Chapter 7 - The Settlement Terms
Three days later, the conference room at Nathan Brooks’ law firm felt like a courtroom. Aaron sat at the defense table, flanked by two expensive, sweating corporate lawyers who looked like they wanted to disappear. Across the table sat Claire, flanked only by Nathan.
"Let’s review the terms of the settlement," Nathan said, sliding a single sheet of paper across the table. "Item one: Absolute waiver of all spousal support. Item two: Surrender of all claims to the Marblehead waterfront property, which remains exclusively in Claire Prescott’s name. Item three: Immediate resignation from Prescott Global without severance or stock options."
"This is extortion!" one of Aaron’s attorneys protested loudly, slamming his hand on the table. "You’re stripping him of everything! He has a right to marital assets!"
Claire leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands, her expression serene and chillingly detached.
"Marital assets?" Claire asked softly. "Which marital assets, Counselor? The ones Aaron accumulated while using company funds to sustain his double life? Or the ones my grandfather’s trust protected before we even walked down the aisle?"
She looked directly into Aaron’s hollow, bloodshot eyes.
"Sign the papers, Aaron. Because if you don't, Sterling Capital will call in every single corporate debt Prescott Global owes, your family company will declare bankruptcy by Friday afternoon, and you will spend the next five years defending yourself against federal white-collar fraud charges."
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Aaron looked at his lawyers. They slowly, silently shook their heads. They knew there was no legal escape.
With a trembling hand, Aaron picked up the Montblanc pen—a gift Claire had bought him for their first anniversary—and signed his name away.
