The cold New York air that hit her as she stepped off the private jet at JFK was a welcome shock. It sliced through the last remnants of Parisian warmth and the lingering fatigue in her bones, sharpening her senses. The memory of the night with Blackburn felt a world away, replaced by the crystalline focus of a general on the eve of battle. She couldn't help but marvel at his energy; the man seemed to run on an endless supply of power, whether in a boardroom or a bedroom.
A woman in a crisp, dark suit stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Her name was Tanya Hayes. Her expression was professional, impassive.
"Ms. Rhodes, welcome back," Tanya said, her voice even. "Mr. Le has arranged several residences for you. There's a penthouse on the Upper East Side, a townhouse in the West Village, and..."
Aislinn cut her off, sliding her sunglasses down her nose to fix the woman with a direct stare. "I won't be needing any of them. Take me to the Rhodes residence."
Tanya blinked, the first crack in her professional armor. A flicker of confusion, then concern, crossed her face. "To... your stepfather's house? Ms. Rhodes, Mr. Le advised..."
"Tanya," Aislinn's voice was quiet, but it held the chilling authority of a blade being unsheathed. "Mr. Le pays your salary, but you work for me. Do you understand the difference?"
A faint blush crept up Tanya's neck. She immediately lowered her gaze. "Yes, Ms. Rhodes. My apologies." The shift was instantaneous. The deference was absolute.
Aislinn's expression softened, a hint of amusement playing on her lips. "Good. Now, on the way, tell me what you found."
The back of the Rolls-Royce was a silent, leather-scented sanctuary as it glided through the city traffic. Tanya handed Aislinn a tablet.
"As you suspected, Coral Rhodes has been showing off the 'Star of the Ocean' everywhere," Tanya reported, her tone all business now. "She's confirmed to be wearing it to Mr. Rhodes's sixtieth birthday gala tonight." She paused, glancing at Aislinn. "The entire New York high society will be there."
Aislinn let out a sound of pure contempt. "She's not qualified to wear it. It's not an accessory for a cheap knock-off." Her eyes scanned the photos on the tablet-Coral preening, Coral laughing, Coral wearing her mother's legacy like a costume. "She probably thinks wearing it reminds everyone of her mother's supposed connection to my mother. Pathetic."
Her gaze lifted from the screen, staring out at the blur of the city. "Tonight, I'll make sure everyone knows who its rightful owner is." A new thought took shape, cold and perfect. "Actually, change of plans. Don't take me to the Rhodes residence just yet."
Tanya waited, her hands folded in her lap.
"Take me to the penthouse," Aislinn commanded. "I need a place to prepare for the party." She would use Blackburn's resources after all, but on her own terms. It would be her fortress. Her war room.
"Confirm with your sources one last time," Aislinn ordered, her eyes narrowing. "I need to be one hundred percent certain she will wear that necklace tonight."
"Confirmed," Tanya replied without hesitation. "Her personal stylist posted a sneak peek on Instagram an hour ago. She's treating it as the centerpiece of her look."
Aislinn smiled, a slow, dangerous curve of her lips. "Perfect. She's handing me the knife to stab her with."
She settled back against the plush leather, her mind a chessboard, every piece moving into place. "Here's the plan. I'll arrive at the gala late. And at the peak of the celebration, you will make a call."
Tanya listened, her expression unreadable.
"Tell the NYPD that there's a thief at the party, wearing a stolen item worth seven million dollars."
Aislinn met Tanya's eyes in the rearview mirror, her voice dropping to a whisper that was more menacing than any shout.
"The charge," she said, savoring each word, "is grand larceny."
