Chapter 3 - Ghosts in the Machine
The private study smelled of aged leather and expensive bourbon, but the heavy oak door offered no real sanctuary against the impending storm. Julian paced the Persian rug, his black overcoat discarded over a wingback chair, his white shirt collar damp with sweat. Elena sat stiffly on the edge of the velvet sofa, holding a steaming cup of chamomile tea she had no intention of drinking, while little Leo slept fitfully on her lap.
“The server room access log requires dual biometric keys,” Julian muttered, running a hand through his dark hair. “Mine and Victoria’s. If server B was wiped, there has to be an offline backup in the old carriage house vault.”
“She won't let us get to it,” Elena said quietly, her voice steady despite the adrenaline still humming through her veins. “She’s not just a socialite marrying into money, Julian. She’s calculated every single risk since the day she moved her boxes into this estate.”
Julian stopped pacing and looked down at Elena. For the first time, he wasn't looking at an employee; he was looking at an ally.
“Why didn't you quit weeks ago?” Julian asked bluntly. “You saw the signs of her hostility toward Leo, didn't you?”
“Because if I left, there would be no one between that boy and a very calculated tragedy,” Elena replied without hesitation, her gaze meeting his with unwavering strength. “You’ve been blinded by corporate mergers and grief over your late wife, Julian. You don't see what she does when you're flying across the Atlantic.”
Before Julian could process the heavy truth of her words, the study’s smart-screen flickered to life. The display flashed a red system warning: Unauthorized perimeter breach at the east carriage house vault.
Julian cursed under his breath, reaching for his desk drawer where a heavy brass key rested. “She’s going for the physical hard drives before we can pull the encrypted backups.”
“We go together,” Elena said, gently sliding Leo onto the sofa and tucking a throw blanket over his shoulders.
“No, it’s too dangerous—”
“She thinks I’m a broken, cowering nanny,” Elena interrupted, standing up and squaring her shoulders. “That gives me the element of surprise. You distract her at the main house; I’ll intercept her at the vault.”
Julian stared at her for a long, tense moment, reading the fierce resolve etched into her features. He nodded curtly, handing her a titanium master key card from his vest pocket.
“Be careful, Elena. She’s more dangerous than you know.”
Ten minutes later, Elena slipped through the shadowy rear gardens toward the carriage house, the autumn wind biting through her beige pantsuit. The iron doors of the vault stood slightly ajar, a sliver of white light cutting through the darkness. She crept forward, pressing her back against the damp stone wall, and peered inside. Victoria was standing before an open wall safe, frantically pulling out glowing flash drives.
May you like
Suddenly, a heavy hand clamped over Elena’s mouth from behind, and a cold blade pressed against her collarbone.
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