Chapter 13 - Begging at the Gates
It didn't take long for David's desperation to manifest physically.
At 4:00 PM, the intercom system in the kitchen buzzed. The head of Elena’s security detail, a stern man named Marcus, spoke through the speaker.
"Ms. Elena, Ms. Maya. David Harrington is at the front gates. He is demanding to be let in. He says he needs to speak to his wife."
Maya’s heart instinctively spiked with a jolt of old fear, but she forced herself to breathe. She walked over to the security monitor on the wall.
On the grainy black-and-white screen, David looked entirely unhinged. His designer suit was wrinkled, his tie was loosened, and his hair was a mess. He was pounding his fists against the heavy wrought-iron gates, shouting at the cameras.
"Maya! Tell your mother to stop this! I know you're in there! Please, Maya, they're taking everything!"
Elena stood beside her daughter, her arms crossed. "Say the word, and Marcus will have the police arrest him for violating the restraining order."
Maya stared at the screen. The man who had terrorized her, belittled her, and violently pulled her hair in front of hundreds of people was now begging like a stray dog.
She pressed the intercom button. Her voice was steady, projecting clearly through the speakers at the gate.
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"You told me last night that if I didn't learn respect, I would learn humiliation, David. Consider this your first lesson."
She released the button and turned to Marcus. "Call the police."
