Emma's POV
Victoria Ashford had a voice like expensive perfume. Smooth, deliberate, designed to linger.
Alexander put the call on speaker without asking me, which I took as either trust or a practical decision to have a witness. Possibly both.
"Alexander." Her tone shifted when he answered, something between relief and practiced warmth. "I've been trying to reach you."
"I know. What do you want, Victoria?"
A pause. She hadn't expected him to be that direct. "I need to see you. In person. There's something Richard's been planning that you need to know about and I can't say it over the phone."
"Say it anyway."
"Alexander—"
"I'm not meeting you alone. If you have information, give it to me now or send it to David."
Another pause, longer this time. "Is someone with you?"
"My wife."
