Chapter 4 - The Rat in the Corner
Desperation is a dangerous emotion, especially for a man whose illusion of control has completely shattered.
Julian spent the next three days desperately trying to secure loans from friends, business associates, and former college buddies. But rumors in their tight-knit social circle spread fast. Elena had quietly informed their mutual acquaintances that the marriage was over, citing Julian’s financial irregularities.
Every door slammed in Julian’s face. His business partners at the tech consulting firm called an emergency board meeting and suspended his drawing account after receiving a formal subpoena from Marcus Hayes regarding Julian’s company expense reports.
Inside the suburban house, the heat had been turned off because Julian had forgotten to pay the utility bill. Victoria sat huddled in a blanket, weeping tears of rage and self-pity.
“This is all her fault!” Victoria sobbed, rocking back and forth. “That wicked girl ruined your life! You were so good to her!”
“Shut up, Mom!” Julian snapped, pacing the icy living room. “You were the one who told me to put the rag in her face! You said we had to show her who was boss!”
“Because she needed to be humbled!” Victoria yelled back. “She looked down on us! She walked around with her expensive clothes and her university degree like she was better than us!”
Julian didn't answer. He stared at his laptop screen. Delaware Holdings had just sent a final notice of foreclosure. If he didn't clear the $180,000 lien by the end of the week, the house would be auctioned off on the courthouse steps.
A sinister idea began to form in his mind.
Julian knew where Elena was staying—he had tracked her hotel location through an old ride-sharing app account they used to share. He knew she still had the $45,000 cashier’s check in her possession. If he could just get her alone, away from her father and her shark attorney, he could convince her to drop the charges.
Or, if persuasion failed, he could force her to hand over the money.
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That evening, as thick grey rain poured over downtown Chicago, Julian put on a heavy black coat, shoved a duplicate house key and a roll of heavy-duty duct tape into his pocket, and drove toward the boutique hotel.
He was no longer thinking like a businessman or a husband. He was thinking like a cornered rat.
