Chapter 2: The Door
Claire stopped a few feet from the door and watched the drill bit spin against the lock through the peephole.
The sound was loud and invasive, like someone was physically tearing into her home. She could hear Patricia’s voice on the other side, sharp and impatient.
“Hurry up. She’s probably in there laughing at us.”
Harrison’s voice was lower, more controlled.
“Just get the damn thing open.”
Claire took a breath, then spoke clearly through the door.
“The police are already on their way.”
The drilling stopped immediately.
Through the peephole, she saw Harrison straighten up. Patricia’s head snapped toward the door.
“Claire?” Harrison called. “Open the door. We need to talk.”
She didn’t move.
“There’s nothing left to talk about,” she replied. “The divorce was finalized yesterday. You no longer have any legal right to be here.”
Patricia’s voice rose, shrill with outrage.
“You canceled my card in the middle of a charity auction! Do you have any idea how humiliating that was? I had to walk out of that ballroom like some kind of pauper!”
Claire’s voice remained calm.
“You had five years to get your own card, Patricia. I was never obligated to fund your lifestyle.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then Harrison spoke again, his tone shifting into something smoother, almost reasonable.
“Claire, let’s not do this in the hallway. Let us in. We can work something out. You don’t want this to get ugly.”
Claire almost laughed.
It was already ugly.
She had spent five years being treated like an ATM with a wedding ring. Five years of Patricia calling her “the help” behind her back while maxing out cards Claire paid for. Five years of Harrison acting like her success was something he allowed her to have.
She was done being reasonable.
“I’m not opening this door,” she said. “And if that locksmith touches my lock again, I’ll have him arrested for trespassing and attempted breaking and entering.”
The locksmith immediately stood up and took a step back, clearly uncomfortable.
Harrison’s face darkened. He stepped closer to the door.
“You’re making a mistake,” he said, voice low. “You think canceling a few cards makes you powerful? You have no idea what my family can do.”
Claire placed her hand flat against the cool wood of the door.
“Your family has done enough,” she said quietly. “Now it’s my turn.”
She stepped away from the door and walked back into the living room. Behind her, she could hear Harrison cursing and Patricia’s voice rising in fresh outrage.
Claire picked up her phone and called building security.
“This is Claire Bennett in 4201. There are unauthorized people attempting to drill into my door. Please send someone up immediately.”
She hung up and sat on the couch, heart steady.
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For the first time in years, she wasn’t afraid of what Harrison Voss would do next.
Because she already knew exactly what she was going to do to him.
