“I really am,” I confirmed. “I have diplomatic cables to review, meetings with Austrian officials, and a security briefing scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, Vienna time. Your drama isn’t more important than my actual responsibilities.”
At the door, I stopped and looked back.
“One more thing,” I said. “The property will be returned to my sole ownership once this investigation concludes. When it is, I’ll be removing you all as co-owners, emergency contacts, and from any documentation related to my life. You’ve proven you can’t be trusted with access to my assets or information about my career.”
“Alexis,” Natalie started.
“For years,” I interrupted. “Four years of dismissal, condescension, and assumptions. You earned this distance. Life with it.”
I left them amid the remains of Christmas, got into my modest Honda Civic, and headed for Dulles International Airport.
My phone barely stopped buzzing.
