Running out of options, Sarah began to scream at the top of her voice, calling for help. Her husband was still at the landing, trying to gain access into the room by kicking the door frantically. She could hear her daughter screaming too from under the staircase.
The drama continued for twenty minutes, with Edward almost gaining entrance into the room. When suddenly the wail of police sirens punctuated their chaos. Edward stopped kicking the bedroom door as Amy ran into the living room. She opened the door and ran into the arms of a female police officer that was approaching their building with her partner.
After securing Amy in their squad car, the two officers returned to the house with their weapons drawn. "Come out with your hands on your head" the male officer ordered, pointing his pistol towards the entrance. Few seconds later, Edward opened the main door and stepped out with his hands raised above his head.
The male cop cuffed Edward and made him sit down on the step in front of the house. The female police officer went in to secure the building and then returned a couple of minutes later with Sarah in tow.
They were both interviewed briefly in turns by the cops. Edward insisted they weren't fighting. Just a "light family argument, officer" he said. Sarah on her part told the cops all that had happened since she got home that night.
Amy was reunited with her mother, while the cops left with Edward in their squad car still in handcuffs. Sarah was asked to report in the police station the next day if she wanted to press charges against Edward. She didn't. Though out of love with Edward, he was the father of their daughter and Sarah wanted him to be available for her. This was also the main reason she was still with him.
Sarah tried her best to pacify Amy. She made her dinner and climbed into bed with her when she dozed off. Holding her all through the night so she wouldn't wake up alone and afraid.
As they dozed off, Sarah's mind wandered off to Ethan and the incredible time she had with him earlier that evening. "Was it worth all this drama?" Sarah asked herself. She only wanted some spark and fun in her life again. But was it worth the price of her family?
***
At the station, Edward was booked and thrown into a dingy cell that was already overpopulated. Still fuming, Edward kept to himself. But unfortunately for him his new roommates were not interested in silence. They took turns telling the story of how they got to be spending the night in jail.
Edward wasn't interested in their conversation, but the cell was so small he couldn't help hearing their stories. He knew most of them were highly exaggerated and some were outright lies. The biggest guy in the cell was being held for possession of hard drugs, but he swore the officer planted it in his car. But judging by the tattoos on his body Edward knew he was lying.
Another guy named Ethan who claimed to be a billionaire, said he was being held because his sports car intimidated a police officer. He swore he had just finished having steamy sex with the thickest married woman he ever saw, and was driving home slowly to relive the experience when 'officer killjoy' pulled him over.
Suddenly Edward became interested in the conversation.
***
The next morning Sarah got up early and cleaned the house. She made waffles and fresh orange juice just the way Amy likes it. Sarah told funny stories to cheer her daughter up. But Amy who was usually a jolly child could only afford an occasional smile. They both ate in silence, after which they did the dishes.
Sarah dropped Amy off in her BFF Holly's house with her husband's car, before heading to the station to bail Edward. She hoped a night in jail would have calmed him down.
Since she wasn't pressing charges, Edward was released and they were both warned against disturbing the neighborhood with their 'light family arguments'. They thanked the police officer on duty and left.
On their way home, Edward said nothing. He remained quiet all through the ride. This got Sarah worried. If there was anything that scares her more than a ranting Edward, it was a silent Edward. When silent, Edward could think up the most devilish ideas and carry them out.
The moment they arrived home Edward got out of the car and went straight to the bathroom. He shaved, took a shower, changed his clothes and grabbed his car key from the bowl on the kitchen counter and was already out of the door before Sarah could offer him something to eat.
She knew he was off to get himself drunk and may not return home that night. She was right. He didn't return home that night. Sarah slept in Amy's bedroom for the second night in a row.
On Sunday morning, Sarah and Amy had their breakfast at a deli nearby before heading to the park to get some fresh air. Amy liked being outdoors. There weren't many people at the park. Sarah and Amy found a vacant bench under a tree and sat down on it.
A little dog came to play with Amy, wagging its tail as she rubbed its head. Sarah leaned on the bench and began to o flip through the Vogue magazine she had come with. But she wasn't able to concentrate. Her thoughts kept drifting to Ethan. She was beginning to have feelings for him, and this got her worried. She knew she was older than him, and she was married.
Was she willing to risk all she had, for a playboy who was probably out having the time of his life with another woman this instant?
***
Early Saturday morning, Ethan Frank said goodbye to his new friends as he was released to Thomas Bennett, his lawyer. He had put a call through to him last night the moment he arrived at the station. Bennett had asked him to sit tight and remain calm while he pulled some strings. This was not the first time the old man was bailing Ethan out of trouble.
Once they were out of the police station, Bennett pulled up to the shoulder of the road and parked his car. Ethan knew he was about to give him a lecture, and he wasn't interested in it. What he wanted now was a cup of coffee, a shower and then sex.
Ethan knew he was a sex addict, and he wasn't ashamed of it. He believes everyone has their weakness. For some it was drugs; for him it was women. He didn't see any reason why he should stop. He could have any woman he liked, and he liked them in various shapes and sizes.
"You're no longer a child, Ethan. You're now a man. You can't continue to go about picking fights with officers and getting arrested like a common criminal. You are now the CEO of a multibillion dollar empire. An empire your father worked his ass out to build, sustain and hand over to you.
"You are like a son to me Ethan and I care about you. Your father was not just a client to me, he was my friend. I literally watched you grow up into the fine looking young man that you are right now, and I want what's best for you. I think you should find yourself a wife and settle down."
Ethan looked at his lawyer like he was crazy, shook his head and closed his eyes. "Thanks Bennett, but I'm fine".