Chapter 9 Outside The Courts?
"You must leave now,” Sarah had insisted, and that had forced Alex to leave.
He stepped out of the glass doors of Sarah’s office building with slow, measured strides. He did not rush.
He slid his phone into his pocket and walked to his car. He got in, started the engine, then drove off—only to turn at the next junction and park a few streets away.
He leaned back in the seat and let out a slow breath.
Joseph Hayes.
He did not like that name. Somehow, he knew men like Joseph always came with hidden claws. He couldn't be coming for any other reason than to ruin the ex wife who was doing well.
Alex rested his hands on the steering wheel. Part of him wanted to turn back. To walk into her office and sit there. Let Joseph see that she was not alone anymore.
But he stopped himself.
Sarah was not weak. She was not a girl. She had lived with that man and survived him. If she said she could handle him, then she could.
Still, he pulled out his phone.
“Let me know if you want me to come back.”
The reply came almost immediately.
“I’m fine, Alex.”
He frowned slightly.
“Why is he there? He makes you nervous.”
There was a pause this time. Longer.
“He's here for settlement talk. He’s greedy but he won’t get anything.”
Alex’s jaw tightened. Old patterns. Typical thing for a man like Joseph to do.
“I’m close. Just say the word.”
Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then appeared again.
‘I said I’m fine. He's talking, but I can't wait for him to get out.”
Alex locked his phone and tossed it onto the passenger seat. He leaned his head back and stared at the roof of the car.
—-----
Joseph sat across from Sarah, his face rigid.
He had the same look that always made her feel like she was on trial. The man who had met her up a couple of days ago to play warm, was gone.
“So what are you saying about my proposition?”
Sarah folded her arms.
“Get to the point, Joseph.”
He smiled.
“Straight to business. Always loved that about you.”
“You loved controlling it,” she corrected.
Joseph chuckled and leaned forward.
“You know my proposal is a reasonable one.”
“I’m listening,” she said flatly.
“I want a settlement. That's all I've been going on about.”
Her laugh came out short and sharp.
“You already got one. The court was clear.”
“That was then,” he said smoothly. “This is now.”
Sarah leaned back in her chair. “Explain.”
Joseph spread his hands. “I’m willing to invest in the company.”
She stared at him. Then she shook her head slowly. “You’re joking.”
“I’m serious,” he said. “I heard things weren’t going so well.”
Her eyes hardened.
“From who?”
“People talk,” he said. “And I know how these things go. You built this business while we were married. My resources helped.”
“That’s a fat lie. You look me in the face and lie.”
“Is it?” he asked calmly.
“We were a unit. What was yours was mine. I deserve a share.”
Sarah pushed her chair back and stood up.
“You never supported this business.”
Joseph’s smile faded just a little.
“You discouraged me,” she went on. “Every single time. You told me it was a waste. You told me no one would take me seriously.”
“I was being realistic.”
“No,” she snapped. “You were being cruel.”
Joseph stood up too. “I put a roof over your head.”
“I paid half the bills,” she shot back. “And when I needed money to grow the company, you refused.”
He waved a hand. “We had priorities.”
“So I took loans,” she said. “Loans you knew about but didn’t care. I worked nights. Weekends. I begged suppliers to trust me.”
Joseph’s eyes narrowed. “You’re rewriting history.”
“No,” Sarah said firmly. “I’m finally telling it.”
He stepped closer.
“You wouldn’t even have had time to work that hard if I wasn’t there holding things together.”
Her laugh this time was bitter.
“Holding things together? You tried to sabotage me.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“You deleted my client contacts once,” she said. “You told investors I was unstable.”
Joseph’s jaw clenched. “You were emotional.”
“I was desperate,” she said. “And you enjoyed it.”
Silence fell between them, heavy.
Joseph straightened his jacket. “Fine. Let’s not argue about the past. I want what I’m owed now.”
“You’re owed nothing.”
He tilted his head.
“We can do this outside the courts. Quietly. I get a percentage. You keep your image clean.”
Her eyes flashed. “Is that a threat?”
“A suggestion,” he said softly. “Think about Mark.”
Her chest tightened at his name.
“You don’t get to use our son,” she said.
“I’m just being practical,” he replied. “Scandals affect families.”
Sarah stepped closer until they were inches apart. “You don’t scare me anymore.”
Joseph studied her face. Something shifted in his expression. Maybe annoyance.
“You’ve changed,” he said.
“Yes,” she replied. “I have.”
“And who do we thank for that?” he asked. “Another man?”
Her lips curved slightly. “That’s none of your business.”
Joseph scoffed. “So there is someone.”
She said nothing.
He smiled again, slow and sharp.
“Be careful, Sarah. Men don’t change. They just wait.”
Her phone vibrated on the desk behind her.
She did not check it.
“You’re not getting a share,” she said. “Not now or ever.”
Joseph exhaled. “Then I’ll have to see you in court.”
“You do that,” she said calmly.
He pulled his briefcase close, but didn't get up.
“You always did like the hard way.”
“And you always liked taking credit for things you never built,” she replied.
The door came open without warning and they both froze.