Chapter 5 - THE CRUISE SHIP SHOWDOWN
Two days before the scheduled departure of the Alaska cruise, the media firestorm Vanessa had unleashed backfired in spectacular, catastrophic fashion.
Instead of generating public sympathy for "poor little Claire," investigative journalists digging into Vanessa’s real estate firm stumbled upon the tax evasion audit my team handed over to the state attorney general. By Friday afternoon, local news channels were running a blistering exposé: Local Real Estate Mogul and Family Caught in Multi-Year Corporate Fraud Scandal Involving Luxury Cruise Perks.
Claire’s wedding venue instantly dropped her contract due to negative publicity. Vanessa’s real estate license was temporarily suspended pending a state investigation. And Daniel? Daniel had been formally fired from Northstar Maritime Holdings for gross misconduct and fraudulent abuse of employee privileges.
I was sitting in my favorite upscale downtown bistro, sipping a glass of crisp sauvignon blanc and enjoying the quiet hum of the afternoon, when my phone rang. It was an unknown number, but I already knew who was on the other end.
I swiped to answer.
“Mara! Please, you have to help us!” Daniel’s voice was a ragged, broken sob. He sounded like a man who had completely unraveled. “Vanessa’s office is swarmed by reporters! The bank accounts are completely locked—we can't even buy groceries! And Claire... Claire is locked in her bedroom refusing to talk to anyone because her wedding is canceled!”
“That sounds like a very stressful situation, Daniel,” I replied, my tone dripping with effortless calm. “Have you tried family healing?”
“Mara, stop it!” he screamed, the sound of slamming doors echoing in the background. “I’m standing outside our house right now. The smart locks won’t recognize my code! My key doesn’t work! Where am I supposed to go?”
“Ask Vanessa,” I suggested sweetly. “After all, you spent ten years making sure she and Claire came first. I’m sure she has a spare cot in her garage while she waits for her grand jury summons.”
“Mara, I’m your husband!” he pleaded, his voice cracking into a pathetic whine. “We’ve been married for ten years! Don’t throw this all away over a stupid cruise!”
“Ten years of me funding your lifestyle while you treated me like a convenient roommate,” I corrected, my voice hardening into pure steel. “The divorce papers were filed this morning, Daniel. My attorney added a nice little clause requiring you to repay every single cent you funneled out of our joint accounts. Enjoy your freedom.”
I hung up, blocked his number permanently, and set my phone faced down on the table.
May you like
Across the street, towering electronic billboards flashed advertisements for Northstar Maritime’s upcoming Alaska cruise season. I looked up at the giant screen, took a slow sip of my wine, and smiled.
The trip was still happening. The balcony suite was booked. But instead of sharing it with a man who thought my loyalty was a permanent, profitable weakness, I was taking my sister—and we were flying first class.
