Claire Bennett unlocked the heavy front door of her high-rise home after a long trip.
She dropped her leather travel bags right onto the shiny hardwood floor in the foyer.
The afternoon sun streamed straight through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking Manhattan.
Claire took a deep breath because she was so glad to finally be back home.
Then she heard a soft rustling noise coming from the master bedroom hallway.
Her body went completely still as she reached tightly for her leather shoulder bag.
She thought the maintenance crew was inside her apartment doing routine plumbing repairs.
An older woman stepped smoothly out of the quiet hallway into the bright light.
Lorraine wore a floating beige satin robe that belonged to the luxury penthouse suit.
Her gray hair was neatly styled as if she owned the whole entire floor.
Claire stared at her stepmother with total disbelief shaking her whole chest area.
Lorraine: You need to leave. Daniel told me this apartment is mine now.
Claire: Lorraine? What are you doing in my apartment?
Lorraine smoothed down her silk sleeves without showing a single bit of panic.
She smiled with cold confidence while looking down her nose at her stepdaughter.
Lorraine: Daniel gave me this place. You're the one who shouldn't be here.
Claire felt her face hot with sudden anger and huge rising confusion today.
Her husband Daniel had been acting completely distant for the past three months.
He had urged her to visit her sick aunt out in Chicago last week.
Now his greedy mother was standing inside her primary residence holding a wine glass.
Claire gripped her sleek black smartphone with white knuckles and dialed security fast.
Claire: Building security? This is Claire Bennett in Unit 12B. Someone is inside my residence without permission!
Lorraine: You're bluffing! Daniel said he already took care of the title!
Claire: My name is the only name listed on the original purchase contract.
Lorraine: We will just see about that once my lawyer arrives here!
Claire lowered her phone after the front desk officer promised quick assistance up.
Her heart beat wild against her ribs like a trapped bird inside a cage.
She knew Daniel was broke after his failed restaurant business venture last winter.
He had begged her to sign a joint mortgage agreement two months ago.
Claire had flatly refused to put her personal trust fund property at risk.
She bought this luxury sky home long before she ever met Daniel online.
Lorraine walked right past her toward the spacious open concept granite kitchen island.
She poured herself a full glass of cold expensive white wine from the fridge.
Lorraine: Daniel told me you agreed to step aside for family peace.
Claire: Daniel lied to you just like he has lied to everyone else.
Lorraine: He is my son and he promised me a comfortable city retirement!
Claire: He cannot give away property that belongs entirely to my family estate!
The heavy elevator bell chimed softly out in the private entry hallway space.
Claire stepped back toward the main entry door to meet the head guard.
She needed to clear this intruder out before Daniel returned home tonight.
Her stepmother took another slow sip of her drink with supreme smug arrogance.
Claire knew a massive storm was about to hit her entire marital life.