blare with my ringtone. I turn to my car’s screen display, reading Rebecca’s name.
I press the green phone icon to answer, not taking my eyes off the road. “Hey, I’m nearly there.”
“Evie?”
Hearing the panic in her voice, I tense, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “What’s wrong?”
“You need to get home. Some guys are here and they’re throwing your stuff all over the front garden.”
“What?” I screech, pressing the accelerator down as my heart races. “Why?”
“Hey, have some fucking respect,” Rebecca screeches. “Evie, just get here. Safely.”
She ends the call and I grip the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white, fear paralyzing me.
I don’t know how I get home without wrecking my car, but I do, and when I pull up outside, my breath catches in my throat. All my belongings are out on the grass. Rebecca is yelling at a guy with a clipboard. And some of my neighbours have come out to see what is going on whilst some are hanging out the windows, avid interest on their expressions.
My hands begin to shake as I step out of the car. Hearing my car door slam, Rebecca whirls around, her face red as she storms over to me.
“I’m sorry. There was nothing I could do. I got all your clothes in a suitcase before they ordered me out,” she explains, pointing to the case by the lamppost.
“What is happening?”
I watch as a guy comes out carrying a glass figurine that belonged to my grandmother. I race forward, snatching it out of his hand. “What are you doing? You can’t do this.”
A guy with a bald patch on top of his head walks over to me, his large, round stomach shaking with each step. Sweat pours down the side of his face as he pulls at the collar of his black shirt. “Are you Miss Wilson?”
I scowl at him. “What are you doing?”
“We had a call from the owner of this building. You were given the eviction notice and legal papers to leave the premises and ignored them.”
“Even if that were true, she has squatters’ rights,” Rebecca snaps.
“Ah, here is Mr Saunders,” he announces.
“Mr Morrison, I hope everything is going smoothly?” Mr Saunders asks, not looking my way.
“Kind of,” he replies, glaring at Rebecca.
“Mr Saunders, what is the meaning of all this? Why have you entered my flat without my permission and removed my belongings?”
His usual easy-going nature isn’t there, and in its place is a man I don’t recognise. “Miss Wilson, it came to my attention that you were residing here.”
“You knew that,” I argue, rubbing at the tightness in my chest.
This is bad. Really bad.
He clears his throat, looking over my shoulder. “Your mum is the one who leased my property, not you. Therefore, you are trespassing.”
“But you knew,” I yell, tears gathering in my eyes.
“You had three-months’ notice, Miss Wilson. I’m legally allowed to do this.”
“What is going on? Why are you doing this? You knew I was here. I told you when Mum got taken in sick and I transferred the direct debit to my account. And I’ve never received any eviction notice.”
“I have records you received them,” he replies sharply, and I feel Rebecca step closer to me, one hand at the bottom of my back.
“You mean you received a fat pay-cheque from a Mr Black to kick her out.”
I inhale sharply, taking a step back. It’s true. I can read it on his face. “How could you do this to me? Where am I meant to go? You’ve thrown everything out here,” I cry out, watching as a man drops a washing machine. I wince, closing my eyes as the metal clangs and rattles. I know it’s broken.
“That is not my concern. Please remove your belongings before I have to call the police to report you’ve been fly tipping.”
“You put it there,” I angrily snap out, clenching my fists.
I watch as he gives a chin lift to someone over my shoulder before stepping away. I turn, finding the bane of my existence watching on with a smug smirk, leaning against the tree.
“You!” I screech, tears pouring down my cheeks as I race over to him.
He steps away from the tree, bracing himself. And I see the flicker of surprise when I don’t stop and instead press both of my palms against his chest and shove. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“You arsehole,” Rebecca hisses, slapping him around the face.
“I advise you not touch me again,” he bites out, and two men in jeans