Chapter 3 - THE LOCKSMITH
Dominic always believed confidence was the same thing as authority.
That night, it cost him.
The security camera showed him standing in our apartment hallway with a locksmith and a man from his office.
Dominic pointed toward the door.
“Change everything.”
The building manager, Mr. Alvarez, blocked the lock.
“I need authorization from the owner.”
“I am the owner.”
“No, sir.”
Dominic blinked.
“What?”
Mr. Alvarez held up a tablet.
“The deed lists both you and Mrs. Vale, subject to a trust agreement. Our attorney advised us not to alter access without written consent from both parties.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“My wife abandoned the marital home.”
Mr. Alvarez didn’t move.
“She gave birth five days ago.”
“That’s irrelevant.”
I watched the live video from Dad’s study.
Rebecca stood beside me.
“He really says the worst possible thing every time someone records him,” she murmured.
Dad folded his arms.
“I’m starting to understand why she hid me from him.”
I gave him a look.
He raised both hands.
“Too soon?”
“Yes.”
Dominic called again.
I answered.
“What are you doing?”
“Feeding our son.”
“You sent lawyers after me?”
“No. You sent a locksmith to our home.”
“My home.”
“Our apartment.”
“You walked out.”
“You left me outside a hospital.”
“That again?”
I felt my pulse spike.
Rebecca pointed toward the phone and mouthed: Let him talk.
So I did.
“You took my vehicle without permission,” I said.
“I’m your husband.”
“That isn’t permission.”
“Everything we have is because of me.”
I nearly laughed.
“Really?”
“Yes, Audrey. The apartment, the lifestyle, Leo’s future. You think your father’s little government pension bought any of that?”
Dad’s eyebrows went up.
I covered my mouth.
Rebecca looked down to hide a smile.
Dominic continued.
“My company supports this family. I support you.”
“Then why did $486,000 leave accounts containing my inheritance?”
Silence.
The change was instant.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Vale Strategic Holdings.”
Another pause.
Then anger.
“Who has been digging through our finances?”
“My attorney.”
“You don’t have an attorney.”
“I do now.”
“Who?”
“I don’t think she needs an introduction.”
Rebecca nodded approvingly.
Dominic lowered his voice.
“Audrey, listen carefully. You have no idea how business works. Some of your money was moved temporarily for tax planning.”
“Did I authorize it?”
“We’re married.”
“Did I authorize it?”
“You benefited from everything I did.”
I stared at the phone.
Then I said, “That wasn’t my question.”
His voice hardened.
“Come home.”
“No.”
“Bring my son home.”
My entire body went rigid.
Rebecca immediately wrote something on a yellow pad.
MY SON.
I took a breath.
“Leo is safe.”
“You can’t keep him from me.”
“I haven’t.”
“I’m coming to wherever you are.”
“You don’t know where I am.”
“I’ll find you.”
Dad’s expression changed.
Rebecca reached for the phone.
I stopped her.
“Dominic?”
“What?”
“You should probably speak to your own lawyer before saying anything else.”
“You think you can scare me?”
“No.”
I looked at my father.
“I think you’re doing a pretty good job scaring yourself.”
I hung up.
Rebecca immediately began typing.
“We document the threat, file tomorrow morning, preserve all financial records, and get temporary parenting terms in place.”
Dad stared toward the city lights.
Then his personal phone rang.
He answered.
“Brooks.”
A moment later, his expression sharpened.
“Send it to me.”
“What happened?” I asked.
Dad looked at Rebecca.
“One of my old friends ran Dominic’s company through public contracting databases.”
My heart skipped.
“And?”
“He didn’t find anything classified.”
Dad looked at me.
“He found something worse.”
“What?”
“Vale Strategic Holdings is almost broke.”
Rebecca turned slowly.
Dad placed the phone on the desk.
“And according to the filings…”
His eyes met mine.
May you like
“Dominic transferred your money three days before you went into labor.”
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