Chapter 4

The next morning I picked up my phone and dialed a firm that specialized in one thing: buying up distressed properties and bad debts, fast.

Half an hour later a bald man with tattoos running up both arms showed up at my door with his crew.

I got straight to the point.

"Thirty thousand under market, cash, quick sale. All the furniture inside comes with it."

"One condition. The full payment has to be in my account before three this afternoon, the title transfer done, and you take over the place immediately."

The bald boss's eyes lit up. He gave the place a once-over, inside and out, took in the brand-new finish, and made the call on the spot.

"Now that's a woman who moves fast. Cash is no problem!"

Sign the contract, register the sale at the county property office, transfer the title.

No dragging it out.

At two thirty in the afternoon, watching the text confirming that huge sum had landed in my account, I slapped the last remaining key into the bald boss's palm.

"There's some junk luggage still inside. Don't bother saving any of it for me. Do whatever you want with it, throw it out as trash for all I care."

He weighed the key in his hand and grinned, all rough edges.

"Got it. Don't you worry, this place belongs to the company now. God himself couldn't get in!"

The second I walked out of the property records office, the sun overhead was just right.

Standing at the curb, I sent a message to the company's HR head.

"Jamie, that transfer order to the Southern branch we talked about, I accept. No need to wait for a handover. I'm flying out today."

Message sent, I pulled the SIM card out of my phone.

Two fingers, one firm snap, no hesitation, and I dropped both halves into the storm drain by the curb.

Seven in the evening.

Ivan came up to the floor of the new place carrying two expensive king crabs, my mother and my sister in tow, the whole group glowing.

"Millie's definitely got it all cleaned up by now. Ma'am, let's have a proper housewarming dinner and a couple of drinks."

Ivan led the way, riding high.

My sister chimed in beside him, all sugary.

"Ivan, it really does carry more weight coming from you. That temper of my sister's, you're the only one who can handle her."

Ivan raised an eyebrow, still playing the generous one.

"Your sister just has a sharp tongue. Family doesn't hold grudges overnight. This is half your home now, kiddo. Stay as long as you like!"

They rounded the hallway laughing, and then the laughter cut off.

The door to the new place stood wide open.

From inside came the crash and bang of something being torn apart.

The corridor was a wreck. My sister's suitcase lay overturned on the floor, clothes and makeup scattered everywhere.

Her most prized designer bag sat in the corner, coated in dust.

"Ah! Who the hell touched my stuff?!"

My sister screamed and charged inside, eyes red.

Inside, several shirtless, heavily tattooed men were swinging hammers, ripping apart the platform bed no one had ever slept on, boards splitting with a thunderous racket.

Ivan's face went dark. He dropped the king crabs on the floor and strode forward, throwing out his chest like the man of the house.

"What do you people think you're doing?! This is breaking and entering. You think I won't call the cops and have you hauled off right now?"

The noise inside stopped.

The bald boss at the head of the crew turned, gave a cold laugh, pulled a title-search document stamped bright red from his pocket, and slapped it against Ivan's chest.

"Go ahead! Call them!"

"I bought this place outright this afternoon. Right now I'm just clearing out the garbage!"

He spat on the floor and jabbed a finger at the pile of ruined luggage outside the door.

"Former owner said the junk inside is mine to deal with. Grab your trash and get lost!"

With that he shut the door and, in the same motion, slapped a bold notice across it.

【THIS UNIT HAS BEEN SOLD. NO ENTRY WITHOUT PERMISSION. TRESPASS AT YOUR OWN RISK.】

Sold?!

She sold it?!

My mother's legs gave out and she crumpled to the floor.

"That's impossible… how is this possible? It was fine just yesterday…"

Ivan's hands shook as he yanked out his phone like a madman and dialed my number over and over.

"We're sorry. The number you have dialed is not in service."