Chapter 17 - An Unexpected Visitor
Wednesday afternoon brought an unexpected knock on the front door. Julian opened it to find Arthur Vance, his former senior advisor and loyal friend, standing on the porch holding a briefcase.
"Arthur! What brings you all the way from New York to Chicago?" Julian asked, welcoming him inside with a firm handshake.
"Just checking in on the retired king," Arthur joked, stepping into the warm foyer and shaking off the snow. "And to deliver the quarterly reports for the board. Rumor on Wall Street is that you're actually enjoying retirement."
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"Retirement? Hardly," Julian laughed, leading him toward the living room where the golden retriever bounded over to greet their guest. "I've never worked harder in my life. Managing three clever daughters and planning a wedding is a full-time executive position."
Arthur smiled warmly, looking around the vibrant, life-filled house. "You look genuinely happy, Julian. It suits you far better than any corner office ever did."
