Chapter 4 - The Country Club Ambush
Saturday morning at the Rolling Hills Country Club in suburban Denver was the sanctuary of the city’s elite. The manicured golf greens rolled endlessly toward the foothills, wealthy businessmen smoked expensive cigars on the patio, and power brokers sealed real estate deals over mimosas.
Garrett Bennett was in his absolute element.
Dressed in a pristine white polo shirt and designer golf slacks, he stood near the putting green, holding a putter and laughing heartily as he regaled two local venture capitalists with exaggerated stories about his upcoming tech venture.
“Trust me, boys, my next enterprise is going to completely disrupt the SaaS market,” Garrett boasted, gesturing with his hand. “My wife handles the boring traditional finance stuff at Bennett Capital, but I’m the visionary behind the real growth.”
Just then, a sharp, crisp voice cut across the manicured lawn.
“Garrett Bennett?”
Garrett turned around, expecting a golf club attendant or an admirer. Instead, standing a few feet away was a sharp, professional-looking woman in a tailored navy blazer carrying a thick leather briefcase.
“Yes?” Garrett frowned, annoyed by the interruption. “Can I help you? I’m in the middle of a conversation.”
The woman opened her briefcase, pulled out a thick stack of official legal documents, and dropped them squarely into Garrett’s hands.
“You’ve been served,” she said crisply. “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, filed on behalf of Naomi Bennett, alongside a comprehensive notice of asset freezing and corporate indemnity claims.”
Garrett stared down at the papers in utter shock. The words PETITION FOR DIVORCE stared back at him in bold capital letters.
“Divorce?” Garrett stammered, his face turning pale as the two venture capitalists awkwardly stepped back, whispering among themselves. “What is this? Naomi wouldn't file for divorce out of nowhere! She’s my wife! Where is she? I demand to speak to her lawyer—!”
“Ms. Bennett is currently unavailable,” the process server replied smoothly, turning on her heel. “Though I believe her exact words to me this morning were: Tell him his new girlfriend is currently unemployed, and he can pack his bags before the movers arrive at the house on Monday.”
The golf club went dead silent around him. Garrett stood frozen on the putting green, clutching the divorce papers as the humiliating reality crashed over him like a tidal wave.
His phone buzzed frantically in his pocket. He pulled it out with shaking fingers.
Caller ID: Sienna.
He swiped answer, his voice cracking with panic. “Sienna? Baby, what’s wrong? I just got served with divorce papers—'
“Garrett! I lost my job!” Sienna’s hysterical crying echoed through the speaker. “Bennett Capital security just dragged me out of my office! They fired me with cause! They’re accusing me of corporate embezzlement over our travel expenses! They know everything!”
Garrett’s knees wobbled. The golf club, the venture capitalists, the pristine greens, and his grand fantasy of a wealthy, luxurious future with his mistress dissolved into absolute ash in a matter of seconds.
May you like
He had thought Naomi was oblivious, predictable, and dependent on him.
He had never realized that the woman he was trying to discard was the absolute titan who owned the very roof over his head, the firm paying his mistress’s salary, and the keys to his entire existence.
