Chapter 296
Chapter 296:
“Anson Hyde used a body double to infiltrate a hospital,” Dallas said, his voice cold. “He has resources, and he has lost his mind. I want blast film on all the windows, iris scanners on the private elevator, and double the detail on Eliza p>
Eliza placed a hand on his arm. “Dallas, we live in a residential building. You can’t turn it into a bunker p>
He flinched from her touch and pulled his arm away. “Watch me,” he muttered, typing furiously. “I’m not taking chances. Not again p>
The unspoken words hung between them: Not for you. For myself.
When they arrived at The Aurelia, the lobby was already buzzing with activity. Technicians were installing new cameras. A security guard Eliza didn’t recognize checked their IDs before allowing them into the elevator.
The doors slid open into the penthouse foyer.
“Surprise p>
A high-pitched scream echoed off the marble walls. Azalea stood in the center of the living room, striking a pose. Behind her were three massive, bright pink Louis Vuitton trunks.
Dallas closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Tell me I’m hallucinating from the painkillers p>
𝖶𝘦 𝗎pd𝗮𝘁е 𝗲𝗏𝗲𝗋y 𝗐𝗲𝖾𝗸 𝗼𝘯
“The head of your new security detail let me in,” Azalea bounced over, wearing a fuzzy white sweater that made her look like a manic cloud. “I told him I was your designated emotional support daughter and that if he didn’t let me up, I’d tweet his photo with the caption ‘Hates Puppies.’ He caved p>
“Go home, Azalea,” Dallas said.
“I can’t!” Azalea pouted. “The estate is lonely. And Gigi is there — she keeps trying to teach me flower arranging. It’s torture.” She turned to Eliza with wide, pleading eyes. “Please, El? I’ll be quiet. I’ll even feed Dallas p>
Eliza forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Let her stay, Dallas. I could use the company while you’re grumpy p>
Dallas glared at his daughter, then at his wife. He exhaled — a sound of total defeat. “Fine. But if I see one pink suitcase in my study, it goes off the balcony p>
“Yay!” Azalea squealed and threw her arms around Eliza.
Across the city, the atmosphere was considerably less cheerful.
The headquarters of Sterling & Drake Group was a hive of activity. Bella Rose sat behind her desk, buried under a mountain of paperwork. With Dallas out of commission and Weston managing security, the entire administrative load had landed on her shoulders.
“Bella p>
The HR manager, a nervous woman named Karen, appeared in the doorway. Beside her stood a young woman clutching a designer handbag that looked like a knockoff.
“This is the new executive assistant,” Karen said apologetically. “Cathey Norton. The one Mr. Koch — the elder Mr. Koch — sent over. He pushed her through with a board directive p>
Bella looked up and adjusted her glasses. The name hit her like a punch. Norton. She knew exactly who this was. Ferd’s bastard. A walking scandal.
Cathey Norton was pretty in a generic way, with long brown hair and wide, innocent eyes. She wore a tweed suit slightly too large for her frame, giving her the appearance of a child playing dress-up. A calculated costume.