“Yes,” I replied.
“Are you safe?” she asked.
“I’m safe,” I said calmly. “They’re my family. They came in and threatened extortion and then attempted a fraudulent business filing from my guest network.”
Officer Ramirez’s gaze shifted to my father.
“Sir,” she said, “step back from the counter.”
My father lifted his chin.
“This is a family conversation,” he snapped. “She’s overreacting.”
Officer Chen didn’t blink.
“Step back,” he repeated, calmer and firmer.
My father hesitated just long enough to show he was calculating whether the badge would still bend for him. It didn’t. He stepped back. Officer Ramirez looked at Elliot.
“Who are you?” she asked.
Elliot held up his ID.
“Business filings compliance,” he said. “I’m here on a suspected fraudulent change-of-control submission tied to the business.”
Officer Ramirez nodded once, then turned to me.
“Do you want them trespassed from your property?” she asked.
I didn’t look at my mother. I didn’t look at Laya. I looked at my father.
“Yes,” I said evenly. “And I want it documented that he attempted to force me to sign over fifteen percent of my business.”
Officer Chen pulled out a small notepad.
“What was the threat?” he asked.
“My father said, ‘Sign over fifteen percent or I call your landlord tonight,’” I said. “Then he attempted to file a change-of-control request from my guest Wi-Fi when the landlord threat failed.”
Officer Ramirez’s eyes tightened.
“You have cameras?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “And the registered agent portal has the filing attempt log with timestamps.”
Officer Chen turned to my father.
“Sir, do you have identification?” he asked.
My father scoffed.
“I’m not required.”
Officer Ramirez cut in, calm but sharper.
“Sir, you are being accused of attempted fraud and extortion on a business premises. Provide identification or you will be detained while we verify.”
My father’s face went a shade darker.
“This is outrageous,” he snapped, then reached into his coat and yanked out his wallet like he wanted everyone to see how insulted he was. Officer Chen took the ID, glanced at it, then looked back up at my father.
“Daniel Pierce,” he read aloud. “Okay.”
My mother’s smile returned, thin and poisonous.
“Now tell her to stop,” she said to the officers. “She’s unstable.”
Officer Ramirez didn’t look at her. She looked at me.
“Ma’am, do you want a formal trespass warning issued?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said.
Officer Ramirez nodded and turned to my father.
“Sir, you are now formally trespassed from this business. If you return, you will be arrested.”
My father’s eyes flashed.
“This is my daughter,” he snapped. “You can’t—”
“I can,” Ramirez replied. “And I am.”
She gestured toward the door.
“Leave.”
