Chapter 4 - The Dissolution
The conference room on the thirty-eighth floor of Hale Global Industries—formerly known as Mercer Global—smelled of fresh coffee and expensive mahogany furniture.
Victoria sat at the head of the long obsidian conference table, flanked by Benjamin Shaw and three senior partners from the family’s legal conglomerate. Spread out before them were dozens of corporate ledgers, asset transfer deeds, and marital dissolution agreements.
"The inventory of personal and corporate assets is complete," Benjamin announced, sliding a thick dossier across the table toward Victoria. "Julian’s personal bank accounts—those not directly tied to Hale trust subsidies—currently contain a total of four thousand two hundred and twelve dollars. His luxury apartment in Tribeca was leased under a corporate subsidiary that has already been reassigned to R&D storage. His luxury vehicles have been impounded. Legally, he is completely insolvent."
Victoria opened the dossier, scanning the crisp financial print without emotion. For ten years, she had watched Julian build an empire on borrowed bricks, pretending he was the master builder while she held the mortgage, the deed, and the foundation.
"What about Camille Rhodes?" Victoria asked, turning a page.
"Ms. Rhodes was terminated from her advisory position this morning for conflict of interest and misuse of corporate resources," Benjamin replied smoothly. "Furthermore, her upscale townhouse in the Upper East Side—rented under a secondary Mercer Global executive housing allowance—received a formal eviction notice three hours ago. Her landlord is currently throwing her designer wardrobe onto the sidewalk as we speak."
A faint, ironic smile touched the corners of Victoria’s mouth. "She always did love dramatic entrances. I suppose she’ll enjoy the dramatic exit just as much."
"There is the matter of the formal divorce deposition," Benjamin continued, placing a single sheet of paper in front of her. "Julian’s new attorney—a desperate legal-aid lawyer named Henderson—has filed an emergency injunction claiming financial coercion and demanding a fifty percent settlement of all accumulated corporate assets."
Victoria looked up, her dark eyes flashing with cold amusement. "On what grounds?"
"On the grounds that Julian was 'actively involved' in the conceptual growth of Mercer Global," Benjamin said, dryly. "He apparently forgot that our legal department has a signed, notarized prenuptial agreement from ten years ago explicitly stating that all intellectual property, real estate holdings, and corporate equity remain exclusively within the Hale lineage, regardless of operational tenure."
"File a motion for frivolous litigation," Victoria instructed calmly, sliding the paper aside. "And make sure the judge sees the video footage from the ballroom last night. Let the court examine how 'devoted' my husband was to our marriage while he was publicly auctioning off my dignity to his mistress."
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"Already handled," Benjamin said, closing his briefcase. "The judge assigned to our case is Judge Katherine Sterling—a woman who has zero tolerance for unfaithful spouses attempting to plunder family estates. The summary judgment will likely be signed before the end of the week."
Victoria stood up, smoothing the fabric of her tailored charcoal skirt suit. "Arrange a meeting for me with the primary international investors this afternoon. It's time to reassure them that the only thing missing from this company today is a broken mirror."
