Chapter 3
Alessandra spent the next hour with her technology director.
No family members were allowed inside.
The authorization was genuine in one sense.
It had come from Alessandra’s executive profile.
But she had never submitted it.
The access occurred at 2:13 a.m. four nights earlier.
Alessandra had been asleep in her Manhattan residence.
Gavin had been beside her.
At least that was what she remembered.
Her eyes remained on the screen.
“Which device?”
The technician hesitated.
“Your home tablet.”
Alessandra slowly looked up.
Only three people knew its secondary passcode.
Alessandra.
Her chief of staff.
And Gavin.
She returned to the security room.
Gavin watched her enter.
His posture remained arrogant, but his thumb had begun rubbing the edge of his wedding ring.
Alessandra sat opposite him.
“You used my profile.”
Gavin’s eyes narrowed.
“For what?”
She slid the authorization across the table.
His face barely moved.
Too barely.
Alessandra leaned back.
“You're a bad liar when you're afraid.”
His nostrils flared.
Sybil spoke from beside him.
“Stop treating your husband like an employee.”
Alessandra turned toward her.
Sybil’s confidence returned immediately.
“You disappear into council meetings while everyone else raises that child. Gavin finally made a decision.”
Alessandra’s eyes sharpened.
“You mean you made one.”
Sybil smiled thinly.
“You're not the only Ashford allowed to decide what happens in this family.”
The power struggle was finally visible.
This was not simply an affair.
They had been making household decisions around Alessandra while using her authority to legitimize them.
Michael cleared his throat.
Everyone looked at him.
“There’s security footage.”
Gavin stood.
“No.”
That one word came too quickly.
Alessandra did not look at Michael.
She watched Gavin.
“What footage?”
Michael’s eyes stayed on the floor.
“Mrs. Ashford came to the garage three nights ago.”
Sybil’s smile disappeared.
Michael continued.
“She wasn't packing the trunk.”
May you like
A pause.
“She was showing Vanessa where Tobin’s room would be moved after tonight.”
