Page 167 of The Rules
Kath leaned back in her chair, arms crossing. “I’m curious what your brother actually delivers.”
Ben exhaled through his nose. “So am I.”
They both fell silent, the weight of it settling in.
Whatever came next—it wasn’t going to be clean.
???
Ben stood just outside the glass wall of the office, a file gripped tightly in one hand. Not hiding. But not stepping in either. Not yet.
His eyes narrowed as he watched Julian—his brother—leaning against Kath's desk with that infuriating ease. Like he owned the space. Like he belonged there. Like boundaries were just suggestions that applied to other people.
Julian had always been like this. Taking up space. Crossing lines. Pushing just to see what would break.
Ben’s fingers flexed around the folder, the thick cardstock bowing slightly under the pressure.
Inside, Kath didn't even flinch at Julian's presence.
She simply glanced up from her notes, expression blank and sharp. No warmth. No welcome. Just cool assessment.
Julian, of course, remained unbothered. Effortlessly charming in that dangerous way of his. He crossed his arms and flashed that carefully curated smirk—the one Ben had seen a thousand times before. The one that meant trouble.
"Before you start throwing things at me—" Julian's voice carried through the glass, "let's clear the air."
Kath raised a brow. Just one. The gesture was small but loaded with skepticism.
"Oh?" Her voice was dry as dust. "This should be good."
Ben narrowed his eyes, watching Julian's face. He knew that expression too well—the one where Julian was deciding how much of the truth to weaponize. Calculating exactly which version would cause the most interesting reaction.
"Alright... maybe I was a little extreme yesterday."
A pause. His grin curved wider.
"But you can't tell me you didn't have fun."
Ben watched as Kath's eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a tight line. Her entire posture shifted—spine straightening, shoulders squaring.
"That's debatable," she replied flatly.
Julian leaned in slightly, his voice dipping. Not flirtatious—strategic. The distinction was important. He might be many things, but he wasn't stupid enough to make a genuine play for Kath. Not after Ben's warning.
"Look, I had to know a few things," Julian said, his tone measured. "How far you're willing to go for this case. If you'd survivemystyle. If dear Benjamin was as invested in you as I suspected."
A beat passed between them.
"And, you know..." Julian's smirk widened. "I enjoyed it."
Ben's posture grew subtly tenser, a flicker of tension crossing his features as he listened. Julian fucking enjoyed it. Of course he did. That was the problem with Julian—he treated people's lives like a game, their reactions like entertainment. Everything was just another performance for his amusement.
Julian's voice lowered, taking on an almost sincere quality. Almost.
"But here's the thing, Winters—people who work with me? They need to handle the heat."
Another beat.
"You did. So let's start fresh."
