"Esme…" Esme's breath caught in her throat when she heard a familiar voice calling her name. She turned to see a tall figure approaching, and her heart raced at the sight of Julian. His sudden appearance left her bewildered, unsure of his intentions.
"What are you doing here?" she asked frantically.
"I came to see you," Julian replied, his eyes fixed intently on her. "Adelynn's house is locked, so I came down and waited for you." He moved even closer to her and asked, "You were with Silas Sullivan, weren't you?"
Esme felt a surge of irritation at his intrusion. "That's none of your business." She pivoted and headed for the elevator, hoping to evade further conversation.
Julian tugged at her arm and pulled her back, growling, "It's very much my business. I can't let you fall into trouble."
"Keep your hands off of me," Esme snapped, swatting his hand away, her eyes flashing with anger.
