Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN AT MY DOOR
Naomi made calls while I sat with both hands wrapped around a cup of coffee I couldn’t drink.
The closing attorney.
The title company.
The bank listed in the agreement.
She didn’t promise me anything.
She asked precise questions and wrote down every answer.
Finally, she looked up.
“The title company has paused the transaction pending review.”
I let out a breath.
“Paused?”
“That gives us time. It doesn’t answer what happened.”
My phone lit up.
Adrien had called eleven times.
Then a message arrived.
You’re being advised by people who don’t understand the situation.
I showed Naomi.
She slid her card across the desk.
“Tell him future communication about the property goes through me.”
“What about the marriage?”
“That part is your decision.”
By noon, I had made it.
I asked her to start the separation paperwork.
Back at June’s apartment, I tried to eat toast.
Then the buzzer rang.
June checked the building camera.
“Oh, absolutely not.”
“What?”
She turned her phone.
Clare stood downstairs in a cream coat, carrying flowers.
I went cold.
“How did she find me?”
June pressed the intercom.
“She doesn’t want visitors.”
Clare looked directly into the camera.
“I’m trying to protect her.”
Against June’s advice, I went downstairs.
I stayed inside the locked vestibule.
Clare stood on the other side of the glass.
“I’m sorry about last night,” she said.
“Are you wearing the apology?”
Her fingers went to her scarf.
The blue diamond flashed beneath it.
She lowered her hand.
“Adrien bought this weeks ago.”
“For you?”
“He wanted to mark a fresh start.”
“You mean your divorce.”
“Yes.”
“And my anniversary was convenient?”
Her smile thinned.
“He didn’t think you’d take it this way.”
“He didn’t think I’d see it.”
She glanced toward the street.
“You need to sign the corrected property documents.”
I stared at her.
“You brought flowers to ask me for my building?”
“It’s a business deal.”
“Then talk to my lawyer.”
Her tone changed.
“Your grandmother would have wanted Mercer House to have a future.”
“My grandmother knew your father. She wouldn’t have sold him a parking space.”
Clare stepped closer to the glass.
“Be careful, Willa. Adrien has protected you from more than you realize.”
She slid an envelope through the mail slot.
Inside was a copy of my signed waiver.
Attached was a note.
WITHDRAW YOUR OBJECTION, OR WE WILL ENFORCE THE AGREEMENT.
May you like
Then I saw the final line.
Their lawyers wanted me to pay damages for stopping the sale of my own building.
