leather upholstery as Julian held Maya securely in the back seat. Her head rested against his shoulder, her breathing shallow and irregular as unconscious sleep claimed her.
Derek glanced back through the rearview mirror, his hands steady on the steering wheel while navigating the slick downtown expressway. “Is she going to be alright, boss? She looked like she hadn't slept in three days.”
“Drive faster, Derek, and keep the temperature steady,” Julian commanded, his arm wrapped firmly around Maya to keep her steady against the sway of the vehicle. His chest felt tight, a strange, unfamiliar knot of protective fury twisting inside him.
He looked down at her face, noticing the dark circles under her closed eyes and the faint smudge of flour on her cheek. This was the woman who cleaned his penthouse, who brewed his coffee in silence, and who had been secretly starving herself to survive.
The city lights blurred past the tinted windows in streaks of amber and neon as they crossed back into the upscale neighborhood near the Gold Coast. The snow began to fall heavier now, casting a ghostly white veil over the deserted midnight streets.
Julian pulled off his dark wool coat, gently draping it over Maya’s shivering shoulders to keep her warm against the leather seat. She stirred slightly in her sleep, letting out a soft sigh that sounded heartbreakingly fragile.
“Park in the underground garage; I don't want her waking up to flashing press lights or lobby security questions,” Julian instructed quietly. Derek gave a single nod, steering the heavy sedan smoothly down the ramp into the secure subterranean facility.
Within minutes, Julian carried her effortlessly out of the vehicle and into the private elevator that rose straight to the penthouse. The doors slid open to reveal a warm, dimly lit sanctuary that felt entirely too empty compared to the chaos outside.
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He carried her down the hallway toward her bedroom, laying her down gently on the crisp white sheets of her bed. She curled instinctively into the blankets, her pale face relaxing slightly now that she was away from the bakery floor.
Julian stood beside the mattress for a long time, watching her chest rise and fall in the quiet stillness of the night. He pulled the comforter up over her shoulders before turning silently toward the door.
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