She knew he wouldn't bring harm to any of them, but that's all she knew. Maybe he really didn't care if the news stations camped out on her doorstep, but she sure as heck didn't want that.
He walked about twenty feet from her door, right in the middle of the floor. She held her breath. What was he doing?
He turned, looking straight through the crack of her door, right into her eyes. Then winked.
He threw his head back and hollered.
"Katherine! Where are you, Katherine?"
His shouts rang like a shotgun through the narrow halls, echoing off the doors. Before she could figure out his intentions, doors started opening. She opened hers wider, as she watched her neighbors step into the hallway.
He was causing a scene.
He knew how she felt about public fighting. It had always disgusted her. She'd told him that responsible adults could wait until they got home before yelling at each other.
He turned, as if spotting her for the first time, and staggered over. What was he doing? He weaved up the hallway. He was acting … acting drunk.
Oh my gosh!
"Katherine, there you are. I'm so sorry, baby. I didn't mean to talk to the other girl. You left so suddenly, but you know you're my only one," he slurred.
He was going to get his way. She was seething as she stepped closer to him. Her fear of public displays was greater than her fear of being alone with him.
"It's okay, Joseph. Come inside and we'll talk," she said through clenched teeth. "It's all right, everyone. You can go back inside now," she told her neighbors, who were looking at the scene like they'd just bought tickets to the newest Hollywood premier.
"I didn't kiss her. Really. She kissed me. I want you – only you," he said in a falsely moaning voice.
Katherine heard her sixty-four year old neighbor gasp. Her face flamed as the humiliation got worse. What was he trying to do to her? She knew he'd take it to any level to win, but this was going too far.
"Really, he's not feeling well. I'm so sorry about this," she apologized. "Come with me now, Joseph," she growled as she grabbed his hand and tugged him toward her open door. She had to get him inside before he said anything else, especially something that would make her have to move from the apartments, even the city, for that matter.
"You forgive me then, baby? I need you," he cried, his words still slurred as he went from obnoxious to pathetic.
She was seriously thinking about murder. A life in prison couldn't be worse than the humiliation she was feeling at that moment.
"Of course, Joseph. Now come inside!"
"Ah, baby, I'll rock your world," he gasped as he flashed a lopsided grin and added another stagger for effect.
She heard the couple in 5B laugh at the display. She sent them a glare, and the woman winked at her. Katherine was thrilled her misery was entertainment for her neighbors.
She got to her door and pulled on him, but he leaned against the frame, his sharp eyes looking right into hers, the neighbors unable to see he was anything but drunk.
"Are you sure you want me to come inside?" he mocked her.
"Yes, please, Joseph. It would please me greatly if you'd just get in here," she whispered in a deadly voice.
"Ah, you're so good to me," he slurred as he leaned toward her. She held her hand against his chest, stopping his lips from touching hers by only a couple inches.
"Round one goes to you, okay? Can you stop humiliating me and just come inside," she demanded, hoping her voice was low enough not to carry to her neighbors.
"Yeah, baby, I'll do the striptease for you," he said loudly. She was going to kill him. No doubt about it.
She kicked him hard in the shin, hoping it caused him to stagger for real this time. When he winced, she shoved him through the door and slammed it shut.
She stood two feet away, steam practically shooting out of her ears. She couldn't ever remember being so angry. He'd straightened with his back to the door, not even looking like her kick had affected him in the least, though her own foot was throbbing. There was no way she'd admit it, though.
He seemed to know, as he knew everything else. With a quick movement, he was at her side and lifting her into his arms.
"I warned you, by any means necessary," he said as he carried her to the couch.
"How dare you. Are you trying to ruin my life? Will that make you happy? Because you're doing one hell of a fine job of it. I won't be able to look into any of their eyes again. They think, not only am I some pathetic loser, but that I abuse you, too."
She balled her hand up and punched him in the chest, not affecting him in the least. Now her foot and hand hurt. He sat on the couch with her on his lap.
She struggled against him for a moment before figuring out it was useless. When she felt his arousal pressing into her hip, she knew she'd lost.