Chapter 8: The Hearing
The courtroom was smaller than most people imagined courtrooms to be.
Mei had imagined it larger.
She sat beside Grace at the plaintiff's table and looked at the wood paneling and the fluorescent light and thought that for a place where so many things were decided, it had very little drama in its architecture.
Daniel sat at the defendant's table with his attorney, a man named Clifford Bray who had the expensive suit and the slightly too-confident posture of someone who had won cases by exhausting the other side.
He had not yet understood that Mei did not exhaust easily.
The judge was a woman in her sixties named the Honorable Patricia Wren.
She had reviewed the pre-hearing submissions over the weekend.
She had not looked pleased when she entered.
The session was a preliminary hearing on the loan dispute — Daniel's claim that the one point four million was a gift, not a debt.
Clifford Bray stood first.
"Your Honor, the plaintiff has produced a document she claims is a loan agreement.
However, the defendant has no recollection of signing any such agreement, and we contend that the document—"
"Mr.
Bray," Judge Wren said.
"I've read your submission.
I've also read the plaintiff's submission, which includes the original signed document, a notarized witness statement from both independent witnesses present at the signing, and a chain of wire transfer records showing twelve monthly payments made by the defendant before the payments stopped." She looked at him over her glasses.
"Your client made twelve payments on a gift?"
Clifford Bray adjusted his posture.
"Your Honor, those payments were—"
"Voluntary expressions of gratitude?"
"In a manner of speaking—"
"Mr.
Bray." Her voice was not unkind.
It was simply finished with that line of argument.
"Sit down."
He sat.
Grace stood.
"Your Honor, the plaintiff requests that the court recognize the loan agreement as valid and enforceable, and that repayment of the outstanding principal plus accrued interest be included in the divorce settlement calculation."
"So recognized," Judge Wren said.
She made a note.
"What else?"
"The plaintiff also requests the court's attention to the attempted property transfer documented in exhibit seven.
The defendant instructed an attorney to begin the process of transferring two properties out of the plaintiff's name without her knowledge or consent.
One transfer was not completed due to the cooperating attorney's withdrawal.
The second was never initiated beyond the research phase.
However, the intent is documented in writing."
Judge Wren looked at Daniel's table.
"Mr.
Chen." She was addressing Daniel directly.
"You understand that instructing an attorney to transfer property you do not own, without the owner's consent, is not a civil matter."
Daniel's attorney leaned toward him.
Daniel said nothing.
"I'm going to refer the property transfer documentation to the DA's office for review," Judge Wren said.
"That referral is separate from these proceedings and does not affect the civil case.
But I want it on record that this court has flagged it." She looked at Clifford Bray.
"Counsel, I trust you've advised your client of his exposure."
"We are aware, Your Honor."
"Good."
The hearing continued for another forty minutes.
By the end of it, three things had been established on the record: the loan was valid, the equity stake was valid, and the attempted property transfers would be reviewed by the DA.
In the hallway afterward, Daniel caught up with Mei before she reached the elevator.
"Mei."
She stopped.
She turned.
He looked like a man who had spent two weeks not sleeping well.
His suit was right but his face was wrong — the careful confidence he had always carried had been replaced by something smaller and more honest.
"I know there's nothing I can say," he said.
"There isn't," she said.
"I just—" He stopped.
Tried again.
"I want you to know that I'm sorry.
Not for the legal situation.
For the dinner.
For not standing up." He looked at the floor for a moment.
"For smiling."
Mei looked at him.
"I know," she said.
"But sorry doesn't put me back on my feet."
The elevator arrived.
She stepped in.
May you like
He didn't follow.
The doors closed.
