The girl in the Louvre

It was eight am by the time that Julian woke up, his pale ivory arms pocked out of the blanket as he stretched back like a cat. Reaching over to his bedside, he grabbed his phone and checked his messages. There was nothing unexpected, his employees got to work early and judging by their pace, they would have everything ready by the time that he got there at nine thirty.

Throwing off the covers, Julian swung his legs down off the bed and onto the cold tiles. Sliding on the slippers that had been placed beside the bed while he was sleeping, he walked over to the closet and threw on a silk housecoat. Satisfied that his appearance was acceptable, he walked out the door of his bedroom and entered the larger living room where breakfast was waiting. He had to stay healthy for Zhi Rou so he ordered, one glass of beetroot juice, one bowl of quinoa porridge with fruit and almond milk; and a mixed smoothie of several different healthy fruits, vegetables, and powders.

'The porridge was really good, the smoothie was okay, and the beetroot tasted like fresh soil,' thought Julian with a frown. 'Do I really have to drink a glass of dirt every morning?' Looking down at what was left the burgundy liquid he decided. 'What the hell, it's just dirt. It is not like it will kill me.' Swigging back what was left, he set the glass back down on the table and went to the shower. Thinking of what he was going to do today he started humming as he got into the shower.

After quickly washing his body, he got out, brushed his teeth, and put on a loose fitting shirt and jeans. There was only a press-meeting later today and that wasn't something that he would be taking part in publicly so there was no need to dress formally. Leaving his room he went down the stairs and got in the car waiting for him.

When he arrived he was greeted by the woman from yesterday. Today she wore a yellow summer dress and yellow heels and headband making her look even more beautiful than usual. "Would you like to come into my office to talk?" asked Julian politely. 'After all,' thought Julian. 'I shouldn't be rude someone who helped me.'

Smiling brightly she agreed, as she turned around to walk to the elevator her curly blond hair twirled through the air. Once again they went up to the fifteenth floor, only this time they went directly to the office at the end of the hall instead of the meeting room. While walking down the hall he noticed that around fifty people were rushing around and tapping on their computers, trying to finish the project that he gave them to save their jobs. He felt slightly sad that he had to threaten them like that but it wasn't just them. If they did not complete their work on time he would suffer a fate much worse than just losing his job.

Ignoring them he walked into his office and opened the door for the lady. After showing her to a seat on the couch he sat opposite her and looked at her inquisitively. Opening his mouth he asked, "first, what is your name? And second, how did you figure it out? I thought I hid it very well."

Looking slightly amused at his first question she lightly smiled. "My name is Julia, as for how I know Isn't it obvious? Your pale face, dilated eyes, temporary spells of dizziness, and the occasional blackouts are all symptoms of that poison. I'm just curious, how did the only son and heir of Diana Reeves get attacked by someone with such a rare poison? There are only a few people alive that could make that particular strain of ODV and it must be ingested over a long period of time to take effect. Also judging from your bodyguard's reactions when you collapsed they have no idea that you have been poisoned. So either you haven't told your mom or her knows but wants to keep it under wraps and hasn't told anyone. Which is it I wonder?"

Julian's face grew cold as he thought about the past, "It doesn't really matter how I got poisoned but what does matter is that my mother does not know. If she did she wouldn't have given me this position would she? That is why it is important that she does not find out. Besides, it is curable, isn't it? it's not like everyone will die if they get poisoned with ODV."

Looking back at Julian, Julia's eyes started to fill with pity. She knew better than anyone that the chances of anyone surviving when they are in the advanced stages of ODV is almost zero. Julian wasn't in the advanced stages yet considering he was still standing but he was only fifteen there was a high probability that it would become more serious later on. Fainting in a meeting room would be the least of his worries by then.