Gazing at Julian, Rachel asked concernedly, “How did you celebrate New Year’s holidays? Would you like to join us since Mr. and Mrs. Carter will be having their holidays abroad soon?” After all, she had never seen Julian taking a day off before ever since he took over the Burton Group.
Therefore, New Year’s Day seemed to Rachel that it was a perfect opportunity for forgiveness because it was a delightful occasion that gave families, friends, and couples a chance to bond with each other, no matter how strained their relationships might be. Nevertheless, Rachel reserved her judgment about the possibility of burying the hatchet with Julian, thinking that would depend on how things unfolded between them.
“Rachel, I’ll be flying over to Montenegro tomorrow morning, so I’ll be celebrating New Year’s Day there.” “Are you there to keep your mother company?”
“Yes, I am.” Rachel then nodded and replied, “I see. Well, your mother is living in a place with which she is not familiar, so I guess you just made the right call to go over there and accompany her.”
“I’m planning to dine with her on the eve and spend the subsequent few days by myself. In fact, I’m thinking about revisiting our old haunts. Can you still remember them? Springfield Street used to be crowded with people during the festive seasons. It was crowded, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, there was this pierogi restaurant there where it was always crowded with customers.”
“Oh yeah, there was also this barbeque restaurant that was Jolly’s favorite. I remember that was where we would go every time the festive season rolled around. In fact, even the restaurant owner would greet Samuel every time we visited.”
At the thought of what happened in Montenegro, Rachel began to go soft in her tone and sighed. “Well, it’s been a while since the last time I saw them.”
“So, Rachel, would you like to come with me?”
When Rachel heard those words, she paused and said, “Nah, I’ll pass.” Worried that Julian might read too much into her words, she added, “After all, this is the first time I’m celebrating New Year’s Day with Charlotte over here, as well as Samuel’s first one with Mr. and Mrs. Carter.” Deep down, she knew she couldn’t just leave with Julian.
Julian’s eyes darkened a little. “Are you reluctant to come with me because of your kids. or because you don’t want to tag along?”
Rachel’s hands twitched a little beside her body, her eyes appearing calm and indifferent.
“Maybe both.”
“This is all because of Justin!”
“No.”
“What other reasons could there be, judging from the way you replied? Actually, it’s not the kids whom you can’t forget. It’s Justin.”
“No.” “Do you think I’ll believe you? You could travel to Switzerland with Justin but won’t come with me to Montenegro? Have your wounds already healed? Or have you forgotten the fact that the little house in Montenegro is the only home you have left for the past five years?”
In the meantime, Rachel only responded in silence, quietly staring at the agitated man until he finished his sentence. While she seemed unusually calm on the outside, she appeared to have expected Julian’s agitated reaction on the inside. “You’re going to drag Justin into this, whether I’m coming with you or not. So, what’s the point of me going to Montenegro with you?”
“Here is the point.”
While Rachel remained silent, Julian shrugged his shoulders and exposed his palms. “I have everything I need now. Look at me. I’m the Burton Group’s president, and I can give you everything you ever want. My hands are no longer tied now, so why won’t you be with me?”
“Are you sure you have everything now?” Rachel took a deep breath and suddenly gave Julian a sympathetic look. “You left your mother alone in a foreign country and walked out on your friends-us. At the same time, you resort to dirty tricks just to win in business. So, do you really still think you’ve gained more than you’ve sacrificed? I admit that you’re one of the most powerful men in Riverdale, where everyone has to show you some respect. In fact, I’d say you’re as influential as Justin used to be back then, but ask yourself. Where are your family and friends? Where are the kind and empathetic hearts that you used to have for others?”
While Rachel continued to see Julian as her friend, she believed Jolly felt the same way as well. Therefore, when the charity scandal in Baybrook was published on the news, they still had a glimmer of hope that Julian wasn’t behind that incident even though he was suspected to be responsible for that. “We didn’t abandon you, Julian. Instead, it was you who made things difficult for all of us. In fact, none of us wanted to leave you out for the celebration, so mind you-we’re not the ones who broke our oath.”
Amidst the long silence, the night on New Year’s Eve seemed as if it was longer than usual. Soon, Julian looked away from Rachel and hid his displeasure. “You’re right. Why would I waste my time with those useless people?”
“Useless?” Rachel couldn’t believe her ears. “Do you really think they are useless people to you?”
Much to the lady’s dismay, Julian didn’t care to explain himself as he seemingly agreed to her words in a tacit manner. With both of his hands in his pocket, he looked as if he had become a different person, behaving coldly and nonchalantly. “After this year, the Burton Group will make a public announcement about splitting the company into two by setting a boundary in Riverdale.”
Upon hearing what the man said, Rachel felt her heart skipping a beat. What’s he really up to? Setting a boundary in Riverdale?
“The southern division will be mine while the northern division will be Justin’s,” Julian said.
“What do you mean?” “I mean what I just said. Didn’t Justin tell you anything about that?” Julian added sarcastically, “How egoistic he is! Riverdale is nothing but an empty shell, so even if he does take over the whole place in the end, I doubt he can make anything thrive there, but mark my words, Rachel. A smart man knows who to side with, and I believe his next move is to work with Hudson Pharmaceuticals. Am I right?”
“He hasn’t told me anything about that, but even if there are plans to cooperate with another company, that’s not a call that I can make alone.”
“He hasn’t changed at all. In fact, he knows that he can secure his connections with the Carter Family through you, which is why he is getting so close to you. After all, being on good terms with the Carter Family will mean he has all access to all of Mr. and Mrs. Carter’s resources and networks.”
“I don’t think that’s what he means, Julian…”
“That’s exactly what he means. As long as you agree to work with him, don’t you think that Mr. and Mrs. Carter will turn their backs on him when he needs help?”
Initially wanting to speak for Justin, Rachel somehow caught on to something as soon as she heard what Julian had just said. ‘Is this the reason you came here to see me, Julian?”
While Julian responded with a frown, Rachel said, ‘Is your interest the only thing you care about now? What is your friend to you? The only reason you’re still so patient with me is because of the Carter Family, not me. Am I right? As Rachel recalled the moment Julian told her that he had visited Jolly’s father earlier, she instantly caught on to the man’s intention. of visiting her.
“No, don’t get me wrong.”
“If I get you wrong, then tell me why you brought this matter up all of a sudden.”
In response to Rachel’s intimidating gaze, Julian, who was initially silent, finally admitted it and said, “You’re right. I hope you’d agree to work with me, but I’m not doing this solely for my interest because I think this is a win-win situation. In fact, it’s going to work in both of our favor, which is why I sincerely hope you’d see eye to eye with me.”
“Knowing you, I don’t think working with the Burton Group is a safe option.” “What happened earlier was all a misunderstanding.”
“That’s enough.” Rachel interrupted Julian, flicking her finger. “I appreciate your honesty, but I believe conversations as frank as this will get less and less between us with time. Besides, I have no intention of cooperating with you at all, whether or not it’ll work in our favor.”
