Chapter 3 - THE FIRST LOCK
Inside the lobby, Julian answered his phone with a sharp whisper.
“What is it?”
Thomas Reed, Aurelia Grand’s general manager, stood several feet away with a tablet trembling in his hands.
Thomas had worked for my family since I was seventeen.
Julian believed he had hired him.
In reality, my father had placed Thomas at the resort to protect the trust’s interests.
“I just received an emergency governance notice,” Thomas said.
Julian covered his phone.
“Then ignore it.”
“I cannot.”
“You work for me.”
Thomas slowly raised his eyes.
“No, sir.”
The nearby conversations began to fade.
Julian’s expression tightened.
“What did you say?”
Thomas turned the tablet so Julian could see the document.
The first page carried the seal of the Marlowe Heritage Trust.
Beneath it appeared a resolution suspending Julian’s executive authority pending an emergency board review.
Julian laughed.
It was a loud, theatrical sound intended for the guests around him.
“This is Elena’s little revenge.”
Celeste touched his arm.
“Can she actually do this?”
“No.”
His answer came too quickly.
He marched toward the nearest elevator and pressed the penthouse button.
The panel flashed red.
ACCESS DENIED.
Julian tried again.
ACCESS DENIED.
He pulled his executive keycard from his pocket.
The reader rejected it.
“What is wrong with this system?” he demanded.
Thomas looked at his tablet.
“Your credentials were suspended at 10:43 p.m.”
“Restore them.”
“I do not have authorization.”
“I am the chief executive officer.”
“You were the acting chief executive officer.”
Julian froze.
The distinction had appeared in every contract he signed.
He had never paid attention to it.
Celeste stepped forward and scanned her penthouse guest card.
The panel flashed red again.
ACCESS DENIED.
“My things are upstairs,” she said.
Thomas remained professional.
“Personal belongings will be inventoried and returned after review.”
Celeste’s face changed.
“What about my jewelry?”
I watched from outside as she touched the emerald pendant.
Thomas followed her movement.
“That item has already been flagged.”
Julian turned toward the doors.
Our eyes met through the rain-streaked glass.
He finally understood that I had not called a friend.
I had called someone with authority.
He strode across the lobby and forced the revolving door forward.
The security guards shifted uncertainly.
“Bring her inside,” Julian ordered.
Neither man moved.
“I gave you an order.”
The taller guard, Marcus Bell, removed a small earpiece.
“We have new instructions, Mr. Cross.”
“From whom?”
“Property ownership.”
“I am property ownership.”
Marcus looked almost embarrassed for him.
“No, sir.”
Julian stepped into the rain.
His tuxedo darkened instantly.
“What did you do?” he asked me.
I studied the man I had once believed would grow old beside me.
“I made one phone call.”
“You are creating a scene because of a misunderstanding.”
“You had security throw me out.”
“You were disrupting the gala.”
“Celeste is wearing my coat.”
He glanced at her through the door.
“That can be replaced.”
“And my grandmother’s pendant?”
His jaw tightened.
“She found it.”
“In your private safe?”
For the first time, Julian had no prepared answer.
I moved closer.
“You should go back inside,” I said.
“You have a long night ahead of you.”
He grabbed my wrist.
Marcus immediately stepped between us.
“Release her, sir.”
Julian stared at the guard in disbelief.
Then his phone sounded again.
A banking alert appeared across the screen.
EXECUTIVE ACCESS SUSPENDED.
Across the driveway, the doors of three black vehicles opened.
My father’s attorneys stepped into the rain.
May you like
The first lock had closed.
Many more were coming.
