He Treated Me Like A Dog

Chapter 4

He ended the call and looked at me cautiously. "Claudia, let me take you home."

I shook my head. "Dad, I need to collect my things first. Malcolm shouldn't be there at this time of day. I'll get my stuff and leave."

He hesitated, then nodded.

The car stopped outside Malcolm's apartment building, and I went upstairs alone.

When I opened the door, Malcolm was sitting on the couch, looking grim.

Nadine sat on the carpet, playing with the puppy.

At the sound of the door, Malcolm glanced up at me, then lowered his head again like a sulking kid.

Nadine paused, then burst out laughing.

"Back already?" She picked up the puppy and tilted her head at me, her voice full of mockery. "I thought you'd hold out a few more days. You've disappointed me. Then again, Malcolm froze your card. If you don't come back, what are you going to live on? Thin air?"

I ignored her and went straight into the bedroom, packing my belongings into a suitcase one by one.

"What are you doing?" Nadine peered in from the bedroom doorway. "You're leaving?"

Malcolm came over and leaned against the doorframe, frowning impatiently. "Do you really have to take it this far?"

I finished packing in silence and got ready to leave.

Suddenly, the puppy squirmed free of Nadine's arms, lunged at me, and bit down on my pant leg.

Startled, I screamed and stumbled back two steps.

With teeth still clamped tight, the puppy tore furiously at the fabric.

I caught a whiff of the puppy's fur, and my nose instantly began to itch. I struggled to breathe.

"Get the puppy off me!" I struggled desperately and screamed, "Nadine, take the puppy away!"

She stood in the doorway with her arms folded, doubling over with laughter. "What are you scared of? The puppy doesn't bite."

Breathing was getting harder. My voice shook. "I'm allergic."

"Allergic? So dramatic." Nadine sounded utterly unconcerned. "Oh, the puppy likes you. That's all. I guess puppies recognize their own kind right away."

I snapped my head up to look at Malcolm.

He stood beside Nadine with his hands in his pockets, his face blank, as he watched the puppy bite and tear at my clothes. He didn't say a word.

I understood. He was getting back at me for slapping him that morning.

I shook my leg as hard as I could, and the puppy finally let go.

With a hole torn in my pant leg, I collapsed onto the floor, my face deathly pale.

Nadine covered her mouth and smiled mockingly. "Watching two dogs fight is so much fun. Why did you stop playing, Claudia?"

I couldn't take it anymore. I got up, raised my hand, and slapped her hard.

She froze in shock, clutching her face and staring at me in disbelief.

Rage darkened Malcolm's face as he seized my wrist a second later.

"Are you done?" he demanded angrily. "You started acting crazy this morning, blocked me, and hit me. Now you're hitting Nadine, too? What the hell do you want?"

He flung my hand aside.

I lost my balance and stumbled.

"Apologize to Nadine right now," he ordered. "Stop threatening me by running away. I'm telling you, Claudia, without me, you have nothing. You'll spend the rest of your life making coffee."

At that, I gave a cold laugh.

"Malcolm," I said slowly, my voice calm. "Where does that confidence come from?"

He frowned and was about to answer when his phone rang.