Chapter 2 - Setting The Steel Trap
I stood in the shadowy hallway for what felt like an absolute eternity, watching the destruction of my decade-long marriage.
Every single sacrifice I had ever made for this man flashed brilliantly behind my eyes.
I saw the freezing nights in our old apartment, the endless hours I worked to pay off his debts, and the blind trust I had freely given him.
And then, I looked at the heavy, vintage steel-enforced door that separated us.
When I designed this cellar, the contractor had specifically warned me about the extreme security of this particular door.
It was built to protect hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rare, collectible wines.
It featured an electronic keypad on the outside and a heavy, mechanical deadbolt that could only be engaged or disengaged from the exterior hallway.
If you locked it from the outside, the room became an absolute, impenetrable vault.
I slowly, silently reached out my trembling hand and grabbed the heavy iron handle of the door.
With one swift, completely silent motion, I pulled the heavy door shut.
The thick rubber seals engaged perfectly, immediately cutting off all sound from the inside.
Before they even had a single second to react to the sudden darkness, I threw the heavy steel deadbolt into place.
The loud, definitive clack of the metal lock echoed like a gunshot through the silent basement.
I immediately keyed in my master passcode on the electronic pad, completely overriding the system and disabling the interior release button.
They were officially trapped inside a climate-controlled, soundproof cage of their own making.
A few seconds later, I saw the heavy brass handle on the door jiggle frantically.
Then, it began to shake violently as Marcus threw his entire body weight against the unyielding steel.
I could faintly hear his muffled, panicked shouts vibrating through the thick metal.
He was probably screaming my name, begging me to open the door, desperately trying to formulate a pathetic lie.
I calmly took a step back, admiring the beautiful, rustic exterior of my wine cellar.
I reached into the pocket of my slacks and pulled out my smartphone.
My hands were no longer shaking; they were as steady as a surgeon's.
I opened the security camera application on my phone.
I had installed high-definition cameras inside the cellar two years ago to monitor the temperature gauges and security of the inventory.
The live feed instantly popped up on my bright screen.
I watched in crystal-clear definition as Marcus pounded his fists against the door, his face red with absolute panic.
Chloe was huddled in the corner, clutching her clothes to her chest, looking completely terrified.
They looked exactly like rats trapped in a very expensive, very beautiful maze.
I smiled, a cold, empty expression that did not reach my eyes.
I was not going to let them out.
May you like
Not yet.
Not until they had an audience to witness their spectacular, humiliating downfall.
