10 Things I Hate About Shrew

Final Appropriaton - The Breaking of the Shrewd

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A solid wooden thud vibrated through the elegant townhouse of Peton and Kaitlyn Lombardi. Kaitlyn lay rigid in her bed, as she prepared herself for the booming footsteps of her husband on the creaking wooden stairs, as Peton made his way to their bedroom. Kaitlyn remained completely still, creating a façade of deep sleep, so her husband would not try to wake her. Her body tingled with the urge to scratch something, but the bruises that covered the top half of her body screamed to stay absolutely still. He grasped the brass handle and slowly cracked the door open. His usual dense cloud of cologne and alcohol tainted the air. Luckily Kaitlyn’s façade had worked, as Peton fell into bed without noticing his wife. She had avoided another beating from her raging and drunken husband, who had returned late from a night of crime. 

Peton Lombardi. Melbourne Underworld figure, famous Casanova and ruthless loan shark. He frequented the news for his criminal escapades, and spent countless late nights with his “associates” in the darkened corners of inner city bars and clubs discussing their next illegal plan. Peton's criminal activity had increased in recent years, requiring he stay out until the early morning, arriving home highly intoxicated. In the past Kaitlyn frequently expressed her disagreement with Peton’s work, and Peton often settled arguments in the only way he knew. Violence

Cold, Winter Melbourne air swept past Kaitlyn’s face as she walked to the lawyer’s office. Arriving at the towering, stone building, she remembered a time before her marriage to Peton, when she would have defended herself and not accepted violence quietly. Marriage into the Underworld changed people. It was like a raging and vehement disease that attacked your personality. A life that revolved around violence had weakened Kaitlyn’s feisty nature, instilling constant fear and anxiety within her.

Kaitlyn stepped through the doors of Graham and Sons Lawyers, welcoming the warmth that it provided to her frozen body. The receptionist gestured towards the lawyer’s door, and she walked on through. Stepping into the small office felt like home, prompting memories of her previous life as a lawyer to flood back. Her chest ached, as she reminisced of the first time she met Peton. She was once Kaitlyn Stratford, the lawyer that all other lawyers feared facing. Bitter and tempestuous, she won almost every case. Her representation of underworld figures lead Peton to her office, he’d needed an excellent lawyer to get him out of trouble.

A short, round man with a balding head sat slouching at the desk directly ahead of the door as Kaitlyn entered the office. She could see the booklet of white paper waiting in the middle of his desk, the documents she had so eagerly come here for. The man slid the papers towards her, lightly placing a pen next to her hand; he prompted her to sign in all appropriate places.

Kaitlyn pulled her BMW into the driveway of their townhouse, and turned off the ignition. She sat solemnly in the car, contemplating the events that may unfold when she gives Peton the divorce papers. Stepping out of the car, Kaitlyn’s legs began to quiver; partly from nerves, partly from Melbourne’s brisk winter air. Entering the house, she called out to Peton and asked him to come to speak with her in the kitchen.

Peton stared down at the pile of white paper before him, recognising the familiar font of legal documents. Much like the masses of paper Kaitlyn used to read through each night as she came home from work. Before he could question Kaitlyn, she had already begun explaining what the documents were for. The tone and language that she used reminded him of Kaitlyn as a lawyer. Kaitlyn before they were married.

Kaitlyn’s voice portrayed confidence, but her quivering lip and shaking hands gave her away.

“I want a divorce,” Kaitlyn stated firmly, but without anger. Hatred tainted her eyes as she stared at her husband with anguish, hoping he would understand her desperation. Hoping he would allow her freedom

Peton was stunned, but not completely surprised. Kaitlyn’s self-righteous ways had returned, and she wanted out. Peton felt anger rage within him, and he grasped the kitchen bench firmly to prevent him from doing anything stupid. Without saying anything to Kaitlyn, he left the kitchen to find his car keys.

Smoke surrounded Peton as he sat alone in the corner of Padua Bar. Placing his lips around the cigarette, he drew in a deep breath - filling his lungs with smoke. The hot and tingling sensation that resulted dulled his emotions, and he was able to forget Kaitlyn’s face when she handed him the bundle of white paper. The distress in her eyes was tattooed in Peton’s mind. The waiter arrived at the table, finally delivering the glass of Whisky that Peton craved. The liquid burned his throat as it entered his body. A sense of utopia overcame him, as he relaxed in the uncomfortable, wooden bar chair.

Kaitlyn heaved the last suitcase into her car. Placing two hands on the boot, she pushed downwards firmly to lock it. She turned slowly to take a last glimpse of the townhouse, thankful that she would never lay awake in the bedroom again, apprehensively awaiting the arrival of her drunken husband. After placing the key slowly in the ignition, Kaitlyn reversed out of the driveway, set towards her new home. An apartment in the centre of the city, only blocks away from the law firm she would now be working for.
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Beeping emanated from the small, white box that sat on the corner of Kaitlyn’s desk. She pressed the smooth, metallic button firmly down, bracing herself for the jarring squawking of her receptionist’s voice.

“Ms Stratford, a Mr Peton Lombardi is here to see you,” the receptionist’s voice lamented through the aged speaker.

Kaitlyn had been horridly working to finish preparation for a highly publicised underworld case tomorrow, but her limbs immediately fell limp when she heard the name. The door opposite her desk swung open, as Peton placed a foot inside the door. He had always been slim, but he had become so thin that his suit no longer fitted him. It looked like he was playing dress up with his father’s clothes.

Peton walked forward and sat down in the chair in front of Kaitlyn’s desk. He admired the nameplate in front of him, reading out loud the name engraved into it. “Kaitlyn Stratford”. His face became perplexed.

“Ten years of marriage… and you didn’t even want to keep my last name?”

Kaitlyn was unsure how to respond, simply remaining behind her desk until he spoke again. His face became calm, line free. The corners of his mouth fell into a frown.

“Kaitlyn. I’m in trouble. I really need your help. I’ve… I’ve done something terrible. I was drunk… I didn’t realise what I was doing until it was too late. I think I killed him”

Tears formed in the corners of Peton’s eyes, and he threw his head into his hands. Kaitlyn was not startled by the latest development in the fall of the “King of the Underground”.

“I’m sorry Peton, I can’t help you” Kaitlyn stated firmly, trying to remain calm and composed. She stood up harshly from her leather office chair, and walked briskly from the room without looking back at her sobbing ex-husband.
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