Chapter 9: Grace Adler's Office
Grace Adler's office was on the fourteenth floor of a building downtown, with a view of the river and a conference table long enough to seat twelve.
She was waiting when we arrived — early fifties, silver hair pulled back, a yellow legal pad already open in front of her.
She shook my hand, then Daniel's, then looked at Victoria with the particular expression of someone who has heard every version of every story and is simply waiting for this one.
Victoria sat at the far end of the table.
Grace sat across from her.
I sat beside Daniel.
"Mrs.
Vance," Grace said.
"You've indicated you'd like to speak for yourself today.
I want to be clear about the situation before we begin.
The documents on this table represent a pattern of unauthorized transfers from a jointly held household account over a period of eighteen months.
I also have written statements from two individuals — Margaret Chen and Renata Holloway — describing separate incidents of targeted harassment.
My client, Daniel Vance, is prepared to pursue civil action on all three matters unless a satisfactory resolution is reached today."
Victoria looked at the documents.
"I want my own attorney present."
"You're entitled to one," Grace said.
"We can reschedule."
"No." She said it quickly.
"No, I'll — I'll speak today."
Grace nodded.
She uncapped her pen.
"The transfers," Victoria said.
"I can explain those."
"Please do."
"Daniel and I had an understanding.
He gave me discretion over household finances.
I used that discretion to manage some personal expenses that I didn't want to itemize."
"What personal expenses?" Grace asked.
A pause.
"Private matters."
"Mrs.
Vance, I'll need specifics."
Victoria's eyes moved to Daniel.
He looked back at her without expression.
"There were some debts," she said finally.
"From before the marriage.
I was managing them privately.
I didn't want Daniel to know."
"What kind of debts?"
Another pause.
Longer.
"A previous situation," she said.
"A legal matter.
From several years ago."
Grace looked up from her pad.
"What kind of legal matter?"
Victoria was quiet for a long moment.
Her hands were in her lap now, out of sight.
"There was a woman," she said.
"In my previous city.
She filed a complaint against me.
It was resolved.
Privately."
I looked at Grace.
Grace looked at me.
"What was the nature of the complaint?" Grace asked.
"She claimed I had made false statements about her to her employer." Victoria's voice was very controlled.
"It was a misunderstanding.
Her attorney sent a letter.
I paid a settlement to make it go away."
"And the settlement funds came from—"
"My own savings at the time.
But then there were the attorney's fees, and the follow-up costs, and I—" She stopped.
"I needed to manage it without Daniel knowing."
"Because if he knew," Grace said, "he would have understood that this wasn't the first time."
Victoria said nothing.
"Mrs.
Vance." Grace set her pen down.
"I want to be direct with you.
What you've described is a pattern.
A woman in your previous city.
Margaret Chen.
Renata Holloway.
And now Clara Vance.
Four incidents that we know of.
Possibly more." She paused.
"The question in front of us today is not whether this happened.
It's what happens next."
Victoria looked at the table.
"I'll sign the divorce papers," she said quietly.
"Whatever Daniel needs.
I'll repay the money.
Full amount, with interest if he wants it." She paused.
"But I need the Chen and Holloway matters to stay out of any public record."
"That's not your decision to make," I said.
She looked at me.
"Margaret Chen lost eight months of work," I said.
"She has a daughter.
Renata Holloway was removed from a gym she had attended for six years.
You blacklisted Margaret with employment agencies.
You used your husband's money to cover a previous settlement for doing the same thing to someone else." I looked at her steadily.
"You don't get to decide what stays private."
Victoria's eyes were bright now.
Not with tears.
With something else.
"You want to destroy me," she said.
"I want you to stop," I said.
"There's a difference."
Grace picked her pen back up.
"Here is what I'm prepared to offer, on behalf of my client.
Full financial restitution to Daniel Vance, documented and legally binding.
Written, formal apologies to Margaret Chen and Renata Holloway, with copies held by this office.
Mandatory agreement to make no further contact with either woman, or with Clara Vance, under penalty of civil action.
And full cooperation with the divorce proceedings, with no claims against the family trust."
Victoria stared at the table.
"In exchange," Grace continued, "Daniel Vance will not pursue criminal charges for the unauthorized transfers, and the Holloway and Chen matters will not be referred to law enforcement."
The room was very quiet.
"And if I don't agree?" Victoria said.
"Then we proceed through the courts," Grace said.
"All of it.
On the record."
Victoria looked at Daniel one more time.
He was looking at his hands.
May you like
She picked up the pen Grace slid toward her.
She signed.
