Marcus Ferguson froze. The flashing red and blue lights caught the gold badge clipped to Alastair Kingston's belt. The Senator's political survival instincts kicked in instantly, choking off his rage. He recognized the man. Kingston was the President's shadow.
Idella, lacking her husband's political radar, stepped forward. Her face twisted into a mask of aristocratic disgust. "Eloise! Have you lost your mind? Bringing armed thugs to our home in the middle of the night? You are a disgrace to this family!"
Cortez pointed a finger at Eloise. "She's having another episode, Mom. Look at her dress. She's completely unhinged. We need to call Dr. Aris and get her sedated."
Alastair's head snapped toward Cortez. The agent's eyes were dead, devoid of any human warmth. The sheer, physical weight of his stare made Cortez swallow his next words and take an involuntary step back.
Marcus grabbed Idella's arm, squeezing hard enough to make her wince. "Shut up," he hissed through his teeth. He forced a tight, panicked smile and stepped down the stairs. "Agent Kingston. I apologize for the confusion. What brings the Secret Service to my home?"
Alastair ignored the Senator's outstretched hand. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out the thick envelope bearing the Presidential Seal.
He broke the wax seal with his thumb. The sound was unnaturally loud in the tense silence. He unfolded the heavy paper.
"By order of the President of the United States," Alastair read, his voice projecting across the lawn like a military command. "Effective immediately, Eloise Ferguson is granted absolute, unmitigated control over her personal trust fund and all marital decisions. Any attempt to coerce, medicate, or confine her against her will shall be treated as a direct threat to a protected federal asset."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Idella's hand dropped from her pearls. The blood drained from her face, leaving her looking like a corpse. Her entire plan-selling Eloise to Bradyn Chandler for political funding-was dead.
Cortez's jaw dropped. The trust fund. He had been secretly siphoning money from it to cover his failed startup. If Eloise controlled it, he was ruined.
Jaylene, hiding behind Cortez, dug her manicured nails into her palms. Her wide, innocent eyes narrowed into slits of pure, venomous jealousy.
Marcus began to sweat. The cold night air hit the moisture on his forehead. He knew exactly what this was. The President was holding a gun to his political career.
Alastair folded the letter, placed it back in the envelope, and handed it to Eloise. He did it with both hands, a gesture of absolute respect that made Marcus's stomach churn.
"Furthermore," Alastair said, his eyes locking onto Marcus. "The President has instructed me to conduct random, unannounced health checks on Miss Ferguson. Her well-being is now a matter of the highest federal interest. Any harm, physical, psychological, or otherwise, that befalls her on this property will trigger an immediate and thorough federal investigation, with you, Senator, as the primary person of interest."
Marcus wiped his forehead. "Of course. Of course. Eloise is our beloved daughter. She is perfectly safe here."
Idella opened her mouth to argue, but Marcus shot her a look so violently angry she snapped her mouth shut.
Alastair gave Eloise a curt nod. "Ma'am. We will be in touch."
He turned, signaled his men, and the agents seamlessly piled back into the SUVs. The vehicles reversed down the driveway, leaving the Fergusons standing in the cold.
Eloise walked up the marble steps. She didn't look at her parents. She stopped right in front of Cortez.
Cortez tried to puff up his chest, but he was trembling.
Eloise leaned in, her voice a whisper that only he could hear. "If you ever try to block my path again, Cortez, I will send the SEC the real accounting books for your little tech company. The ones showing the wire transfers to the Cayman Islands."
Cortez's eyes bulged. He stumbled backward, hitting the heavy oak door.
Eloise walked past him into the grand foyer. The smell of Idella's heavy floral perfume made her nauseous. She stopped at the base of the grand staircase and looked back at her stunned family.
"I have an announcement," Eloise said, her voice echoing off the vaulted ceiling. "Family meeting. Tomorrow morning at nine. Don't be late."
