Chapter 10 - Legal Warfare
The large mahogany conference table in the law firm looked like an active battlefield.
Lucy sat perfectly straight, wearing a sharp, tailored black suit that made her look like armor-clad royalty.
Diane, her ruthless powerhouse attorney, sat beside her, organizing a massive stack of heavily tabbed binders.
Across the table sat Alex, looking like a man who had not slept in an entire week.
His expensive lawyer, an older man in a gray pinstripe suit, looked thoroughly annoyed to be there.
"Let's make this quick," Alex's lawyer sighed, opening his incredibly thin file.
"My client is willing to offer a generous one-time alimony payment and standard child support."
"In exchange, we demand a non-disclosure agreement regarding the unfortunate events of last month."
Diane let out a loud, highly condescending laugh that echoed through the quiet room.
"That is genuinely hilarious, Richard," Diane smiled smoothly, showing teeth like a great white shark.
"But unfortunately, my client is not accepting pennies to protect a coward's public image."
"We want sixty percent of the marital assets, sole physical custody of the child, and full ownership of the Hamptons estate."
Alex slammed his hand furiously down on the table, rattling the expensive water glasses.
"Are you out of your mind?" Alex screamed, his veins popping in his neck.
"I built that company with my own two hands!"
"I will never let you take my money and my child away from me!"
Diane calmly reached into her designer briefcase and pulled out a sleek silver flash drive.
She slid it deliberately across the polished wood until it rested right in front of Alex.
"What is this?" Alex asked, eyeing the small device like it was a live grenade.
"That is a complete, unredacted audit of your corporate expense accounts over the last two years," Diane announced happily.
Alex’s face instantly drained of all remaining color.
"It details exactly how much company money you illegally embezzled to fund Miss Valerie's luxury apartments, designer bags, and exotic vacations," Diane continued.
"If this goes to court, I won't just ruin your divorce proceedings."
"I will personally hand this evidence over to your board of directors and the federal tax authorities."
"You will be facing criminal fraud charges before your baby is even born."
Alex’s lawyer slowly turned his head to glare at his client with absolute fury.
"You told me your finances were entirely clean, Alex," the older lawyer hissed.
Alex opened his mouth to speak, but not a single sound managed to escape his throat.
He was completely trapped in a cage of his own careless arrogance.
Lucy watched him silently, feeling absolutely no pity for the pathetic man across the table.
"You have exactly twenty-four hours to sign the papers exactly as we drafted them," Diane stated, packing up her briefcases.
"If you try to fight us on a single clause, I will destroy your entire life."
Lucy stood up confidently, completely ignoring Alex’s pleading, desperate eyes.
May you like
She walked out of the conference room without looking back a single time.
She had finally won her ultimate freedom.
