Chapter 5 - The Trap for Mark
At precisely 10:00 AM, Arthur Vance—Cameron's senior legal counsel—walked into the penthouse's private study carrying a thick leather briefcase. Vance was a formidable man in his fifties, known in corporate circles as a legal shark who decimated opponents in courtrooms.
I sat in a leather armchair across from Cameron’s desk, while Sadie sat quietly at a small side table near the window, coloring in a new book Vance’s assistant had brought up for her.
"Mr. Hale," Vance began, laying out a series of legal documents on the glass desk. "I've reviewed the custody filings made by your employee's ex-husband, Mark Bennett. It's a standard nuisance suit designed to extract a financial settlement. He is claiming Clara's long work hours constitute child neglect."
Cameron leaned back in his executive chair, his fingers laced together. "What is his debt situation?"
"Extensive," Vance replied, pulling out a financial dossier. "He owes ninety thousand dollars to private gambling syndicates in Vancouver, thirty thousand in back taxes, and his personal accounts are currently overdrawn by twelve thousand. He view Miss Bennett's employment with Hale Global as a fresh revenue stream."
My stomach turned over. I had known Mark was desperate, but hearing the exact numbers laid out by Cameron's lawyer made me realize how dangerous he truly was.
"What are our options?" Cameron asked calmly.
"We can drag this through family court for eighteen months," Vance said. "It will cost Miss Bennett thirty thousand dollars in fees she doesn't have, which will force her into a low settlement."
"No," Cameron said instantly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "We don't drag it out. We end it today."
"Mr. Hale," I interjected, my voice trembling. "I can't ask you to pay my legal fees. This is my burden—"
Cameron looked at me, his dark eyes fierce and unyielding. "You are not asking, Clara. I am deciding. Mark Bennett tried to use your child as a pawn for money. I don't tolerate extortion in my business, and I certainly won't tolerate it in my home."
He turned back to Vance. "Call Mark Bennett's attorney. Tell them we are inviting Mr. Bennett to this penthouse at 2:00 PM today to discuss an out-of-court financial settlement."
Vance raised an eyebrow, a slow, cunning smile touching his lips. "A settlement meeting? Here?"
"Tell him I am personally offering to pay off his ninety thousand dollar gambling debt in exchange for a complete, irrevocable termination of his parental rights," Cameron said coldly.
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I gasped. "Cameron! He'll never agree to give up his rights—"
"He will," Cameron interrupted softly, looking toward Sadie who was happily humming a song while coloring a unicorn. "A man who views his child as a price tag will always take the cash, Clara. Watch and see."
