Chapter 2

Chris leaves with his suitcases, and Chloe locks the door behind him. She didn't cry. She forced back every tears that was threatening to come down from her eyes and pulls out her phone and calls her father.

This isn't the time to cry, but to take the right steps 

He answers on the second ring "Chloe? It's almost eleven, What's wrong?" He asked from the other end of the phone 

"Chris has been having an affair with Molly for eight months" Her voice doesn't shake. "I need the name of your best divorce attorney."

There was 5 seconds silence in the other end of the line, "I'm coming over."he said 

"No, I need a lawyer, Someone ruthless"Chloe said 

"Julia Morrison" His voice sharpens with anger “I'll text her number now. I'll call her first thing in the morning."

"Thank you"

"Chloe" He pauses, "Are you okay?"

"I will be”she responded immediately 

Chloe walks to her laptop and opens a new spreadsheet, column by column for Assets, value and ownership status

She works through the night, documenting everything. Every asset they've acquired in five years. Every account with both their names. Every credit card, investment, retirement fund, their joint account which holds about fifty-three thousand dollars,she needs to withdraw her half before Chris does.. 

By sunrise, she has a complete financial picture of what needs protecting.

She arrived at her office at 7am the next morning,dressed in her most expensive suit. If she was going to fall apart, it wouldn't be where anyone could see.

Her assistant Sarah was already at her desk, sorting through mail. She looked up as Chloe approached. "You're here early. Everything okay with the Sterling presentation?"

"Fine, I need you to reschedule my afternoon meetings. I have a personal appointment at 2."

"Done. Coffee?"

"Please."she answered immediately 

Chloe closed her office door as she left,sat at her desk and opened her email. Her father had sent Julia Morrison's contact information with a note that the attorney was expecting her call.

She dialed the number.

"Morrison and Associates." A receptionist answered.

"Chloe Bennett for Julia Morrison, Peter Anderson,referred me."she spoke politely 

"One moment."

The hold music lasted thirty seconds before a woman's voice came on. "Mrs. Bennett. Peter called me this morning. I understand you need representation in a divorce"

"Yes, My husband has been having an affair for eight months. I have documented evidence. I want to file immediately"she said in one single sentence without taking a breath.

"I have an opening at 2pm this afternoon, Can you make it to my office in Century City?" She asked 

"I'll be there"

"Bring all documentation, financial records, property deeds, and any prenuptial agreements"

"There's no prenup"she said almost immediately 

"Even better. See you at 2pm."she said as she hung up 

As the call ended, Chloe put a call through to her bank

 "I need to open a new account in my name only and transfer funds from a joint account" she spoke to the lady over the phone,

“Okay hold on”The lady at the other end of the line said and puts her on hold. Comes back two minutes later. "Mrs. Bennett, It's showing here that the account was emptied yesterday at 11:47 PM" she said 

Her blood goes cold. "Emptied?"

"Yes. A wire transfer for the full balance. Fifty-three thousand dollars was made yesterday”she explained further,

Her heart drops, Chris moved faster than she expected.

She hangs up and immediately calls Julia Morrison's office again. 

Julia's voice comes through sharp and alert "What happened?"

"Chris emptied our joint account last night. Fifty-three thousand dollars."

"That was stupid of him. California is a community property state. He just stole from himself" Julia stated 

"Can we get the money back?"she asked desperately 

"We'll get your half back, plus penalties for his behavior, Don't worry. He just made my job easier." She sounds almost pleased 

Chloe ends the call and gets back to work. Her boss Richard has scheduled a meeting about the Sterling Tech campaign. She needs to keep her job secure while her personal life implodes.

She arrives at Richard's office at exactly eleven, He's behind his desk with coffee and a concerned expression.

"Chloe. Sit " He gestures to the chair. "I heard about your separation, I'm sorry"

"Thank you. It won't affect my work" she said immediately 

"I know it won't. You're one of our best." Richard leans forward. "But I need to ask. The Sterling Tech campaign launches in five weeks. Can you handle it?"

"Absolutely." Her voice doesn't waver.

"Good. Because they're getting nervous. Marcus Grant called yesterday asking questions about team stability"

Marcus Grant? Why would he care about her campaign team?

"What kind of questions?" She asked eagerly

"Whether you'd be distracted. Whether we should assign backup support." Richard studies her. "I told him you're a professional and your personal life is separate from your work. But Chloe, if you need time…

"I don't need time, I need to work" She said as she stood. "The campaign is on schedule, All deliverables are on track. I'll send you an updated timeline today"she said before leaving the office.

she drove straight to Julia Morrison's office in Century City as she left Richard's office.The receptionist led her to a corner office where a woman in her fifties sat behind a mahogany desk. Julia Morrison had short gray hair, sharp eyes, and the bearing of someone who won more than she lost.

"Mrs Bennett,Sit down" Julia gestured to the chairs across from her desk. "Peter speaks highly of you, He's also extremely angry on your behalf, which tells me this is bad."

"My husband had an affair with my best friend for eight months. I found emails. I have financial records showing his spending. I want him to get as little as possible."

Julia opened a legal pad. "Walk me through it. Start from the beginning”

Chloe spent 40 minutes detailing everything. The discovery, the confrontation, Chris's justifications, his admission that he married her because she was convenient.Julia took notes without interrupting.

When Chloe finished, Julia set down her pen. "You said the apartment is in your name only?"

"Yes,I purchased it two years before we married,He's on the mortgage but not the deed"

"Good, California is a community property state, which means assets acquired during marriage are split fifty-fifty. But your apartment is separate property. He has no claim to it." Julia flipped through her notes. "His affair is technically irrelevant to the division of assets, but it gives us leverage. Judges are human. They don't like cheaters"she explained calmly 

Julia looked up. "How vindictive do you want to be?"

"Very" she said coldly ,anger burning in her eyes 

"Good. Anger is useful,It keeps you from accepting a bad settlement out of guilt or exhaustion" Julia pulled out a contract. I bill at six hundred an hour, This will get expensive,

but Peter says money isn't an issue for you."

"It's not."she replied 

"Then let's make your husband's life difficult”..