Chapter 8 - The Interrogation
The rain pelted against the large glass windows of Brenda Goldberg’s law office overlooking Puget Sound, creating a rhythmic, calming backdrop to what promised to be a brutal afternoon. Across the conference table sat Tyler’s newly appointed divorce attorney, a flashy, expensive litigator named Richard Sterling, whose slicked-back hair and tailored charcoal suit screamed desperation. Tyler sat right beside him, looking a shadow of his former self. Gone was the crisp, confident airline captain who commanded terminals with a swagger. In his place sat a hollowed-out man in a rumpled off-the-rack sweater, dark circles bruised beneath his bloodshot eyes.
"Mrs. Vance—Elena," Sterling began, flashing a practiced, artificial smile that didn't reach his eyes. "We are here today in the spirit of finding a reasonable, amicable resolution. My client acknowledges that mistakes were made—regrettable lapses in judgment—but we are hoping to approach this dissolution equitably. Captain Vance is willing to offer standard visitation rights, a fair division of personal assets, and—"
"Equitable?" Brenda interrupted, her voice sharp as a surgical scalpel. She slid a certified financial audit across the table, right under Sterling’s nose. "Mr. Sterling, let’s dispense with the theatrical posturing. Your client drained fifty thousand dollars from our joint savings account over the past six months to fund weekend hotel getaways in Chicago and Denver with his co-pilot. Furthermore, under Washington State law regarding the dissipation of marital assets for illicit affairs, we are entitled to absolute recovery, plus punitive considerations given the public nature of his professional misconduct."
Tyler flinched, staring down at the polished wood table. He finally raised his head, his eyes locking onto mine with a desperate, pleading glaze. "Elena... please. Don't do this. You're destroying everything. I’ve lost my career. The FAA revoked my medical certificate. I can't fly anymore—ever. Do you have any idea what that does to a man?"
"No, Tyler, I don't," I replied, my voice steady, cold, and entirely devoid of emotion. "Because unlike you, I never lied to build a life on top of a foundation of rot. You destroyed your own career the second you picked up that PA microphone and decided to broadcast your arrogance to one hundred and sixty paying passengers. Don't dare sit here and act like the victim."
Sterling cleared his throat nervously, quickly shuffling through his paperwork as he realized his client's emotional appeal had completely backfired. "Now see here, Mrs. Vance, hostile rhetoric isn't going to—"
"It's not rhetoric, Mr. Sterling; it's a matter of public record," Brenda cut in smoothly, opening her own portfolio. "Here is our settlement offer. Full physical and legal custody of Mason to my client. The family home signed over entirely to Elena, clear of any secondary liens. Maximized spousal and child support calculated using his peak captain's salary before termination, regardless of his current employment status. And if you attempt to contest any single clause in court, we will enter the cockpit voice recording transcript into the public record as an exhibit during the open trial."
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Tyler went completely white. An open trial featuring his unprofessional audio broadcast would make national aviation news, permanently blacklisting him from any sector of transportation, logistics, or corporate consulting. It would be the final, total annihilation of his public reputation.
Sterling looked sideways at Tyler, reading the sheer panic written across his face. The attorney swallowed hard, closed his briefcase with a sharp snap, and looked across the table at Brenda. "We... we accept the terms of the settlement. We'll have the paperwork signed and notarized by tomorrow morning."
