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Getting Some

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Год написания книги
2019
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I wince. Damn, this isn’t what I was hoping for. I need money. For my business and my day-to-day life. Yes, my friends have helped me out, and because I’ve been staying with Dominic I haven’t really needed much. But still. I want to be able to make it on my own. No more relying on a man.

The next two hours pass in slow motion, with me dreading going to my lawyer’s office but knowing I don’t have a choice. Even when I arrive at his office, I have to encourage myself to get out of the car.

“Bad news or not, you have to get this over with,” I mutter.

I finally open the door and exit the car.

“Annelise.” Nick Foster, a tall and attractive black man, stands when his secretary ushers me into his office. He pumps my hand from across his desk. “How are you?”

“Truthfully? I’m a little bit stressed about what you’re going to tell me.”

“Stressed? Don’t be stressed.”

“I am…unless you tell me otherwise. That I don’t need to be.”

Nick cracks a smile as he sits in his chair. He opens a folder on his desk and says, “You don’t need to be.”

Now my heart leaps with hope. “Are you saying—”

“I’ve got great news for you, Annelise. Your portion of the house—it’s all yours.”

My hand is shaking as I raise it to my mouth. “Oh my God. This isn’t a joke? This—it’s for real?”

“It’s for real. The matrimonial home will be sold, and you’ll get exactly half of the proceeds.”

“And Charles?”

“His half will likely have to go toward repaying the Wishes Come True Foundation, but I can’t be sure about that.”

“And my half is absolutely safe. The courts or whoever can’t change their minds tomorrow?”

“Basically, your house was a joint asset before Charles’s fraud. You aren’t guilty in that crime, and the courts agree that you shouldn’t have to lose what is rightfully yours. Charles has victimized enough people. You can put your house on the market as soon as possible.”

I blow out a shaky breath. “Wow. So this is over?”

“Not entirely.”

My face drops. “No?”

“Your divorce still needs to be finalized.”

“Oh. Right.” I chuckle. Compared to getting over this hurdle, the dissolution of my marriage seems like a minor detail to deal with.

“And, to that end, I’m meeting with the judge next week. I’m going to ask that he expedite the process, given everything. You were married to a liar, a cheater, a thief. Clearly, you want the union absolved as soon as possible.”

“Exactly.”

“I think this will go our way.”

“I wish it could be over tomorrow.”

“Understandably. But at least we’ve gotten past the biggest hindrance.”

“Thank God.”

“Now, there’s still the issue of Charles’s other assets. Until the state has figured out what it’s doing, I can’t make you any promises. However, based on what I’ve been able to learn, it looks like much of his property and other assets were most likely purchased with stolen money.”

“I don’t care about the rest of it,” I tell him, meaning it. “As long as my portion of the house is safe.” I pause, happiness filling my chest. “Oh, Nick. Thank you.”

“I’m just the messenger.”

“Oh, you’re more than that. I know you’ve been making calls on my behalf. Lobbying for me.”

“You’re a victim in this, just like the children from the foundation.”

“Thank you.” I reach across the desk and shake Nick’s hand. “Thank you, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I can’t stop grinning.

“Now, I can handle getting a real estate agent for you. Or you can do it. Whatever you like.”

I’m already paying enough money per hour for Nick’s services. There’s no need to let him handle aspects I can deal with myself. “I’ll call someone. Hopefully the house will sell right away.”

“I have a friend who’s a real estate agent, and I can put you in touch with him if you like. He can deal with the legal issues of selling the house that are required in this situation, given its special circumstances. He can control the money and cut you a check for your half directly, minus his commission, of course.”

Of course. People might have your best interests at heart…for a cost.

But I can’t worry about that, especially since the reality is that, despite any commission I’ll have to pay, I stand to collect a pretty penny. Charles and I bought that house when we were first married five years ago, and house prices in our neighborhood have gone up greatly since then. We paid off the mortgage after one of Charles’s large class-action cases settled, which means I should walk away with some sizable cash. Likely a little over three hundred grand after the commission is paid.

Three hundred thousand dollars! With that kind of money, I can easily invest what’s necessary into my business.

“Annelise?”

“I’m sorry.” I know that, as I meet Nick’s eyes, I’m grinning like a fool. “What were you saying?”

“I’ll let you know what the judge says about expediting your divorce.”

“Great.”

“I don’t anticipate any problems.”

“I can’t thank you enough for all your help, Nick.” Of course, I’ll owe him a pretty penny as well, but now I can afford to pay him! And it’s money well spent.

“That’s my job.” He closes the folder. “Please, when you get an offer for your house that you want to accept, let me know.”

“Absolutely.”
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