t followed Jessye's departure was absolute. It wasn't peaceful; it

salad. "Drama queen. She'll be back by dinner when she

ain. It was lukewarm now. He took a sip and grimaced. It tasted... wro

oward the kitchen. "

Maria, poked her head out. "I did, sir.

Adam snapped, pushing t

a nagging unease scratched at the back of his mind. Jessye's eyes-that last look she gave him-it was

e needed validation. He needed someon

ed on the first ring, her

tie. "Actually walked out. Left the

s nerves. "Oh, Adam. It's a power play. A bad one. She wants you to chase her

ing his temple. "You're

i

down the top of hi

: J.

ct: C

that email address anymore. He tapped it ope

. He put the phone on spe

s crisp. Hig

y, a prop. A bori

ld. It was his voic

r... She just... exists. It

ve her. I n

cordin

mered a frantic rhythm against his ribs

the phone, sounding tinny and sm

goodbye. He slammed the phone onto

ed. "She bugged me. S

ye? Don't be absurd. She doesn't know h

, running his hands through his hair.

to hate your wife, Adam. It's just messy. Ignor

nd dialed the house manager. "Change the locks. And call American

esn't have any active cards linked to the main account. She returned the supplementary card

s impossible. How does s

't kno

stomach. Swiss bank? Jessye, the woman

the tinted windows of a black armored SUV. The i

waves around her shoulders. She was typing on a laptop that looked m

arp bob cut and glasses. Dr. Claire Y

ire said, her eyes on the rear

e said. "Terri

ut first..." Claire gestured t

backend of the Payne Corp server. Specifically

nzyme technology that powered Payne Corp's flagship anti-aging serum. It

arriage gave him permanent rights. He had

he Trust Executor. Unilateral withdrawal rights reserved fo

rking." She remembered the way he dismissed her work as "playing with test tubes." She wasn't revoking it because of infidelity-that woul

32-character al

up: REVOKE AUTHORIZATION?

"He burned the bridge. You'r

pressed

progress bar raced a

ED. ACCESS DENIED. HA

leaned back into the leather seat, watching th

Claire," Jessye said.

stock ticker for Payne Corp was about to bleed red. He didn't know that the foundation of h

n't coming. The storm was already