Chapter 4 – The “Simple” Woman’s Demands
The next afternoon, an unknown number flashed on my phone. I answered, already knowing who it was. “Elena?” a high, breathy voice chirped. “It’s Noelle. We need to talk, woman to woman.” I hit the record button on my phone system. “I don’t think we have anything to say to each other, Noelle.”
“Oh, but we do,” she replied, her tone shifting from sweet to venomous. “Graham told me you’re dragging your feet on the divorce. Look, let’s be real. You’re an old, tired workaholic. Graham needs a vibrant woman who appreciates him, not a boss who controls him. But we aren’t unreasonable. We want $500,000 to buy you out of his share of the company, and we want you to sign a non-compete clause.” I nearly laughed out loud. The sheer audacity was breathtaking. “You want me to sign a non-compete for my own company?” I asked, feigning shock. “Graham built that company with you!” she shrieked. “He’s the face of it! The clients love him. If you don’t pay us and sign the papers, we are taking every single major account you have. We already have the files, Elena. It’s over.”
“Please,” I whispered into the phone, channeling my best Oscar-worthy performance of a defeated woman. “Please don’t destroy my company. That’s all I have left.” Noelle laughed, a cruel, sharp sound. “Should have thought about that before you neglected your husband. Have the papers signed by Friday, or we release the kraken.” She hung up. I immediately forwarded the crystal-clear audio recording to Davis. “We have her on tape committing extortion and admitting to possessing stolen corporate data,” I told him. “Draft the divorce papers exactly as Graham wants them. Give him the severance clause he asked for. But make sure the language regarding his forfeiture of all future company equity is ironclad.” It was time to give them exactly enough rope to hang themselves.
Chapter 5 – Signing the Death Warrant
Friday morning arrived with thick clouds and a heavy downpour, matching the dramatic atmosphere Graham seemed to crave. We met at a neutral mediator’s office downtown. Graham strutted into the room wearing a brand-new tailored suit, undoubtedly purchased with the money he had stolen from me. Noelle was waiting out in the hallway, peeking through the glass blinds with a smug grin on her face.
Graham slid the divorce agreement across the table. “It’s a fair deal, Elena. You keep the house, and I take a $100,000 lump sum exit severance, plus the right to start my own competing firm. In exchange, I surrender all claims to Briarfield Packaging’s future revenue.” He thought he was pulling off the heist of the century. He assumed the shadow database he stole on the USB drive was worth millions in recurring revenue. He thought the $100,000 severance was just the cherry on top. What he didn’t realize was that by signing this specific document, he was formally acknowledging his termination as an employee and legally detaching himself from the protective umbrella of my corporation.
“Are you sure about this, Graham?” I asked quietly, holding my pen above the signature line. “Once I sign this, there is no going back. We are done. And you are entirely on your own.” “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” he sneered. “Noelle and I are building an empire. You can watch us from the sidelines.” I signed the document. Then I pushed it back to him. He signed his name with a dramatic flourish, stood up, and adjusted his tie. “It was nice doing business with you, Elena,” he said, turning on his heel and walking out. Through the glass, I saw Noelle jump into his arms, kissing him passionately. My lawyer, Davis, watched them leave. “Are we initiating the lawsuit now?” he asked. I shook my head. “No. Let them spend the money first. Let them sign the leases. The higher they climb, the harder the fall.”
