“You can’t be serious. Officers, my sister was assaulted a few days ago. She just got out of the hospital on Thursday. Clearly, she’s confused and needs to return to the hospital to have herself assessed for a head injury. This man is someone I’ve never met. He came barging in here without permission while we were talking to her. Sam is her boyfriend. We’re lawyers,” Arish told them.
No doubt he expected the news that they were lawyers would make the cops afraid and defer to him.
“Sir, we’re speaking to the resident of this home. We’ll get to you,” Officer Castle stated.
Dismay morphed across my brother’s face. Sam stood there, glowering.
“Ms. Shah, you said that your brother and Mr. Joshi entered without permission. Please explain,” Castle requested.
I swiftly explained that I thought it was Reign and opened the door without looking, which I knew was stupid. From there, I walked them through what happened until they knocked. The officers were good at keeping their expressions neutral, though Ithought I caught a flicker of disapproval in Officer Sierra’s eyes for just a second.
“Mr. Shah, as a lawyer, you know how unlawful entry looks to the court. The fact that you’re her brother doesn’t permit you to ignore her request,” Officer Sierra stated.
“We only did it because she’s not acting like herself. She called Sam and told him that she was no longer seeing him. When he wanted to talk it through, she refused to see him. He called me, concerned, and we decided to check on her. My sister isn’t acting rationally. Sam and she are a couple,” Arish explained.
“That’s not true. Anastasia and I are dating. Yes, she had gone out with Mr. Joshi a handful of times, but last night, we talked. She agreed to give me and her a chance. That meant she was to tell him there was no future for them. I hoped she’d let me be here when she did it, but she likes to handle her own life,” Reign countered.
“That’s bullshit! You influenced her. Took advantage while she’s confused,” Sam spat.
“Mr. Joshi, you need to remain quiet. Ms. Shah, is what Mr. Caldwell said true?” Castle asked. Both officers were jotting down notes.
“It is. And yes, I foolishly wanted to tell Sam as soon as possible that we wouldn’t be going out anymore, so I called him rather than wait for a face-to-face meeting. I met him through my brother a month ago at a family dinner. They work together. I admit, I’ve been on a few dates with Sam. We had a good time and laughed, but at no point did I agree to be his girlfriend. After Reign and I talked, I didn’t want Sam to be expecting something that wouldn’t happen, so I called to tell him that earlier. You know the rest.”
“Officers, Ms. Shah is leaving out things. I believe it’s because her memory is faulty. We not only went out, but weare in a sexual relationship. It was understood that we’d be getting married. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have slept together,” Sam announced confidently.
I felt Reign’s body tense. I gasped and took a step toward Sam, but I was stopped by Officer Sierra’s hand coming up.
“That’s a damn lie, and you know it. There is nothing wrong with my memory. I never slept with you. We haven’t even kissed. And I certainly haven’t agreed to marry you,” I hissed.
“Yes, you did. Sam told me. He wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t think he was taking advantage of you. He told me last week,” Arish chimed in.
Before I could call them goddamn liars, Officer Castle interjected himself back into the conversation.
“We’re here to deal with whether this is unlawful entry or not. Ms. Shah, do you want Mr. Shah and Mr. Joshi to leave? And for Mr. Caldwell to stay? Do you feel you need medical help?”
I glared at my smug brother and his friend.
“I do want them to leave. And if they come back, I will call the police again. I want zero contact with either of them. As for medical attention, I don’t need it. I’m totally in control of my faculties and able to make my own decisions. Mr. Caldwell is the only one I want to remain.”
That seemed to end it. Despite Arish and Sam protesting, declaring they would report the officers for not doing their duty, and pretending they were here to protect me, they were shown out by the cops. After they left, Sierra handed me her card.
“If they return, please call if they keep bothering you, even if only by phone or text. You may want to get a lawyer and have an order of protection filed with a judge. They believe the fact that they’re lawyers makes them exempt. Watch yourself,” she said softly.
I took the card and thanked them both, as did Reign. When the door shut, I turned to him. He said nothing, just opened his arms. I walked into them. They closed around me, being careful not to squeeze me too tightly. He kissed the top of my head. As we stood there, I felt the need to reassure him.
“Sam and I never slept together, I swear, Reign. He lied. We never even kissed.”
“Shh, you don’t need to tell me that again. I believe you. It pissed me off when he lied. He’s trying to stake and keep a claim that he was never given. I need you to listen to something.”
He led me to the couch and brought me down onto his lap. Reign removed his cell phone from his pocket. After pressing a few times, I heard voices come from it. It was Sam and Reign. As I listened, my anger grew. This recording was from that day at the hospital. To hear Sam speak those words about how he’d change me to be what he and my family wanted made me flush from ice cold to raging hot. When it ended, Reign disconnected.
“What made you record it?” I asked.
“Honestly, I’m not sure, just a feeling of unease. Sam looked away at a bunch of people exiting the elevator after he approached me, so I hit record. He has no clue I have this. But I think it’s clear he conspired at least somewhat with your brother to fool you into falling for him in the hopes you’d marry, and then he could spring his true self on you.”
“Why didn’t you let me hear this last night?”
“I wanted to be sure you chose me without outside influence. I debated whether to let you hear this, but after today’s incident, you had to know that you made the right choice.”
