Chapter 6 - THE NEW APARTMENTMy new apartment on the seventh floor of a sleek downtown high-rise smelled of fresh paint, polished hardwood, and absolute freedom.
As I unpacked my laptop and set it on my new glass desk, my phone began to buzz furiously on the counter.
Call from: Mother. Call from: Father. Call from: Derek. Call from: Unknown (Likely Derek's furious creditors).
I silenced the ringer, walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked out over the sparkling city skyline. For the first time in three years, there was no knot of dread in my stomach. No waiting for the next emergency call, no panicking over my parents' looming bankruptcy, no walking on eggshells to avoid setting off Derek's explosive ego.
My phone buzzed with a text message from Sophie:
“Just got a call from your father's attorney. They are in full-blown panic mode. Derek tried to move his bags inside anyway, and the local police were called for trespassing. The house is officially locked down pending our injunction hearing on Monday morning. Enjoy your weekend, Naomi. You won.”
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I smiled, poured myself a glass of crisp white wine, and toasted to the empty room.
The game had just begun, and for the first time in my life, all the winning cards were in my hand.
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