It didn’t.
At seven that evening, someone started pounding on Tessa’s apartment door.
Tessa looked at me.
“You expecting anyone?”
“No.”
The pounding came again.
Then a woman’s voice.
“Olivia! Open the damn door!”
I knew the voice.
Mason’s cousin, Savannah.
Tessa whispered, “How does she know you’re here?”
I had no idea.
“Open up!”
Savannah slammed her palm against the door.
“You destroyed his entire family over a stupid dish towel!”
Several neighbors stepped into the hallway.
Savannah got louder.
“She took their money and disappeared! She’s a scammer!”
Tessa pulled out her phone.
“I’m calling the cops.”
I stood behind the locked door.
“You want to tell the whole building what happened, Savannah?”
She stopped.
I raised my voice.
“Tell them Mason threw a grease-soaked rag in my face before breakfast and told me I was now responsible for cooking and cleaning for his parents.”
