Chapter 22

"How dare you!" Clementine shouted, her face red with anger as she stormed towards Rosie.

The sudden outburst took aback Rosie, and she took a step backward, her eyes narrowing. "You?" She uttered.

Clementine's eyes blazed with fury. "You shameless woman. How dare you lock my daughter up!" Her voice echoed through the air.

Rosie's gaze was cold, her expression unyielding. She looked Clementine up and down, her eyes lingering on her face before she spoke. "I've been waiting for you." She let out, her voice collected.

Clementine's face twisted in rage. "You think you can just lock up my daughter and get away with it?" She spat.

"Why the commotion, madam?" Rosie asked, her tone as cool as the air-conditioned office. "You're barking."

Clementine's eyes widened. "Me?! Barking?!" She spluttered, her voice rising.

Rosie nodded, her eyes half-closing. "Yes, you. You're making a scene. Don't you realize that?" Her voice remained low, but the words cut deep.

"How dare you speak to me like that!" Clementine screamed, her voice piercing the air.

Rosie's response was calm, almost detached. "And how dare you disrupt my office with your tantrum so early in the morning?" She questioned.

She raised an eyebrow. "I don't keep dogs because I abhor noise. Madam, is there any difference between you and one now?"

Clementine's eyes blinked twice, her expression frozen in shock. "Are you calling me a dog?!"

Rosie's face remained innocent as she shrugged a shoulder. "Who am I to label you as one?" She let out. "I merely speak my mind; it's up to you to decipher the meaning."

Clementine's hands clapped together in frustration. "Gosh, you're infuriating!"

Rosie's response was immediate. "I know."

Clementine's voice dropped to a low growl. "Why are you so shameless?"

Rosie's answer was simple, devoid of remorse. "Because it serves me well. If I had shame, I wouldn't be able to frustrate you, and my goal is to keep frustrating you."

"How can you talk back to me?" Clementine queried, her voice laced with indignation. "You–"

Rosie cut her off, her tone smooth as silk. "It's going to be a long day, madam. Can you tell me why you're here? What are you doing in my office?"

Clementine's face contorted in confusion. "Did you just ask why you're here?" She asked, her tone a mix of amazement and outrage.

Rosie raised an eyebrow. "Can't I?"

Clementine's anger boiled over. "How dare you ask what I'm doing?" She challenged, her voice rising like a storm.

Rosie's voice remained calm, yet firm. "This is my company, my territory. I have every right to question your presence," she stated, her eyes locked on Clementine's like a hawk. "Does this look like your mansion? You can't just barge in here, madam. Unless you want to be thrown out."

Clementine's jaw clenched, her hands knotting into tight fists as she struggled to contain the torrent of rage boiling within her, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that dare Rosie to push her further, but she took a deep breath, forcing herself to rein in her temper. "Why did you lock my daughter up? Why did you arrest her?" She demanded.

Rosie's expression turned puzzled. "Me? Lock your daughter up?" She repeated, her tone laced with confusion.

"Don't you know my daughter, Arabella?" Clementine clarified, her voice laced with concern even though she knew Rosie was intentionally frustrating her.

Rosie's expression shifted, a hint of recognition dawning on her face. "Oh. The noise maker from yesterday, right?" She said, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Clementine's eyes flashed with anger. "Why'd you call her that?"

Rosie's tone turned matter-of-fact. "What should I call her? Did I report her to the police for no reason? Didn't you ask what she did? She came out of nowhere, causing a scene,"

"She disturbed my peace, and I had her arrested so she'd learn her lesson," she explained, her voice calm. "So, madam, how am I at fault?"

"You said she lacks manners?"

Rosie's response was blunt. "She does. Didn't she? Did I lie about her? You failed to teach her well, so you should expect this."

"I taught her well!" Clementine defended, her voice rising.

Rosie's expression remained unyielding. "Your problem."

"Come with me to release my daughter right now." Clementine demanded, her tone commanding.

"Do that yourself, Moore madam. It shouldn't be a hard thing to do." Rosie teased.

Clementine's expression turned frustrated. "I already went to the station, but they refused to release her unless you come." She explained.

Rosie's face lit up with a mocking smile. "Awn, I have the power now. I'm now in a position to make orders, and even the Moore has to follow them."

Clementine's face reddened with anger. "I'm not following your orders!"

Rosie's smile grew wider. "Okay, then use your influence to get your daughter out." She suggested, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Clementine snorted. "Do you think I haven't tried that? If it worked, I wouldn't be here trading words with you. It's irritating to even stand here."

Rosie's expression turned mock-sympathetic. "Gosh, I feel your pain… so I'm going to release your daughter… but not now."

"When?" Clementine asked, her voice laced with urgency.

"Today is Tuesday. First thing next week, Monday, I'll visit the police station and make sure they're instructed to release her." Rosie said, her tone casual.

Clementine's eyes widened in dismay. "Next week Monday?!" She repeated, her voice rising. "You'll release my daughter next week?"

Rosie nodded. "Yes. Is it too long?"

"Why wait until next week?" Clementine questioned. "Why won't you release her now?"

Rosie's response was cold. "Why should I rush? You, your daughter, and your entire family mean nothing to me. You're all irrelevant," she said bluntly. "So, why should I inconvenience myself for you?"

"My family is irrelevant?"

Rosie's gaze was unyielding. "Yes."

"How dare you!" Clementine's voice was low and menacing.

Rosie took a step forward up, her smile returning. "If you don't mind, I'll leave you here. Come pick up your daughter at the police station next Monday by 10 am."

Clementine ground her teeth, her hand flying towards Rosie's face in a swift motion. But Rosie was quicker, her fingers wrapping around Clementine's wrist like a vice.

She held it suspended in mid-air for a few tense seconds before releasing her grip and shoving her backward.

Clementine stumbled, her legs buckling beneath her as she crashed to the ground. "Ouch!" She groaned, wincing in pain as she struggled to regain her footing.

Just as she was about to scramble to her feet, Archie's car screeched to a halt nearby. He leaped out, rushing to his mother's side with concern etched on his face. "Are you okay?" He asked, his voice laced with worry.

Clementine nodded, still rubbing her sore spot. "I'm fine," she muttered, her eyes flashing with anger as she pointed at Rosie. "She almost broke my ribs?"

Archie's gaze flicked to Rosie. "What's going on here?"

Clementine's voice cut in, her tone venomous. "Don't waste time talking to her. Just tell her to release your sister. And if she refuses, make her regret it."

Rosie's smile returned, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Your mother's idea sounds like a plan. Why don't you consider it?"

Clementine's gaze locked onto Rosie, her eyes blazing with a deadly intensity. She clutched Archie's hand, her voice barely above a whisper. "Archie, do something."

Archie's gaze shifted to his mother, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. "Mom, I told you not to come here. What are you doing?"

Clementine's eyes fluttered, guilt and surprise warring for dominance. "Hun!" She murmured.

Archie's tone turned firm. "Go home."

Rosie's voice cut in, her tone dripping with malice. "I think you'll find that's not possible, Mr. Moore. Your mother can't go home now."

Clementine and Archie turned to Rosie, their faces mirroring each other's confusion. "Why?" They asked in unison. Before Rosie could respond, a police car pulled up, parking behind Archie's vehicle.

Archie's eyes narrowed. "What's going on, Rosie? Why are the police here?"

A smile curled onto Rosie's lips and she sighed before giving her short, yet complex response. "To arrest your mother."

Archie's face darkened. "Why are you having her arrested?" He questioned, his voice rising against his wish.

"She harassed me." Rosie explained.

Clementine's laughter was laced with scorn. "Arrest me? In front of my son? Do you think he'll just stand by and watch?"

Rosie's smile was unnervingly calm. "I didn't expect him to stand idly by, and I'm curious to see what he'll do."

The police officers approached Rosie. "Good morning."

Rosie inclined her head slightly, her response measured. "Morning," she responded and pointed to Clementine. "That's her. Please, do your job."

Clementine's grip on Archie's arm tightened. "Do something."

Rosie's gaze shifted to Archie, her tone taking on a slightly formal tone. "Mr. Moore, I believe there's a reason for your visit. Perhaps we should discuss it?"

Her eyes locked onto Archie's, a challenge implicit in her gaze. "Shall we go inside or discuss it here?"

Archie's cheeks burned with embarrassment as he shifted uncomfortably, his eyes flicking between Rosie's piercing gaze and the stoic police officers.

He cleared his throat, the sound awkward, and clenched his fist, swallowing his pride, before speaking in a tone that was equal parts frustration and desperation. "What do you want me to do? To stop this…all of this?"