Chapter 798

"If Joseph Hardy is still in Cloudspire, it wouldn't be hard for me to make a move on him…" Julian blurted out the threat almost out of instinct. He hadn't meant to—really. But after so many years in business, always playing by the cold rules of leverage and control, he couldn't help but default to it. Keeping a grip on someone's weakness made deals smoother, more efficient. It had become second nature. And now, here he was, threatening Hannah Grant again without even thinking. The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it. Hannah slowly set down the folder in her hands. Her eyes turned red, and she looked up at Julian with raw hatred. "What do you want from me, Julian?" "Come out with me," he said, his voice low, lacking the force it usually carried. "Fine…" Hannah answered, turning away without another glance at him. Julian wanted to apologize. The words sat heavy on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't spit them out. … That evening. Once Hannah was done working, she handed