Chapter <b>1 </b>
Chapter <b>1 </b>
“Babe, can you give me ess to our AC? I’m freezing.”
I curled up against my husband, wrapped in a nket.
“No need. Guest mode’s enough for you.” His tone was <b>as </b>cold as our living room. “If you feel cold, it’s all in your head. Seventy–five is the most logical temperature.”
“Then why can Melody change it whenever she wants?”
He looked up from hisptop, annoyed:
“She’s my assistant. She’s here constantly handling critical work. Of course she needs system ess.”
Right on cue, our smart speaker announced:
“Master Melody approaching. Auto–opening door. Adjusting to Master Melody’s preferred 78 degrees.”
Master?
So in MY house, I was the guest and SHE was the master.
“You know what? You’re absolutely right. Guest mode is perfect for me.”
I stood up calmly:
“Because guests don’t have to pay the mortgage, handle the utilities, or give a damn when the house burns down. Thanks for the reminder, honey. Mywyer’s going to love this.”
“Jax, tomorrow’s our anniversary. Could you maybe bump up my ess to the home system? At least let me control the AC
temp?”
He didn’t even look up from the data streaming across hisptop screen.
“The system’s already optimized for peakfort. Seventy–five degrees is scientifically proven to be ideal for human physiology.”
“But I’m cold.”
“That’s psychological.”
He frowned.
“Iris, don’t get all emotional about this. The smart climate control saves us thirty percent on utilities. It’s the most logical
choice.”
I took a deep breath.
“Then why does Melody have admin ess? She can adjust whatever she wants.”
At the mention of Melody, he finally looked up<b>, </b>but his eyes were full of irritation.
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Chapter <b>1 </b>
“She’s constantly here handling urgent work files. She needs ess to the office and equipment. You don’t understand the tech side–if I gave you full privileges, you might mess with the settings and crash the whole system.”
Right on cue, the smart speaker in the living room chimed to life.
“Melody Rivera approaching. Activate wee mode?”
My stomach dropped.
“She’sing over? It’s ten PM.”
Jaxon stood up,pletely unfazed.
“Probably an issue with tomorrow’s presentation materials. She said we needed to go over everything in person.”
The electronic lock clicked open automatically, and Melody walked in.
Sharp business attire, hair cascading over her shoulders.
A leather portfolio in hand, her face painted with just the right amount of concern.
“Jax, I’m so sorry to barge in thiste.”
She nced at me with an apologetic smile.
“Hey, Iris! Sorry–tomorrow’s pitch is make–or–break.”
“No worries.” Jaxon was already heading toward his office. “Let’s talk in there.”
Melody followed, and as she passed me, she said casually:
“Ugh, it’s freezing out there. Thank god it’s cozy in here.”
Then, speaking to the air: “Alexa, set the office temperature to seventy–eight.”
“Of course, Ms. Rivera. Temperature adjusted.”
The system responded instantly.
Meanwhile, when I’d tried to adjust the temp earlier, <b>I </b>got: “Insufficient privileges. Contact administrator.”
Watching them disappear into the office, I stood in the living room feeling like a stranger in my own home.
Familiar because I’d handpicked every piece of furniture.
Foreign because apparently, I had less control here than an outsider.
My phone buzzed–the hospital.
“Mrs. Sterling, your mother’s had a heart attack. It’s critical–pleasee immediately!”
My legs gave out. I grabbed my purse and rushed to the door.
“Alexa, unlock the front door!”
“Sorry, your departure request requires administrator approval. Current time is 10:15 PM, which exceeds safe departure
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hours<b>.</b>”
I was about to lose it. I burst into the office.
“Jax, my mom’s dying–I need to get to the hospital!”
He frowned.
“It’s toote. Not safe out there. Let the hospital handle it tonight, you can go in the morning.”
“The doctor said it’s critical!”
“They have professional medical staff. You being there won’t change anything.”
He checked his watch.
“Statistically,te–night travel has 60% higher ident rates. This is about your safety.”
Melody chimed in softly:
“Jax is right, Iris. Safety first. Want me to have the system transfer money for medical expenses?”
She pulled out her phone and spoke to the air:
“Alexa, transfer fifty thousand from the household ount to Metro General Hospital.”
“Transferplete, Ms. Rivera.”
I stared in disbelief.
She could ess our joint ount at will, but I couldn’t even unlock my own door…
“Money’s not the issue,” Jaxon told me. “Your mom will be fine. You need to calm down and stop being so emotional.”
“I need to <i>see </i>my mother!” I was practically screaming.
“Iris!” He’d never been this harsh with me. “Can you please just be rational for once?”
Just then, Melody’s phone rang.
She nced at it and went pale.
“Jaz, we have a problem! The database crashed–all of tomorrow’s presentation data is corrupted!”
“What?” Jaxon shot up. “How is that possible?”
“I don’t know<i>…</i>”
Melody’s eyes instantly filled with tears, her voice cracking.
<b>“</b>If we can’t present tomorrow, thepany loses a hundred million dor contract!”
“Don’t panic. We’re going to the office right now.” Jaxon grabbed his coat and headed for the door.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “Didn’t you just say it was dangerous to go out at night?”
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He stopped, his voice <b>ice</b>–cold.
“This is a hundred–million–dor deal. It has to be handled. Business and emotions are different–when work fails, hundreds
of employees lose their livelihoods.”
“And my mom’s life doesn’t matter?<b>” </b>
“I told you, the hospital will handle it.”
Finally, he snapped impatiently, “Melody, disable Iris’s departure restrictions for tonight.”
Melody tapped her phone.
“Done.”
The door finally unlocked, but Jaxon and Melody were already gone.
I stood alone in the doorway, watching their car disappear into the night.