Chapter 4 - The In-Laws' PanicThe morning sun had barely cleared the horizon when my phone began to vibrate incessantly.
I was staying at a boutique hotel downtown, refusing to go back to my condo just yet in case Diego posted bail. I looked at the screen. Ten missed calls from Victoria. Five from Richard.
Finally, a text message popped up from Richard:
Valerie. We need to handle this like family. If you press charges, you will destroy Diego's career. We are prepared to offer you a financial settlement of $500,000 to drop the charges and sign a non-disclosure agreement. Do not make an enemy of us.
I stared at the screen, a laugh bubbling up in my throat. Five hundred thousand dollars. To them, my dignity, my safety, and the blood spilled on their dining room floor were worth less than half a million dollars.
I forwarded the screenshot directly to Clara.
"Add this to the harassment file," I typed.
An hour later, Clara called me. "Val, the temporary restraining order has been signed by the judge. Diego is currently being held on a $100,000 bond. His parents are trying to bail him out, but the court has ordered that he cannot come within 500 feet of you, your workplace, or your condominium. If he does, he goes straight back to jail with no bail."
"Good," I said. "What about my condo?"
"I've already contacted a private security firm," Clara replied. "They are installing a state-of-the-art security system at your Capitol Hill unit today. Smart locks, facial recognition cameras, and reinforced door frames. If any of them so much as breathe near your building, the police will be alerted instantly."
"Thank you, Clara. I’m heading to my office. I have a major presentation to prepare for, and I won't let these people ruin my career."
As I hung up, a knock sounded at my hotel room door. My heart leaped into my throat. Had they found me?
May you like
I walked slowly to the door, looking through the peephole.
It was Natalie.
