“And into my private garage.”
Patricia smiled.
“I just explained that I'm using it.”
Marcus looked at the camera mounted above the garage opening.
A small security camera pointed directly into the space.
He looked back at Patricia.
“Why?”
“Because I need somewhere to keep my vehicle.”
“That's what your garage is for.”
“My garage is being renovated.”
Marcus blinked.
“So you decided mine was available?”
Patricia's smile disappeared.
“Don't make this dramatic.”
Marcus almost laughed.
“You drove a hundred-thousand-dollar vehicle into my house.”
“It's not in your house.”
“It is inside my garage.”
“Which is attached to the exterior.”
He looked at her.
“Do you hear yourself?”
Patricia sighed.
“I knew you'd make this difficult.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Because you've always been difficult.”
Marcus took a breath.
His voice remained low.
“You're going to back it out.”
“No.”
“Back it out.”
“I'll leave when I feel like it.”
Marcus stared at her.
Patricia folded her arms.
“And you can't touch my car.”
Marcus looked at the Maybach again.
Then at the garage door.
Then at the welding machine.
The machine had been delivered that morning.
He had spent almost two months researching it.
It was expensive.
Heavy.
Important to him.
But it wasn't dangerous.
It was simply a machine.
He looked back at Patricia.
“Perfect.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Perfect?”
“Leave it there.”
Her expression changed.
Marcus reached into his pocket.
He pulled out the garage remote.
Patricia's eyes followed it.
“What are you doing?”
“My flight leaves in forty minutes.”
She laughed.
“You're not going anywhere.”
Marcus pressed the button.
The garage door began to descend.
Patricia looked upward.
“Hey.”
The door moved lower.
“What are you doing?”
Marcus pressed the button again.
The motor stopped.
The garage remained partially closed.
He looked at her.
“You wanted to use my garage.”
Patricia stared.
“So?”
“So use it.”
She stepped toward him.
“You can't lock me in here.”
Marcus shrugged.
“I didn't.”
“You just closed the door.”
“I lowered it.”
“You know exactly what you're doing.”
“Yes.”
Her face reddened.
“Open it.”
Marcus looked at his watch.
“I'm leaving for the airport.”
“Open the door.”
“I have a flight.”
“Marcus.”
He stopped.
She pointed toward the garage.
“Open it.”
“No.”
Her mouth fell slightly open.
“You're refusing?”