Chapter 6

POV: House for sale

She sat in the realtor's office staring at the offer in her hand in shock. “I don't know what to say.”

“Don't look a gift horse in his mouth,” the woman said as she sucked deep on her vaping apparatus, blowing eucalyptus scented smoke around her head. “I had a call this morning telling me the buyer wanted something in your neighborhood, with your specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms, it was a kismet situation. He made a full cash offer. Closed tomorrow. All you have to do is sign on the line and find a way to get your furniture out by tomorrow. Do you have an alternative place to go?”

She looked at her brother beside her and nodded, “yes. My brother and his wife are going to put me up. I've been in the house six weeks now, since I found out about his affair and I need to get out. It's too full of horrible memories.” She pouted her lips at Fred,” can we get everything out in a day?”

“I swear, if it takes me and three moving companies and all our friends and family the next twenty -four hours I will get everything you want out of the house,” I promise.” Fred clasped her hand and looked at the promise of half million dollars in her hand. “Take it and run.”

She looked at the realtor and nodded,” where do I sign?”

An hour later she had deposited the money in her personal checking account via wire transfer and was back standing in the middle of the foyer of the home she had once considered her dream home. Her glass castle of floor to the window ceilings in the pricy suburban neighborhood had been her fairytale come to life. Now as she stood looking around, it felt very much like a prison.

She looked around sadly and then noted the mess made in the living room and remembered the second part of her plan. She looked at Fred, cleared her throat nervously,” I think someone was here.” She felt bad lying to him, but she couldn't implicate him in fraud and filing false police reports. She hasn't even told Janka or Elise about her offer to Fernando to break into her house and steal her laptop. She made the decision in the heat of the moment, half asleep when the man had called.

“It couldn't have been Merl because he's in the middle of his wedding vows.” Fred grimaced distastefully. “ I can't believe our mother expected us both to be there to support Lola.”

“She gave me shit saying Lola's condition is delicate due to her pregnancy. You can go if you want.” She shot her brother a look as she looked around the trash room. Who ever Fernando had sent made it look good. “I think we need to call the police and step outside. “I don't know what has been touched and what hasn't been.”

“It's a good idea to call.” Also I’d rather rip my limbs off and feed them to the Williams estate pinschers than support those two assholes.” Fred said as he dragged her out of the house in a rush, looking over his shoulder worriedly. “I hope nobody is still in there.” He dialed 911 and reported the break in. It was an influential neighborhood and the wealthy were always carter to, therefore the police were on their way.

“How strange is it that a secret purchaser of your home paid full asking in cash?”

“Very.” She said nothing more and looked away with a smirk.”

“What?” I know that grin. What are you hiding?”

“I may have tipped off a certain developer of the house going on the market. One who despises Merlin’s family.

“Why?” He was stunned.”

Lola wants the house. For the last three weeks I have been getting texts and phone calls from both her and Merlin asking me to sell it to them. Merlin offered me twice the market value for it. I haven't answered a single message or call. I deleted them but he's persistent.

“He offered a million?”

“He did.” She wants to raise her child in my house and he's giving her whatever she wants. I don't know what I ever did to her to make her want to hurt me the way she does that whatever I have, she wants it. She's been jealous of the house since I first moved in. She used to say it all the time that it was far too much house for a simple artist. I loved the natural light in it. Now, I'll do everything to make it never fall into her hands.

“Do you think the guy who bought it will sell it back to them?” This could be all for nothing. If he hates him he may simply make him pay three times asking to get it.”

“He told me you can drive the bulldozer, but it has to be when they come back on Saturday.

“Why?” Fred was astounded.”

“Close enough Merlin can almost taste it. “I'm sure their first call would be to pressure me to sell it again and the buyer wants to Livestream him bulldozing it.”

“Who is this guy?”

“Nichol Fernando.” Her brother's silence made her look curious in his direction. “You know him?”

“Yes. “How did you know of him?”

“Merlin complained about him all the time. I simply went to Merlin's enemy and told him I was putting the house that Merlin wanted on the market and he took the bait. Why?” You look like you saw a ghost.”

“No ghost,” I'm surprised you found a way to get to him. He has more money than Merlin would ever dream of having and he's known for taking what he wants without asking. My company has been offered the opportunity to interview and do the interior design for one of Fernando's new offices. It's where I was the week your husband confessed his indiscretion,” he said the word sneeringly. It was the word they all mocked the most. “He had five different companies on the premises at the same time to pitch his ideas. I have never met him personally though.”

“Did you get it?”

“He whittled down to two companies: mine and another one from Los Angeles. I think the main reason I'm still in it is because his head office is still here in Manchester, which is weird to be honest. The man has more money than God and instead of New York or LA or any European city, he stays here in Manchester, New Hampshire.”

“It's so funny.” She said suddenly.” Merlin has hated this guy for months, and you were off doing a bud for him, and we didn't connect the dots.”

“Merlin had never been the one to ask about my business endeavors. He thinks interior design is a waste of time. God, I can't believe you stayed with him for five years.”

“I loved him,” she whispered quietly. I know he was a dick head to most people, but he treated me like his princess. He took care of me and made the decision and,” she exhaled, janka thinks I have daddy issues since dad died so young. Merl took over every aspect of life and made me his pampered princess. I gravitated to it because it's what dad would have done.”

“Dad definitely spoiled us.” He said quietly,” and guess it made sense.”

“Do you know in all the times we were together we never really had an argument.” I've thought long and hard about how I was buildsided by this because we never even argued. It dawned on me that I gave in every single time to avoid his disappointment in me. I always wanted his approval and his love.”

Her phone rang and it was an unknown number. She answered it wondering if it was perhaps Fernando calling. Instead, it was her sister's high pitched voice screaming and winning in her ear.”

“Why are you ruining my day?” You and Fred are supposed to be here. Mom is the only one from our family here. Just mummy, not one aunt, uncle or cousins here.” Do you know how embarrassing this is for me and Merl?” Get your ass over here_”

She hung up on her and felt the shaky breath escape her lips to her temple and hung her close. Why is she so awful?”

“Who knows but I'm done with her and Mom. Dad would be horrified by their behavior.”

“I'm sorry you're caught up in this.”

“I'm sorry I didn't do more to stop it.” He sighed and then looked towards the street.” The police are here. Let's figure out the next step then go for dinner. “You and me? Your treat since you made a mint?”

She giggled at his teasing and nodded. “I'll like that.” She braced herself to put on the performance of a lifetime as the officer approached. Everything was riding on this.