Chapter 3 - The Morning After
At seven o'clock on New Year’s Day, the morning sun reflected brilliantly off the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Inside the penthouse, Ryan woke up on the plush Italian leather sofa with a pounding headache, surrounded by dried wine stains and shattered crystal.
Grant sat at the mahogany dining table, casually sipping coffee from a gold-rimmed porcelain mug that I had bought in Paris.
"She’s just throwing a pregnancy tantrum," Grant sneered, waving his hand dismissively toward the mess on the floor.
"Claire will be back by noon begging for forgiveness once she realizes she can't manage this place without a husband."
"She's a corporate push-over, Ryan. You handled her correctly last night."
Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the private elevator hissed open with a loud, authoritative click.
Four uniformed Denver Police officers stepped into the foyer, flanked by a court-appointed process server wearing an orange high-visibility vest.
Ryan stood up abruptly, dropping his phone onto the coffee table as his face turned pale white.
"Ryan Bennett?" the lead officer asked, pulling a set of heavy steel handcuffs from his tactical belt.
"You are under arrest for second-degree felony assault, domestic violence, and false imprisonment."
Grant sprang out of his chair, his face turning bright red as he slammed his coffee mug onto the table.
"This is my son's home! You have no right to trespass here!" Grant roared, pointing a trembling finger at the officers.
The process server stepped forward, handing Grant a thick stack of legal documents stamped with a red district court seal.
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"Grant Bennett, you are hereby served with an emergency order of protection and an immediate notice of temporary lockout," the process server announced cold.
"You have fifteen minutes to gather your personal identification and leave this property before you are arrested for criminal trespassing."
