Chapter 7 - The Celebration He Stole
The divorce negotiations lasted almost a year.
Anthony delayed hearings, disputed financial records and repeatedly requested new valuations. Each delay increased his legal bills, but Eleanor assured him Marissa would eventually give up.
She did not.
In the final settlement, Anthony received a reasonable sum, shared parenting time and ownership of his personal belongings.
He did not receive the penthouse.
He did not receive company shares.
He did not receive lifetime access to Marissa’s accounts.
Most importantly, the agreement confirmed that all temporary privileges issued to Anthony or his relatives could be terminated once the divorce became final.
The judge signed the order on a Thursday morning.
Marissa returned to the penthouse and planned a quiet dinner with Noah, Rachel and two close friends.
Anthony heard about the gathering through a relative.
He decided it was a divorce celebration and convinced himself it was partly his event.
Without asking Marissa, he expanded the guest list. He invited Eleanor, cousins, former business partners and several people who had supported him publicly.
He ordered champagne through the penthouse account.
Eleanor purchased a powder-blue designer outfit and arranged for shopping bags from several boutiques to be delivered during the party.
Anthony even requested a white suit because he wanted photographs proving that he was “entering a new chapter with dignity.”
Marissa learned about the changes from her event coordinator.
“Should I cancel everything?” the coordinator asked.
Marissa looked at the unauthorized orders and smiled slowly.
“No. Let them come.”
Rachel, standing beside her, raised an eyebrow.
“What are you planning?”
“Nothing dramatic.”
“That is usually what people say before doing something dramatic.”
Marissa opened her evidence folder.
She had received final confirmation that morning. Anthony’s consulting company had defaulted under the misconduct clause. Bennett Urban Holdings could take control immediately.
There was also the matter of the apartment Eleanor occupied.
The apartment had not been rented in Anthony’s name.
It belonged to one of Marissa’s investment companies and had been provided as temporary accommodation during the divorce.
That permission ended at midnight.
May you like
Marissa placed three notices inside a cream envelope.
Then she canceled the card.
