AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ooh, I have a phone call to make. I’m so proud of myself for coming up with another way to be in charge. Surprise, Kate! I know it’s risky, and it could be self-defeating if it hurts the stock value, but I need to keep her off balance. I need to focus her attention elsewhere, away from little ole me.
“Investor Timestip line. What do you have for us?” a male reporter asks. Young. Eager.
I swallow. I wish I had fake accent options I could use. Instead, I default to sweet southern, my go-to. “Hey, hi there. I have a tip about a company I know of. They just had an IPO. It’s called EventCo? I’m an employee.”
“Go on. We cover that company. The IPO is doing well.”
“It’s not about the IPO, not really. You see it’s about control of the company. There is a first wife and a second wife of the CEO, and they both work here. He just died suddenly.”
I hear a computer keyboard clicking. “Right. John Nelson had a heart attack, the day after the IPO. So, there’s trouble between the two wives?”
You could say that, sonny. “Why don’t you get a copy of the will? The second wife is co-president, but the first wife doesn’t like it. Quite a story.”
“It’s only a story for us if it affects the business.”
“There’s a lot of infighting. Employees are taking sides. It’s hard to get work done. I’m traumatized. If the investors find out, they could lose confidence.”
“Want to go on the record?” he asks. I’m sure he knows the answer already. I called an anonymous tip line.
“Oh, it’s a great story, and I’ll just leave it to you to tell it,” I say, and hang up. As far as the press goes, who do you think is more photogenic? Sympathetic? Me, that’s who. I’m the grieving widow, the young, gorgeous wife. Kate has pushed me too far, and now, she’ll have a little scare when the reporters start to call, circling their prey. It’ll be hard for her to bury this story, that’s for sure.
Now what? Out the front window I see Ashlyn trotting up my front walk. Someone is sitting in a pickup truck in my driveway. Hmmm. Has she come here to confront me? I haven’t done a thing. Been home all afternoon and evening, so there.
I duck away from the window and walk into the kitchen. I’m not in the mood to talk to her. Not now. I’ve had a long day. I’ll ignore the doorbell, and she’ll go away.
I wait for the doorbell to ring, but instead I hear the front door open—the locked front door.
“Hello? Who’s there?” I call, tamping down the fury. When John and I bought this house, he insisted Ashlyn have a copy of the key. She was “always welcome here because it’s her home, too,” he said. I make a note to change the locks.
“Hey, it’s me, Ashlyn. I didn’t know you were home. I just need to grab my things. Seth is going to help.” She waves at me as she heads down the hall to the stairs. Odd, she didn’t mention anything about her car. She must not have driven it yet. Her good old boyfriend saved the day apparently.
I hope she’s not up to something, coming here. I mean, she’s not clever. Maybe she wants to talk, you know, kick back and have fun like the good old days. No, that’s not what she wants. She thinks I hurt her dad. She’s just here for her things, with muscle waiting in the driveway. Ha.
As I stand in the kitchen waiting for her to leave, admiring her boyfriend’s biceps as he carries her stuff out to his car, oppressive heat pours from the ceiling vents. My house is out to get me again. I pull out my phone and find the icon for the app I downloaded last night. I thought I’d finally reset all of the thermostats. How can it be blasting heat again?
“Wow, it’s hot in here.” Ashlyn joins me in the kitchen. “Feels like hell.”
I push open the window above the kitchen sink and take a moment to conceal my frustration. “Yes, my thermostats have been on the fritz. And you know your dad. He wanted the smartest of smart homes. I guess it’s just outsmarting me.” I keep the tone light, but I’m seething. And then I get an idea. I’ll put this home on the market. I want a place that no one else has the key to. A place that’s all mine.
“Dad did love technology. You know he has all the apps on his phone. I may be able to help you.” She tilts her head. “Where’s his phone?”
Good question. Where is his phone? I don’t remember seeing it, or thinking about it, since the horribly long and boring memorial service.“It’s probably in my black Gucci. I haven’t used it since the funeral.” I assure myself as much as Ashlyn that I have it. “Do you know the password?”
“Of course.” She leans against the kitchen counter. “Don’t you?”
As a matter of fact I do, how else would I read all his texts? But I’m not telling her that’s the reason. “Of course I do. I’m just talking about the stupid apps, you know, the lights, the temperature, all the smart home stuff. I don’t have those passwords.” Why didn’t I think to find his darn phone sooner? I’ve been busy, and tired. So tired. My stupid house keeps me up all night.
“I know how to get into all the apps. You can go on his phone and turn down the heat. I’ll show you how. Where is it?” She’s persistent, I’ll give her that much. But why would she want to help me?
I’m trying to ignore the fact that his daughter has his app passwords, but his wife doesn’t. Moot point now, I know, but still.
“Let me go search for that purse. I’ll be right back. Is that Seth outside? Do you want to invite him in?”
“No. He’s fine in the car.” She seems to be favoring her left arm.
“Is something wrong with your arm?” I ask.
Her eyes narrow, and she shakes her head. “Nothing time won’t fix. My car freaked out while I was driving home.”
