Jamie and I sit on the opposite side of the table from Asher. As far away as possible.
Gregory gestures to the two men in suits. "These are board members from Ancre Technologies. Mr. Richard Pemberton and Mr. David Cho. They're here as witnesses to the proceedings."
The board members nod at us. I nod back, my throat tight.
"Now then," Gregory says, sitting back down. "Let's begin."
He opens a leather folder in front of him and pulls out several documents. "As I mentioned on the phone, the separation filing has triggered an early distribution clause in the Dean Stevens Living Trust. Normally, the trust would not be distributeduntil one year following Mr. Stevens' death. However, certain conditions were built into the trust that, if met, would accelerate that timeline."
He looks at me. "Julie, I need to confirm for the record: is your marriage to Asher Stevens irrecoverably broken?"
The words hang in the air. I don't look at Asher. I keep my eyes on Gregory.
"Yes," I say clearly. "It is."
"And there is no possibility of reconciliation?"
"Absolutely none."
"I see." Gregory makes a note on his legal pad. “Your lawyer tells me that you have documentation of infidelity and emotional manipulation?”
"Yes. I have evidence," I say. "If you need it, I'm happy to send it along."
Gregory shakes his head. "That won't be necessary. But I do suggest you instruct your attorney to keep those records. Just in case."
"In case of what?"
"In case Mr. Stevens decides to make a very poor decision to contest any aspect of the trust distribution. In that scenario, you’ll be asked to provide that documentation and he’ll lose everything.”
Asher shifts in his seat. I still don't look at him. "Understood," I say.
Gregory nods and turns to the documents in front of him. "Very well. Let's proceed."
He clears his throat. "The Dean Stevens Living Trust was established in 2015 and updated multiple times over the years, most recently during your honeymoon in the Maldives."
My stomach drops.During our honeymoon?
"The trust contains several key provisions," Gregory continues. "First, regarding Asher Stevens."
Asher sits up straighter.
"Asher, you are to receive a lump sum payment of one billion dollars."
The room is silent. One billion dollars. It's an obscene amount of money. Life-changing money. But from the look on Asher's face, it's not what he was expecting.
“What the fuck? That’s fucking chump change,” he seethes.
Jesus Christ. Who is he? Who hears they’ve been left a billion dollars and calls it chump change? That’s the kind of money no one person could spend in a lifetime. He’s insane.
"In addition," Gregory says, "you will retain ten percent of Ancre Technologies shares. However, the board of directors will need to vote on whether you remain as head of the company."
Asher's jaw tightens. "What the fuck?"
"Your father stipulated that your position as CEO is contingent on board approval following the trust distribution. Given the circumstances surrounding the triggering event, the board will convene within the next sixty days to make that determination. There is a morals clause to consider."
Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Cho exchange a glance. Neither of them looks particularly sympathetic.
"That's bullshit," Asher says. "I've been running that company for?—"
