Chapter 37
It was Monday morning and everyone was back at work.
"Kyla what happened? How could you lose two potential contacts? TWO!" Carmen shouted.
"I fucked up Carmen. You're going to have to find another way to get Arthur Carlin."
"Damn it! I bet you did something to get yourself caught. You didn't want to help me in the first place, I had to threaten you. Well maybe I should carry out my threat."
"Look Carmen I did no such thing. Being in the Hamptons with the Carlin's and my evil sister was a humiliating experience that I do not wish to relive. Mr. Carlin told me never to step foot on any of his properties ever and if I wanted to see Ashley I had to do it away from Carlin Enterprises."
"Kyla exactly what did you do to get banished from the Carlin Estate?"
"I… I don't want to talk about it Carmen."
"Kyla I think I need to know what happened if I'm going to use you."
"NO! I will not talk about it with you, it's personal."
"Well knowing you Kyla you probably tried to sleep with your sister's girlfriend," she said jokingly. Kyla made no response. "Oh my God! You slept with your sister's girlfriend, Arthur Carlin's daughter?"
"No Carmen I did not," Kyla replied. "Just drop it, please."
Carmen walked over to where Kyla was sitting, looking directly into her eyes. "Which was it Kyla, you slept with her and got caught or you tried to seduce her and was humiliated in your efforts," Carmen said.
Kyla started to cry, "Carmen it was awful. I thought Spencer wanted me. The way she came on to me at the restaurant before the weekend party, I just knew she would be leaving my sister so we could be together. But she lied to me, she tricked me, she and my sister humiliated me. And then my bitch of a sister slapped me in front of everyone and ridiculed me. I hate her," Kyla said with a venomous tone.
"Then why don't you get even Kyla," Carmen said. "You're hurting right now and they're laughing at you but I know how you can get back at all of them."
"How?"
"Continue to snoop for that information I need and put them all in prison. All you have to do is get back into your sister's good graces…"
"No," Kyla said interrupting.
"Just hear me out Kyla, redeem yourself with your sister the best and fastest way you can so we can get that information to put both her and Arthur Carlin in prison. That would be the ultimate revenge."
"I don't know Carmen."
"Kyla if you don't do this Arthur Carlin will slip away from me. Then I'll have to explain to my boss how I lost my contacts again which will not set well with him especially since I got slapped with a harassment suit. How can you sue an agent working for the federal government?"
"Oh that reminds me, he told me to tell you if you continue to harass him, his family and employees he's going to issue another harassment charge against you."
"Fuck Arthur Carlin, he can't do anything to me."
"Look Carmen maybe you should go about getting your information another way. Because this way is not helping you."
"Kyla I know I can still use you."
"Use me how?" Kyla asked frustrated with Carmen. "I told you I have been banned from any communication with the employees of Carlin Enterprises and I'm not allowed to go on his properties."
"Unless the government wants something," Carmen added. "But I'm talking about your sister Ashley."
"My sister is not speaking to me right now Carmen. Remember she is a Carlin employee. I'm sure her loyalty to her lover and the Carlin clan, weigh more heavily towards them than to me even if I am her half sister."
"Kyla you need to make up with her as soon as possible, any way you can."
"No, Carmen it's just not possible."
"Make it happen Kyla!"
Oh brother, she thought. "Fine Carmen I'll see what I can do, now please go I have work to do."
"I'm trusting you to get that information Kyla. Remember I know what you did to get this job," Carmen said smirking.
"Get out Carmen."
///
"Good day everyone, I am Judge Miriam Walker. The divorce case I have before me is Mr. Franklin Pierce vs. Mrs. Spencer Carlin-Pierce. Are both parties and their attorneys present?"
"Yes your honor," both attorneys respond in unison.
"Mr. Pierce this is an uncontested divorce, correct?" The judge asked.
"Yes your honor," Franklin replied.
"Your honor Mr. Pierce does request alimony from his wife," Franklin's lawyer stated.
"Alimony!" Spencer shouted.
"Mrs. Pierce I will not allow outbursts in my courtroom."
"Sorry your honor," Spencer apologetically said.
"Mr. Pierce you are asking for alimony for what reason? Don't you work?"
"Yes your honor, I'm the conductor of the local symphony but I may not have that job for long since my wife is divorcing me."
"Your honor that is not true. We know for a fact that Mr. Pierce has signed a seven year contract with the symphony as their conductor," Sherman Williams, Spencer's lawyer said.
"I see is that true Mr. Pierce?"
"I've been offered a contract your honor but I have not signed it yet."
"Doesn't matter, it was offered, alimony denied," the Judge said. "Continue Mr. Williams."
"Yes your honor, Mr. Pierce also came into a large amount of money recently, five million dollars and a house to be exact."
"Is that right Mr. Pierce?"
"Yes your honor but it was confiscated by the IRS. I no longer have the house or the money."
"Your honor it is not Mrs. Pierce fault that the IRS confiscated his money and house. Mrs. Pierce has given her home to Mr. Pierce to live in or sell. She does not want it. Mr. Pierce should not be entitled to any monies or properties that were acquired during their marriage."
"I agree Mr. Williams but according to these papers filed, Mrs. Pierce has monies considered to be community property and it must be split 50-50. That's the law."
"WHAT!" Spencer yelled again staring at Franklin who just shrugs his shoulders.
"Your honor please may I have ten minutes to confer with my client?" Sherman asked the Judge.
"Yes, granted Mr. Williams… ten minutes."
"Sherman I don't want to give Franklin anything but the house. Why is he entitled to my money too?"
"Because you acquired it during your marriage. It's called, what's his is yours, what's yours is his clause," Sherman said chuckling. "Seriously Spencer, the law in California states that any money or property acquired when married is to be split if the married couple should divorce. And unfortunately Franklin wasn't man enough to be the moneymaker in your marriage to actually contribute to the money you have made, otherwise it wouldn't be so hard to let him have it. The wimp ass."
"Wimp ass is right but we were only married for one year. Don't you have to be married for ten years for that rule to apply?"
"No Spencer, it doesn't matter if you were married only one day or ten years if you got it when you were married, you have to share it. I'm sure it can't be that much."
"What the hell does uncontested mean if I have to pay?"
"Well if it were the other way around, you would be getting the money."
"No Sherman, I wouldn't be asking for anything from him. Just my freedom."
"Okay let me see you and Franklin were married exactly one year as of three days ago. With your income, and your stock investments you will have to pay him… Wow, Spencer you accumulated this much in a year's time with Franklin. Very smart investing."
"I did alright Sherman," Spencer said smiling.
'Okay, it comes to two million dollars."
"I have to give him one million dollars and the house?"
"No if he accepts the money he will have to vacate the house because the house was yours before you married Franklin. That's not community property. You were just giving it to him correct?"
"Yes," Spencer answered.
"Do you still want him to have the house if he accepts the one million dollars?"
"No let him find his own place to live. He will certainly have enough money to do it. I'll put the house up for sale."
"Okay people have we come to some decision?" The Judge asked.
"Yes your honor," Sherman answered.
"Mrs. Pierce will pay Mr. Pierce one million dollars but he must vacate the house he is now living in since it is not community property."
"What!" Franklin exclaimed. "You said I could live there."
"That was before you wanted my money Franklin."
"Order, order… do not address each other, talk through your attorneys," the Judge said. "Mr. Pierce you are to receive a lump sum of one million dollars and vacate the house in sixty days. So ordered, I hereby declare the marriage between Mr. Franklin Pierce and Mrs. Spencer Carlin-Pierce dissolved. Have a good day."
"Is that it Sherman, I'm divorced?"
"Yes Spencer, I need a check from you for one million dollars so it can be disbursed to your ex-husband. I'll also give him the papers to vacate the house."
"Great, when do I get my decree?"
"In six weeks Spencer."
"Then I can marry Ashley?"
"Yes if that's what you want to do."
"Thanks Sherman, you're the best."
///
"Spencer… Spencer," Franklin called out.
"What is it Franklin?" Spencer asked, turning to face him.
"I'm sorry about the money but my lawyer said I was entitled to it whether I wanted it or not. Why are you kicking me out the house?"
"Because Franklin you can't have my money and my house. I'm not that generous."
"Alright Spencer I'll start packing right away. Um… Spencer."
"Yes," Spencer answered annoyed.
"I'm still safe right, you won't retaliate against me will you?'
Spencer looked around to see if anyone was in earshot of Franklin's comment. "Franklin, why don't you grow some fucking balls for once in your fucking life and stop acting like a fucking wimp. I told you, you have nothing to be afraid of. Go live your life like I'm going to do…"
"With Ashley," he said completing her sentence.
"Yes with Ashley."
"So will you still support me with the orchestra?" He asked.
"I'll still go to your concerts if that's what you mean."
"No that's not what I'm talking about."
"Franklin I'm going to establish a life with Ashley, no hiding and no sneaking around. I plan on marrying her as soon as I get my decree in my hands. So if she wants a large wedding or a quiet one, it's up to her I'm going to let her have it which means everybody will know about the divorce. I will not hide the fact that we are no longer married to help you out. You have a contract what are you worried about?"
"Yes but it's not signed yet."
"Well what the hell are you waiting for? Sign it and if you think there is going to be a problem, ask my mother to help you, she's still on the board." Spencer turned and left leaving Franklin standing in the middle of the hallway.
///
Ashley was at her desk with her head down, preoccupied with some papers. Feeling eyes on her she looked up from her desk and sees Spencer leaning on the doorframe of her office watching her work. A head tilt and a very big smile plastered on her face.
"Spencer! You're back, well what happened?" Ashley asked.
"I am now officially Spencer Carlin, divorcee."
"Spencer!" Ashley happily shouted, coming from around her desk to hug her now free and single lover. "Are you okay, I mean with everything? You don't regret divorcing Franklin do you?"
"No, never Ashley, as long as you're with me. I can't tell you how happy I am to be free of Franklin. Now we can really be together as a couple. Is it a sin to be this happy?" Spencer said hugging Ashley tighter.
"If it is then we'll die sinners," Ashley replied.
"What's going on out here?" Arthur asked standing in the door of his office.
"Dad! I'm a free woman," Spencer happily said.
"That's great Spencer how much did it cost you?" Her father asked.
Ashley looked at Spencer. "You had to pay Franklin to get the divorce? I thought it was supposed to be uncontested."
"Yeah me too but Sherman said because I acquired monies during our marriage I had to split it 50-50."
"So how much did you have to pay Franklin," Ashley asked.
'One million dollars," she said looking at her father and Ashley.
"One million, Spencer you were only married to Franklin for a year, you made two million dollars in the one year you were married?" Ashley questioned.
"Yeah I guess the investments I made were smart ones."
"Spencer I assume you have no secrets from Ashley," Arthur asked.
"No, no secrets dad, Ashley never asked me about my financial situation."
"That's because I didn't care. I didn't want you for your money. I just wanted you."
"So where did you hide your other money?"
"Your other money," Ashley asked suspiciously.
"Well…"
"Yes Spencer," Arthur said smiling at his daughter.
"I put it in several banks and stock under Ashley's name," Spencer said gazing at her lover. "Yes Ashley you are now worth twenty-five million dollars."
"WHAT!"