“Alexander—”

“Get out of my office, Mother. Before I have security drag you out.”

Victoria drew herself up, smoothing the front of her Chanel coat.

“Think very carefully about your next move, Alexander. The board answers to me as much as they do to you.”

She turned on her heel and walked out, her heels clicking rhythmically down the hallway.

The room was silent except for the sound of the rain tapping against the glass windows.

Alexander turned to me, his face pale and his hands shaking.

“She means it,” I whispered. “She will try to take them from me.”

“I won’t let her,” Alexander said. He looked down at Lucas and Noah.

“We need to get you out of here,” he said. “My mother has eyes everywhere in this building.”

He walked to his desk and pressed the intercom.

“Margaret, have my driver bring the armored SUV to the basement level. Now.”

“Yes, Mr. Sterling,” Margaret’s voice crackled through the speaker.

Alexander looked at me. “I have a penthouse on the Upper West Side. It is not registered under my name.”