Chapter 2 - The Apartment Was Never His
Russell wrapped his coat around my shoulders.
One security officer photographed my face.
The other preserved footage from the hallway camera.
Victor had forgotten the penthouse corridor belonged to a Hartwell-owned building.
Every second of the assault had been recorded.
Russell handed me a pair of shoes from the emergency bag he always kept in his car.
“You planned for this?”
“Your father planned for every version except the one where Victor became decent.”
The elevator opened again.
The building manager stepped out with two police officers.
Victor opened the penthouse door when they knocked.
His expression changed when he saw Russell.
He recognized him from Meridian board meetings.
“Mr. Kent?”
Russell did not greet him.
“Mr. Hayes, these officers need to speak with you regarding an assault.”
Victor looked at me.
“What did you tell them?”
“The truth.”
Kendra appeared behind him in my robe.
Eleanor remained near the bar.
Russell handed the manager a document.
“Effective immediately, access privileges for Mr. Hayes, Ms. Vale, and Mrs. Eleanor Hayes are suspended pending review.”
Victor laughed.
“You cannot remove me from my own apartment.”
Russell turned one page.
“The apartment is owned by Lane Residential Trust.”
Victor looked at me.
I had used my mother’s surname when creating the trust.
He had signed the occupancy agreement without reading it.
“You said we bought this together.”
“No.”
“You said your promotion package included housing.”
“It did.”
Russell’s voice remained calm.
“The housing was provided by Meridian’s parent company.”
“Mr. Hayes’s employment privileges ended twelve minutes ago.”
Victor stared at him.
“What parent company?”
“Hartwell Group.”
The name changed the air.
Victor had spent years discussing Arthur Hartwell as though he were a distant king.
Now that king’s attorney stood in his hallway.
Russell looked at me.
“Ms. Hartwell, would you like anything removed before the locks are changed?”
Kendra’s face lost color.
“Ms. what?”
I met Victor’s eyes.
“Olivia Hartwell.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“That is not possible.”
“My father owns Hartwell Group.”
“Hartwell Group owns Meridian BuildWorks.”
“And the penthouse.”
“And the accounts that financed your promotions.”
Victor stepped backward.
Eleanor gripped the edge of the bar.
“You lied to my son.”
“I concealed my surname.”
“He concealed millions of dollars.”
The police asked Victor to turn around.
His voice rose.
“You are arresting me because her father is rich?”
The officer secured his wrists.
“No.”
“We are arresting you because the hallway camera shows you striking your wife.”
May you like
The first consequence had nothing to do with my father.
That mattered.
