Chapter 3 - THE CONTRACT
Marcus locked Victoria out of the nursery wing that afternoon.
Not out of the mansion.
Not yet.
Attorney Rachel Sloan arrived within an hour.
She represented Marcus’s family office and several of his private companies.
Elena sat at the far end of the library with an ice pack against her ribs while Leo slept in a portable crib beside her.
Victoria sat opposite Marcus.
No tears now.
Only calculation.
Marcus asked:
“What did you mean when you said Elena was going to destroy us?”
Victoria looked at Rachel.
“Is this privileged?”
Rachel answered:
“I’m not your attorney.”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“Of course not.”
Marcus slammed his palm on the table.
“Answer me.”
Victoria looked at Elena.
“She stole private family documents.”
Elena said:
“I found a contract using Leo’s name.”
Marcus turned.
“What contract?”
Elena pulled out her phone.
Victoria stood.
“You had no right.”
Marcus said:
“Sit.”
Victoria did not.
Elena sent the photos to Rachel.
Rachel opened them on her laptop.
Read.
Then her expression changed.
“Marcus.”
He moved beside her.
Campaign value.
Usage rights.
Image rights.
Social content.
Print advertising.
International licensing.
Then the signature.
Marcus stared.
“That’s not mine.”
Victoria said immediately:
“It is.”
“No.”
“You signed the authorization packet.”
“I signed a household photography release for the christening.”
Victoria’s face shifted.
There.
Rachel enlarged the signature.
“Source document may have been reused.”
Marcus looked at Victoria.
“Did you copy my signature?”
She answered:
“I had authority as his mother.”
Rachel said:
“That is not the question.”
Victoria snapped:
“I am his mother.”
“And Marcus is his father,” Rachel replied. “The contract required both parents’ consent under its own language.”
Victoria looked furious.
Marcus asked:
“Did you sign for me?”
Silence.
May you like
Then:
“I did what was necessary.”
