Chapter 7 - The Confrontation
The mediation room was cold, smelling of polished wood and stale anxiety.
I sat beside Marcus, my posture relaxed, my hands folded on the table.
Daniel walked in ten minutes late, accompanied by a sweaty, fast-talking lawyer named Vance.
Daniel looked terrible. His suit was wrinkled, and he hadn't shaved.
He avoided looking at me, staring instead at the legal pads on the table.
“Let’s make this quick,” Vance started, slapping a file down.
“My client is entitled to fifty percent of Mercer & Associates, the marital home, and alimony.”
Marcus chuckled. It was a dry, terrifying sound.
“Your client,” Marcus said, “is currently looking at five to ten years in federal prison.”
Vance frowned. “What kind of scare tactic is this?”
Marcus slid a beautifully bound booklet across the table.
“This is an audited summary of Mr. Mercer’s unauthorized withdrawal of corporate funds.”
Vance opened the booklet. His eyes began to widen as he scanned the pages.
“Two hundred thousand dollars,” Marcus narrated casually. “Transferred into a shell LLC.”
Vance looked at Daniel. “Is this true?”
Daniel shrank into his chair. “It’s a misunderstanding. It was a loan.”
“There is no loan documentation,” I said, speaking for the first time.
Daniel finally looked at me. His eyes were pleading.
“Natalie, please. Don't do this.”
“You did this, Daniel. I am just documenting it.”
Vance closed the booklet and sighed. “What are your terms?”
Marcus handed over a single sheet of paper.
“He relinquishes all equity in Mercer & Associates. He vacates the house by Friday. He waives all rights to alimony.”
“This leaves him with nothing!” Vance protested feebly.
“It leaves him with his freedom,” I said.
Daniel leaned forward, his voice cracking. “How am I supposed to live? I have nothing!”
“You have Chloe,” I said softly.
“She makes you feel tall, right? Let’s see how tall you stand when you’re broke.”
May you like
Daniel buried his face in his hands.
Vance packed up his briefcase. “I strongly advise you to sign it, Daniel.”
