Chapter 13 - The Divorce Daniel Thought He Could Win
Elena did not want Arthur Vale’s money.
That was the first thing she told her attorney.
Rebecca Shaw sat across from Elena in a private conference room and removed her glasses.
“You may not want it.”
“That sounds like a warning.”
“It is.”
Rebecca pushed the trust document toward her.
“You are the sole beneficiary.”
“I didn’t know it existed.”
“That doesn’t invalidate it.”
“Where did it come from?”
“Asset sales.”
“Criminal money?”
“Some originally.”
Elena recoiled.
Rebecca raised a hand.
“Listen.”
Arthur had spent the final years of his life liquidating businesses and placing proceeds into restitution funds.
One separate trust had been created for Elena.
The money was not directly traceable to illegal transactions.
But ethically, that distinction did little to comfort her.
“I don’t want ninety-two million dollars.”
Rebecca almost smiled.
“You may be the first client to say that sentence in this office.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
She leaned forward.
“Daniel wants it.”
“He didn’t know about the trust until yesterday.”
“His attorneys did.”
“How?”
“Discovery request.”
Elena laughed.
“He is facing prison and still wants money.”
“People are consistent.”
The phrase reminded Elena of Adrien.
Predictable.
Daniel’s greed had become the only stable part of his personality.
Rebecca continued.
“He argues the trust became marital property because Arthur created it while you were married.”
“Is that true?”
“No.”
Relief.
“But the studio could be contested.”
Elena’s expression hardened.
“I built the studio before Daniel’s current business.”
“He contributed during the first two years.”
“I supported him for four years.”
“Exactly.”
Rebecca smiled.
“This is why we document things.”
Elena liked her.
“What does Daniel actually want?”
“Leverage.”
“For?”
“A more favorable criminal cooperation arrangement.”
Elena frowned.
“How does divorce affect federal sentencing?”
“It doesn’t directly.”
“Then?”
“He wants you to sign a civil settlement stating you knew about some companies.”
Elena laughed.
“No.”
“That was my legal assessment too.”
“No chance.”
“Good.”
The door opened.
Adrien entered.
Elena stared.
“This is my attorney meeting.”
Rebecca looked amused.
“He owns the building.”
Adrien stopped.
“Not an excuse.”
“No.”
Elena crossed her arms.
“Then?”
“Hale made bail.”
Everybody stared.
Rebecca stood.
“How?”
“Technical challenge to evidence procedure.”
Elena’s stomach tightened.
“What kind?”
“The archive search.”
“We were held at gunpoint.”
“Yes.”
“But the first entry into the crypt happened before police had a warrant.”
Elena understood immediately.
“Hale’s lawyers are attacking chain of custody.”
“Yes.”
“Could charges disappear?”
“No.”
Adrien shook his head.
“But some evidence may be suppressed.”
Rebecca asked, “Including the fire recording?”
“Potentially.”
Elena thought.
“What about Daniel’s copy?”
Adrien looked at her.
“Missing.”
“Sebastian had it.”
“Correct.”
“Sebastian says?”
“Hale took it.”
Elena stood.
“Then Hale may still have the original evidence.”
“Yes.”
Rebecca gathered her files.
“I suddenly feel like family law is the relaxing part.”
She left.
Adrien waited until the door closed.
“You’re not taking the settlement.”
“No.”
“Good.”
Elena frowned.
“You don’t get a vote.”
“I know.”
She studied him.
“That’s why I like your opinion more than Daniel’s.”
Adrien smiled slightly.
“Dangerous statement.”
Her phone buzzed.
Daniel.
First direct message since his arrest.
Please come see me.
Elena stared.
Adrien saw the name.
“No.”
She looked up.
“Again.”
“What?”
“You don’t get a vote.”
“He wants something.”
“Obviously.”
“Then why go?”
“Because I want to know what.”
That afternoon Elena sat across from Daniel again.
This time he looked worse.
Sleep-deprived.
Unshaven.
Still, his eyes sharpened when she entered.
“You came.”
“One meeting.”
He nodded.
“I heard you refused the settlement.”
“Yes.”
“You should reconsider.”
“No.”
“Elena.”
“No.”
He laughed softly.
“Still stubborn.”
“No.”
She leaned forward.
“I finally stopped confusing patience with obedience.”
That silenced him.
Daniel looked at the table.
“I didn’t file for divorce because I want your money.”
“Then dismiss the claim.”
“I can’t.”
“You just contradicted yourself.”
“My lawyer filed it.”
“You hired him.”
“Elena, listen.”
“I’ve done enough listening.”
“Hale paid my attorney.”
She froze.
“What?”
Daniel looked toward the camera.
“I didn’t know until this morning.”
“Why would Hale pay your divorce attorney?”
“Because he wants the trust.”
Elena frowned.
“What does the trust have to do with Hale?”
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“It isn’t ninety-two million dollars.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“That’s the liquid value.”
“What else?”
“Voting control.”
“Of what?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Vale Legacy Holdings.”
Elena stared.
“What is that?”
“The company that owns eighteen percent of Hale Consolidated.”
Silence.
Arthur had placed part of Victor Hale’s own empire into Elena’s trust.
Not enough for control.
But enough for influence.
Daniel continued.
“Hale needs your shares.”
“Why?”
“Because his board is removing him.”
Adrien had not told her.
She felt anger rise.
Again.
Omission.
Again.
“What happens if I keep them?”
“You can vote with the board.”
“To remove Hale?”
“Yes.”
“And if Daniel receives half in divorce?”
“You can split the block.”
Elena understood.
Hale was not after her money.
He wanted her vote.
“Why would your lawyer help him?”
Daniel laughed.
“Because everybody has a price.”
“You certainly did.”
He accepted it.
“Yes.”
Elena stared at him.
“What do you want from me?”
“Don’t settle.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“Fight me.”
“Daniel.”
“I’m serious.”
He leaned closer.
“If I withdraw the claim, Hale knows I warned you.”
“Why do you care?”
“Because Hale can still reach Vanessa.”
Elena’s anger cooled.
“The baby.”
Daniel nodded.
“She’s under protection.”
“Hale has people everywhere.”
“Then tell investigators.”
“I did.”
“What did they say?”
“They need proof.”
Elena looked at Daniel.
For the first time, his fear was not for himself.
“Do you love her?”
He looked away.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you love the child?”
His eyes filled.
“Yes.”
That answer was simple.
Elena believed it.
She stood.
“Keep the divorce claim.”
Daniel looked up.
“But?”
“I’ll destroy it in court.”
A tiny smile appeared.
“I know.”
She walked toward the door.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“I did love you.”
She closed her eyes.
“Don’t.”
“I need you to know.”
“No.”
She turned.
“You need to know.”
Daniel froze.
“You need to believe there was a version of you worth mourning.”
Tears entered his eyes.
“There was.”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
“That’s the worst part.”
She left.
Adrien waited outside.
“You knew.”
He frowned.
“About?”
“The trust shares.”
His silence answered.
Elena kept walking.
He followed.
“Elena.”
“You knew Hale wanted my shares.”
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“I was going to.”
“When?”
“When we had confirmation.”
“No.”
She stopped.
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Decide which truths I’m ready for.”
Adrien looked at her.
“I was protecting you.”
“Daniel said that too.”
The words struck hard.
Adrien stepped back.
Elena immediately regretted the comparison.
But not the point.
He nodded slowly.
“You’re right.”
That surprised her.
“No excuse?”
“No.”
“No complicated explanation?”
“I had one.”
“What happened to it?”
“You were right.”
Elena stared.
Adrien continued.
“The trust owns Hale shares.”
“Yes.”
“The board votes in four days.”
“And my vote matters.”
“Yes.”
“Hale needs me.”
“Yes.”
“Alive?”
Adrien hesitated.
Elena laughed bitterly.
“Great.”
“He may prefer coercion.”
“How comforting.”
“He also may attempt to challenge the trust.”
“Through Daniel.”
“Yes.”
Elena looked out the courthouse windows.
Four days.
Hale’s empire.
Arthur’s final move.
Her unwanted inheritance.
“What happens if I vote Hale out?”
Adrien’s expression sharpened.
“He loses control of the legitimate companies that fund his legal defense and political influence.”
“And if I vote for him?”
“He survives.”
Elena nodded.
“Then I know how I’m voting.”
Adrien stopped her.
“No.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“Don’t decide because of me.”
“I’m not.”
“Or Arthur.”
“I’m not.”
“Or revenge.”
Elena held his gaze.
“I’m deciding because a man who pointed a gun at me shouldn’t control twelve billion dollars.”
Adrien smiled.
“Fair.”
Then his phone rang.
Marcus.
Adrien answered.
His face changed.
“What?”
Elena watched him.
Adrien ended the call.
“Hale knows how you intend to vote.”
“How?”
“Someone leaked the meeting.”
“Who?”
Adrien looked toward the lobby entrance.
Security began moving.
“We don’t know.”
A black envelope lay on the floor near Elena’s coat.
It had not been there moments earlier.
Adrien picked it up.
Inside was a photograph.
Elena sleeping in her bedroom.
Taken from inside her house.
May you like
On the back were six words.
CHANGE YOUR VOTE OR DIE THERE.
