Page 30
When my eyes narrow, the smug bastard smiles. I’m looking forward to seeing that smirk wiped off his face by the time we’re done.
“Where’s my son?” is the first thing he asks, but Nolan gets in a reply before I have the chance.
“None of your business.”
Jason’s eyes snap towards Nolan. “Who the fuck are you?”
Before Nolan can answer, Bennett cuts in, pinning Jason with a glare that has him clearing his throat and slightly shuffling in his seat. “That’s enough,” he says, his tone sharp. “If you have something to ask my client, you direct it through your counsel. You will not address her directly during this mediation. That’s why you have representation.”
Their altercation has me relaxing somewhat. Jason’s smugness is wiped clean off his face, and I hate to think what I’d be up against if I didn’t have these people advocating for me.
“Here is our list of demands,” Jason’s counsel says, sliding a piece of paper across the table to Bennett.
I can’t read what it says from where I sit, but from the amount of writing covering the page, it looks extensive.
Bennett arches an eyebrow as he picks it up, briefly scans the page and then lets out a low chuckle.
“No,” he says firmly, sliding the paper back across the table.
“No?” Jason’s counsel replies, his brows furrowing as he closes the folder in front of him. “Well, I guess we’re done here. I don’t know why you wasted our time scheduling this meeting if you weren’t prepared to negotiate.”
“Not so fast,” Bennett counters. “First of all, your client is demanding my client hand over full custody of a child he never wanted, and never lifted a finger to care for. He’s also demanding,” he says, using air quotes around the word demanding, “she move back interstate when she has no desire to do so. As for the rest of these proposed demands, I’m not even going to entertain them. They’re unreasonable, they’re unsupported, and they’re not something we’re prepared to discuss.”
Jason’s lawyer smirks like he’s just gotten one up on us, and the nerves I had when I walked into the room come rushing back. “You know my client could have yours arrested and charged for leaving the state with his child without his permission?”
Bennett leans back in his chair, completely unfazed. “Interesting tactic,” he says. “Threatening my client before we’ve even had the chance to discuss your own client’s conduct.” Jason’s lawyer’s smirk falters. “Maybe we should focus on the facts before anyone starts making accusations or threats they might regret.”
“Ha,” Jason scoffs, and I hear a tiny growl rumble in the back of Nolan’s throat.
I place my hand on his leg. I’m not even sure why I do it, but I’m equally surprised when he doesn’t hesitate to thread his fingers through mine. I side-eye him, but he’s too hyper focused on my ex to even notice.
Things are changing between us. They have been for a few weeks. Our friendship, which started as a simple bond formed around helping me care for my son, has begun to blossom into something I never saw coming.
It feels like an elastic stretched to its limit, and it’s only a matter of time before it snaps.
“Enlighten me on these so-called facts you seem to think I’m unaware of,” Jason’s lawyer says smugly.
Bennett doesn’t miss a beat. “Gladly. Let’s start with the fact that your client hasn’t paid my client a wage in nearly three years, despite her continuing to work for the company she helped build, often putting in eighty-plus hours a week.”
My eyes remain on Jason as Bennett speaks, and I see the surprise flash across his face before his gaze flickers to me. That’s right, arsehole, we’re on to you.
I feel stupid for trusting that man for all these years. His deceit knows no bounds. We had a joint account, with debit cards attached to it, so I could buy whatever I wanted. I had no reason to doubt that the person I lived with, the one I built a thriving company with, or the man I was set to marry, was doing me dirty behind my back and not paying me.
Jason’s lawyer vigorously shuffles through the papers in front of him before finally holding up a document in his hand, like he’s just discovered the smoking gun he’s been waiting for. “Did your client not tell you that she signed over all of her rights to the business three years ago? Which, I’m guessing, coincides with when she ceased receiving a wage?”
This time Bennett’s attention moves down to the papers in front of him. “You mean the document he forged, the one my client knew nothing about?”
“I highly doubt that,” Jason’s counsel scoffs. “Your accusations are ludicrous and highly uncalled for.”
“Well, let’s see, shall we …” Bennett counters, plucking several signed statutory declarations from the pile of paperwork in front of him and sliding them across the table. “I have sworn statements confirming that each of these people was paid a sum of $2,000 to falsely claim they witnessed Daisy signing those documents in their presence. I also have copies of the bank transfers showing those payments were made by your client to support my claims.”
Jason seems to sink lower and lower in his chair with every word Bennett speaks, and when his counsel turns to glare at him, I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling.
“I would like a moment alone with my client, please,” he snaps.
“Certainly,” Bennett replies, pushing back his chair and rising to his feet. He jerks his head towards the door, silently telling the rest of us to follow.
“That went swimmingly,” Nolan says, rubbing his hands together once we’ve exited the room and congregated in the corridor.
