This Time He Pursues Me With All Chapter 118

Julian's POV:

I arrived at my father’s private residence. The house was quiet.

I walked into the dining room. Thomas sat at the head of the long table, eating dinner. Across from him sat a young woman. She looked about my age. She saw me enter, froze, and immediately wiped her mouth. She didn't need to be told. She stood up, murmured an excuse, and hurried upstairs.

I pulled out the chair opposite my father and sat down.

"Why did you fire Maya?" I asked.

Thomas didn't stop eating. He cut a piece of steak calmly. "Adam Sterling told me to. What choice did I have?"

I had guessed as much on the drive over. "Because of Victoria’s stunt at the hotel?"

Thomas’s face darkened. He nodded. "Your sister is a fool. She nearly destroyed us."

"What else did he demand?"

Thomas finally looked up. His expression was pained, like he had swallowed glass. "He demanded a settlement. I had to wire fifty million dollars to Maya’s account."

"You cannot tell her this came from Sterling’s pressure."

I stayed silent.

Thomas took a drink of water. "I know you have feelings for her, Julian. But you need to stop. Do not provoke Sterling. If you cross him over a woman, you are finished. The company is finished."

He leaned back. "The Hartleys aren't happy, but **they haven't pulled out**. We are still on schedule for next week. The venue is arranged. **Just show up and play your part**. Focus on Sophia. **Cultivate that relationship**. It’s time to move past this... distraction."

"I don't agree with firing her," I said suddenly.

Thomas slammed his glass down. Water splashed onto the table. **You're going to give me a heart attack!** Can't I get **one moment of peace** with you kids?"

"Maya is my Executive Assistant," I argued. "You didn't even consult me."

"I am the Chairman," Thomas snapped. "I don't need permission to fire a secretary. It doesn't matter what you think. She already signed the papers. It’s done."

He leaned back, his eyes cold. "**Men with ambition cannot afford to be sentimental**, Julian. You have to know when to cut your losses. She’s just a woman. **What is so special that you can't walk away?**"

He stood up, dismissing me. "Besides, you’re pining after Adam Sterling’s woman. **Did you honestly think you could compete with him?**"

He turned and walked upstairs, leaving me alone in the cavernous silence of the dining room.

***

Maya's POV:

I sat in my car, the cardboard box of my belongings resting on the passenger seat. I unlocked my phone and opened my banking app again.

I stared at the screen. The balance was eight figures long.

The latest deposit had a five followed by seven zeros. Fifty million dollars.

Could it be the bank made a mistake? They wired some billionaire’s money to the wrong account. I checked the sender details. It was Garrison Industries—the same payroll account that sent my paycheck every two weeks.

Was this my severance? Did the finance department add three extra zeros by accident? Fifty million for getting fired? That was impossible.

I stared at the fifty million. I couldn't touch this. If I spent a dime of an error, I would go to jail. I hesitated for a moment, then dialed Julian.

He answered on the third ring. His voice sounded thick, like he had been drinking. "Maya? I... I’m going to rehire you. Don't go. Stay."

I gripped the steering wheel. "No, Mr. Garrison. I think I need a break."

"Maya..."

"Mr. Garrison, listen," I interrupted. "I’m calling about something else. The finance department made a huge mistake with my severance. I assume it was supposed to be fifty thousand, but they wired fifty million."

There was a long silence on the other end.

"Keep it," Julian said finally. "It’s yours."

"No, Mr. Garrison," I said. "Audits happen. They will find the error, and I don't want the company suing me later. I’d rather just return it now."

"It wasn't a mistake, Maya," Julian said. His voice was quieter now. "Just keep it."

"No mistake?" I blinked. "Mr. Garrison, are you serious? Is this some kind of money laundering scheme? Is the company trying to make me a scapegoat?"

"I promise you, there is no scheme," Julian said wearily. "That money is yours. My father... he paid it. It’s compensation for what Victoria did. For the danger she put you in." He paused, and his tone grew bitter. "If my father didn't pay it, Adam Sterling was going to destroy Garrison Industries."

My breath hitched.

So, Thomas Garrison actually paid me fifty million dollars. Because of Adam.

"Fifty million," I whispered. Then, a dark sense of humor bubbled up. "Mr. Garrison, for that kind of money... do you think we could ask Victoria to try and drug me one more time?"

Julian let out a short, startled laugh. "You’re lucky nothing happened. If something had... if we had actually slept together... I don't think you’d be making jokes. And I don't think I’d be alive."

I smirked. He was right. If Victoria’s plan had worked, I wouldn't be counting money. I would be destroying the Garrison family myself.

"Well," I cleared my throat, "if you insist. I'll take it. Goodbye, Mr. Garrison."

"Maya!" he called out before I could hang up.

"Yes?"

"We’re still friends, right?"

Yes. We are."

"My engagement party is next week. Will you come?"

"I don't think that’s a good idea."

"Not even for a friend?"

"It’s not about that, Mr. Garrison," I said gently. "Look, **we know there’s nothing going on between us**, but Sophia doesn't see it that way. She’s your fiancée. You made a choice. **You need to respect that.** If I show up, **it’s just going to cause drama**, and people will talk. I can't do that to her."

Julian was silent.

"Goodbye, Julian," I said, and hung up.

I sat there for a moment. My heart was pounding. Fifty million dollars. I was unemployed, but I was rich. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell someone.

I dialed Chloe immediately. She didn't pick up. A second later, a text popped up: *In a meeting, babe. Call you back.*

I hugged my phone and let out a squeal of excitement, grinning like an idiot. Then I put the car in gear and drove toward Somerville.

I was five minutes from my apartment when my phone rang again.

"Miss Bennett," James said. "The moving company has arrived at the Somerville apartment. When will you be home?"

I blinked. Adam moved fast. "I’m just turning onto my street."

"Excellent. I’ll instruct them to wait by the entrance. Oh, and Miss Bennett?" James added politely. "Mr. Sterling is currently in a board meeting, but he instructed me to tell you he will return home as soon as possible."

I wanted to say that whether Adam came home or not was none of my business. But then I thought about the fifty million dollars in my account—money he had secured for me.

"Understood," I said. "Thank you, Mr. Cooper."

"My pleasure, Miss Bennett."