Chapter 2 - The Thirty-Minute Ultimatum
I took my mother’s trembling hand and walked straight through the sliding glass patio doors into the air-conditioned living room.
Khloe was stretched across the Italian leather sectional with her phone, scrolling through social media, surrounded by shopping bags from high-end boutiques. Julian stood near the wet bar, casually refilling his scotch.
Khloe looked up first. Her eyes widened, her phone slipping from her fingers onto the sofa cushion.
“Natalie?”
Julian froze, the decanter hovering over his glass.
“What are you doing here?” Khloe stammered, scrambling upright. “You said your flight wasn't until next month!”
Julian’s eyes darted between Khloe and me, recognition finally cutting through his alcoholic haze. “Wait. You’re the sister from Dubai?”
I stepped into the center of the hardwood floor, keeping my mother gently behind me.
“I’m the sole owner of this house,” I said, my voice dead, flat, and steady. “And I just heard you call my mother the maid.”
Julian gave an uneasy, theatrical laugh, adjusting his silk collar. “Come on, Natalie. You’re taking that out of context. It was an inside joke. Your mother likes staying active. It gives her purpose.”
I looked at him with eyes of sub-zero steel. “You have thirty minutes to pack your bags and get out.”
Khloe shot up from the sofa, her face flushing crimson. “You can’t do that! We’ve lived here for two years! Mom let us stay! This is our family home too!”
Julian stepped beside his wife, puffing out his chest with newfound arrogance.
“She’s right,” Julian sneered, taking a slow, deliberate sip of his scotch. “Texas tenant law protects established residents. We have mail delivered here. We have residency standing. You can’t just fly in from the desert and throw people into the street without formal legal notice.”
He smirked, looking at my travel-stained jeans and messy hair.
“So why don’t you calm down, take an Uber to a hotel, and we can discuss this like civilized adults tomorrow morning?”
My mother’s hand tightened on mine in fear. Julian mistook my silence for defeat.
I looked down at my watch: 4:30 PM.
“You think you’re tenants?” I asked softly.
May you like
Khloe crossed her arms. Julian gave an arrogant shrug.
I nodded once. “Then let’s see what the law says by nine tonight.”
