Victor arrived at the conference looking older.
His expensive suits remained, but his confidence had disappeared.
Melissa was gone.
I later learned that she had ended their relationship after discovering that Victor had concealed financial information from her as well. She had also hired her own attorney to address the transfers made to her company.
I did not celebrate her misfortune.
I had learned that a person’s downfall did not automatically repair the damage they had caused.
Victor sat across from me in the conference room.
For the first time in years, there was no audience for him to impress.
No restaurant employees.
No newspaper reporters.
No girlfriend waiting to admire him.
Just two attorneys, a mediator, a stack of documents, and the woman he had once called a pack mule.
His attorney outlined the proposed settlement.
The agreement recognized my ownership interest in the business, required a comprehensive accounting of the disputed assets, and divided the marital property according to the negotiated terms. The parties also agreed to address any remaining financial adjustments through the procedures set out in the settlement.
