CHAPTER 052: Hard Drives
“You did what?” Luke’s voice is sharp, barely containing his surprise. I can almost picture his brows raised in that signature half–amused, half–incredulous look.
I clear my throat, enjoying the moment far too much. “Moved back into my house, kicked Ryan and Emily
out.”
There’s a beat of silence, and then Luke laughs. The sound is deep and rich, echoing through the phone.”
anyone had asked me to guess what you were up to yesterday, that wouldn’t have made the top
If
hundred. Details please. I’m curious how all this happened.” He sounds almost gleeful.
“Where to begin?” I let out a long sigh. “Well, first, I was locked outside the gate. Because, you know, the gate’s sensor doesn’t recognize your car.”
“And?”
“And then there was Grant–the gate security. He made me look into the camera and state my name like I was some kind of intruder.” I chuckle, remembering it. “But once he saw it was me, he looked like he’d just seen a ghost. Apologized a thousand times before he finally opened the gate.”
As I speak, my hands are hovering over my laptop’s keyboard, staring at my resume. Bullet points, dates, skills–reduced to dry words, like I’m some corporate robot. But the truth? Today, I’m anything but. Today, I’m practically vibrating with energy, a little thrill that won’t settle.
“Then what?” Luke says. “You got in and just kicked them out?”
I feel a rush of satisfaction knowing he’s enjoying this as much as I did.
“Not exactly. They were not at home at the time. I went upstairs, threw their crap in a laundry basket, and
set most of them on fire.”
Luke’s laughter is genuine and deep, and I can’t help but laugh along. “You know, I thought you were all talk when you said you wanted to take back control. But you’re something else, Julie.”
“It was cathartic,” I admit, leaning back and stretching my legs out, sinking into the memory like it’s some glorious scene from a revenge flick. “I felt like I was finally breathing for the first time in a while.”
“And then they showed up, didn’t they?”
“Right on cue,” I say, my lips curling into a wicked smile. “I’m standing there in my nightgown, a taser in one hand, looking every bit the part of a crazed woman on the brink.”
Luke’s laughter nearly chokes him. “Please, stop. I can’t take anymore.” His voice drops, warm and sincere. “That’s amazing. Julie, you’re amazing. You seized a house from its owner?”
I feel my cheeks flush, surprised by the intensity in his voice. “The house is in my name,” I say.
“What?”
“Yeah, Ryan bought the house in my name. Crazy, right? Actually, there are a lot of things he bought in my name. All the documents are sitting pretty in the house’s safe box.”
Luke goes quiet, and I can feel the gears turning in his head. “I didn’t know I’d ever say this, but… in his own messed–up way, he must’ve really loved you, Julie,
CHAPTER 052: Hard Drives
+25 BONUS
“Please,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “If that’s love, I want no part of it.”
“I’m glad you’re saying that,” he says, his voice softening. “For what it’s worth, you’re better off without him.” He pauses, and there’s a hint of hesitation before he continues. “And… maybe sometime, when all this is behind us, you can meet my friends.”
“Friends?” I tease. “You have friends?”
He laughs, deep and easy. “I do. Three quite notorious individuals who are dying to meet the woman behind my smile.”
I try not to let his words get to my head. It’s fruitless, though. “I feel like there are several layers of you, Lucas Martinez. Like an onion. I get to peel them off one layer at a time. One peel for each time I make you happy.”
“Is that so?” he replies, his tone challenging. “Well, I guess you’d better start thinking of ways to make me happy. If you do it right, you might just peel me bald.”
A laugh slips from my lips. “I’ll get to it right away.”
He chuckles, and I hear the faint sound of movement, as if he’s reclining somewhere. “You’re off to a good start. But let’s start small, say… getting that resume done. Still haven’t seen it.”
I glance at my laptop, where my resume stares back at me like a half–done sculpture. “I’m working on it right now, I swear. I just didn’t realize I had so much to put in one file.”
“Alright, work on it faster.”
I smile, leaning back, fingers poised over the keys. “Haven’t told me what you intend to do with it.“,
“You’ll see. I promise it’s nothing crazy. Just something I think you’ll appreciate… in time.”
“Fine,” I say. “I’ll tell you about my day later.”
“I’m holding you to it.”
We hang up, and I’m left alone in the silence of my room, staring at my screen. There’s something surreal about this moment, about the fact that, for the first time in… ever, I feel like I’m in charge. Like I’m not just reacting, not just waiting, hoping things will go my way. No, I make things happen.
My fingers resume their typing, the words flowing with newfound confidence, as if the echoes of my laughter and Luke’s encouragement have somehow made their way into my fingertips. I fill in the details of a career I’d almost forgotten I had, shaping it into a version of myself that I’m proud of, not a pale shadow of someone else’s dreams.
Once I’m done, I hit send and shut down my laptop, feeling lighter, almost buoyant. But there’s still one last thing on my mind.
Security footage.
The morning air is crisp as I step outside. I make my way to the gate where Grant, the security guard, stands at his usual post, looking as uninterested as ever. But as I approach, he straightens, giving me a respectful nod.
“Good morning, Grant,” I say, flashing a polite smile.
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CHAPTER 052: Hard Drives
“Morning, ma’am.” He raises his eyebrows. “Need something?”
“Yes. I’d like to take a look at the CCTV control room and check some of the old footage.”
His eyes widen, just a fraction, but enough to make me notice. “Footage? That’s… that’s a bit out of the ordinary, ma’am. You don’t usually…”
“Oh, I know. But I figured it was high time I take a look at what’s happening under my own roof.” I keep my voice casual. “It won’t take long.”
Grant scratches his head, looking hesitant but eventually nods. He leads me down a side path to the security control room, a nondescript door near the gatehouse. He unlocks it, giving me one last unsure glance before stepping aside.
“Lot of interest in the footage these days,” he mutters as we step inside.
I pause, glancing at him. “Lot of interest? What do you mean?”
“Oh,” he says, suddenly looking like he’s said too much. “Well, just last week, Mrs. O’Brien came by–uh… the older Mrs. O’Brien.”
My stomach clenches. “Adeline? She was here?”
Grant nods, his face a picture of discomfort. “Yup. Asked for the hard drives.”
“The hard drives?”
“Yeah. She took them. All of them.”
