Chapter 11 - The Collapse of the Facade
Within a week,
the collapse of Preston’s marketing firm was featured in the local business journals.
The headlines spoke of sudden contract terminations and financial mismanagement at Harrison Media.
Preston could no longer afford his downtown office space,
and his employees were leaving in droves as payroll checks began to bounce.
He was forced to move his operations back into his parents' basement,
a humiliating comedown for a man who used to boast about his high-net-worth status.
I received a notification from my attorney that Preston had attempted to file a counter-suit,
claiming spousal support.
Arthur Vance laughed over the phone when he told me the news.
"He's asking for twenty thousand a month in temporary alimony,"
Arthur said,
sounding immensely amused.
"On what grounds?"
I asked,
sitting at my desk at the pharmacy during a break.
"He claims he became accustomed to a certain lifestyle during the marriage,"
Arthur explained.
"The marriage lasted exactly eighteen hours before you left him,
Maya."
"The judge will throw this out before we even finish reading the motion."
"Let him try,"
I said,
feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.
"Every motion he files costs him money he doesn't have."
"Exactly,"
Arthur agreed.
"He's burning through his remaining cash on legal fees,
while we are operating on a fixed retainer."
"He's fighting a war of attrition with empty pockets."
I hung up,
feeling the absolute rightness of my position.
He had thought that physical intimidation would make me compliant,
but it had only unlocked my full strategic potential.
He was learning the hard way that power isn't about physical strength;
May you like
it's about leverage,
and I held all the cards.
