I was still fuming after we hung up. I took a few deep breaths and then I called the private security company I used for my business. I got it set up for them to go and patrol the grounds. I gave them a description of Cassie and told them to have her arrested if she showed up. After I hung up with them, I called Cassandra. She picked up on the first ring.
“Alex darling, I’m so glad you called.”
“This is not a social call, Cassandra.”
She laughed. She’s crazy. “Your maid must have called you then, am I right?”
“She’s not my maid, Cassandra. She’s my girlfriend and the mother of my child. That house you were in tonight is hers, not yours. If you set foot on my property again you will be arrested.”
“You wouldn’t dare. I have more right to be there than that mealy mouthed little tramp.”
“You should be careful how you talk about the woman I love. I can leave you penniless, Cassandra, and I will if you come anywhere near my family again. Don’t push your luck.”
“You’re the one pushing your luck, Alex. After that article came out in Vanity, I got a call from People magazine, asking me for an interview. I know all of your dirty little secrets and I can ruin you.”
“Give it your best shot, Cassandra but if you value your health and your freedom you will stay away from Vicki and my son.” I hung up then before I said something she could use against me. I was so angry, I was shaking. I looked at the clock again. It was one-thirty here. It would be eleven-thirty on the west coast. I didn’t care if I woke him up, I called Noel.
“Alex? What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry Noel, did I wake you?”
“Um…no…it’s okay. What’s wrong?”
“Victoria found Cassandra in my house tonight. She found her in my son’s nursery.”
“Doing what?”
“Looking at him, threatening Vicki…”
“With harm?”
“No. She was telling her that I’d never go through with the divorce and some other B.S. But Noel, she was in the house. She has no right to be there and she’s acting very unstable. I want a restraining order against her that includes Vicki and my son and then I want you to change the offer.”
“Change it to what?”
“Offer her fifty million, her car and the apartment in Orange County. That’s it.”
“She’ll turn it down.”
“That’s fine. We’ll keep her in court until she’s either broke or old and gray. She’ll take it eventually. My main order of business is protecting Vicki and Michael.”
“Okay, restraining orders are easy. I’ll get them drawn up in the morning.”
“First thing.”
“Yes, first thing.”
“Thank you, Noel.”
“Mm hmm…
Alex?”
“Yes.”
“Is Vicki worth all of the trouble Cassandra is going to give you over her?”
“That and a hundred times more.”
“Okay then, I’ll have the papers drawn up.”
“Thank you, Noel.”
CHAPTER TWO
VICTORIA
When I went down for breakfast the morning after I’d found Cassandra in my son’s room, Cook’s first words were, “What happened last night?”
“Good morning, Gregory.”
He raised an eyebrow and said, “Good morning Miss Victoria. What happened last night?”
“What makes you think something happened?”
“Um… the new security all over the grounds… the locksmith at the front door.”
“The locksmith is here already? Wow that was fast.”
“Victoria!”
“I’m sorry. I was about to go to sleep last night when I heard a noise. When I got up to investigate, I found Cassandra in my son’s room.”
“Oh no! What happened? Is the baby okay?”
“He’s fine. She was just acting really strangely at first… then she got angry which was at least easier for me to recognize. She was just rattling on about how Alex was going to take her back and take the baby from me. I threw her out and then I called Alex. He got busy on sending over security and getting the locks changed right away. He’s amazing.”
He smiled at that and then he furrowed his brows and said, “I always thought that something wasn’t right with that woman. That’s just… frightening.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. Can I eat now?”
“Oh jeez! I’m sorry. I was so caught up in your story.” He had put the lid back on my breakfast when he was trying to get me to tell him what happened last night. He pulled it off now and I saw that it was a ham and cheese quiche, it was my favorite thing for breakfast.
“Mm! Thank you so much!”
He laughed, “You’re welcome. Here you go.”
“Are you going to join me?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” he said, pulling out a chair. He sat down with a piece of the quiche and poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe.