Chapter 5 - Desperation and Threats
""Wait! Keahu, stop!"" Terrence yelled, stumbling toward the doorway. ""You can't just leave! Those are my children! My flesh and blood! If you're running a billion-dollar company, I have rights! I am entitled to joint custody and spousal restitution!""
I stopped at the threshold and slowly turned around. A cold, dangerous smile played on my lips.
""Custody?"" I asked. ""Restitution? Are you serious, Terrence?""
""Yes, I am serious!"" Terrence puffed out his chest, attempting to regain some semblance of leverage. ""Under the law, I am their biological father. You concealed them from me! You alienated them! A judge will grant me visitation, and since you made millions while keeping my children from me, any good family lawyer will argue that I'm entitled to retroactive support or a settlement!""
Lorraine’s eyes flickered with renewed greed. She pushed herself up from the credenza, smoothing down her ruined dress. ""He’s right! You hid our grandchildren from us! You had no right to hoard them in Arizona! We will take you to court, Keahu! We will take half of everything you built!""
I couldn't help it; I laughed out loud. The sheer audacity of these two parasites was almost comical.
""Do you really think I walked into this house unprepared?"" I asked, unzipping the side pocket of my leather folder and pulling out a certified document bearing the official seal of the Maricopa County Superior Court.
""What is that?"" Terrence asked, his voice wavering.
""Seven years ago, when you officially filed for divorce by publication in Nevada to avoid serving me in person, you signed an irrevocable waiver of all parental rights to any potential issue of our marriage,"" I stated calmly, reciting the legal facts by heart. ""You were so terrified that I might track you down for child support that your attorney filed a clause explicitly stating: 'Terrence Coleman disclaims any paternity, parental responsibility, or claim to any child born to Keahu Rivera post-separation, relinquishing all custody, visitation, and future parental rights forever.'""
Terrence went rigid.
""You signed it, Terrence. To save yourself five hundred dollars a month in potential child support, you legally erased yourself from their lives before they even celebrated their first birthday.""
""No... no, I didn't know what that paper meant! My lawyer said it was just standard boilerplate!""
""Ignorance of the law is not an excuse,"" I continued, my voice hardening. ""Furthermore, my legal team has spent the last six months auditing your consulting business. We know about the fraudulent offshore accounts in Belize. We know you inflated your assets to secure the Sterling Logistics partnership. And we know that your mother’s house is mortgaged to the hilt because of your bad day-trading habits.""
May you like
Lorraine shrieked, clutching her throat. ""How do you know that?!""
""Because Vance Global Logistics bought out your secondary mortgage from the regional bank three weeks ago,"" I whispered, the revelation landing like a physical blow. ""Which means, Lorraine... I don't just own my company. I own the roof over your head.""
