Chapter 5 - THE PAPER TRAIL OF DECEIT
Madeleine Cross did not wait for Grant to respond.
With a practiced,
efficient movement,
she slid the first thick packet of papers across the long mahogany table.
The pages slid smoothly,
stopping right in front of Sienna’s trembling hands.
"These are the divorce papers,
Miss Vance,"
Madeleine explained,
her voice cutting through the tension.
"Along with a formal request to freeze all disputed assets,
and a preservation demand covering all personal devices."
Sienna stared down at the legal documents,
her eyes scanning the bold letters at the top of the page.
"You told me the divorce was already done,"
Sienna said,
her voice rising as she turned to Grant.
"You told me she had signed the papers months ago,
that we were just waiting for the court to clear them."
"The divorce was not filed until eight thirty this morning,"
Madeleine said,
directing her words to Sienna.
"And it was filed under terms that I assure you,
your partner did not anticipate."
Sienna looked across the table at me,
her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion.
"But you moved out,"
she whispered.
"Everyone said you had left the city."
"I moved out of his bedroom,"
I said,
my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"I did not move out of my home,
nor did I abandon my inheritance."
Grant leaned over the table,
trying to use his height to intimidate me,
just as he had done so many times during our marriage.
"You think a pile of paperwork scares me,
Evelyn?
I have built this company just as much as you have."
"No,"
I replied,
looking him dead in the eye.
"I do not think paperwork scares you.
I think it will stop you from making this any worse than it already is."
He let out a short,
bitter laugh,
but the sound was thin,
lacking any real conviction.
"You have a prenuptial agreement,
Evelyn.
Your mother's trust,
and your stupid pride.
That is all you have left."
"My pride is doing wonderfully,"
I said.
May you like
"And as for the rest,
we are about to find out who truly owns what."
