Chapter 21
Kate was feeling a little better about her situation when she left her apartment the next morning. From there she went straight to Vanessa and Chris's mediation. Kate was as ready as Vanessa to get this over with.
“Now listen,” Kate said to Vanessa as they walked into the mediator's office. “He's probably going to be a dick about all of this, you know that right?”
“Fully prepared,” Vanessa told her.
“So we're probably going to end up in court,” she told her.
“Okay,” Vanessa said looking bit worried. “Are you sure we have to go to court?”
“Hopefully not, but he's pissed so I'm sure he's going to make it harder than it has to be.” Kate stopped talking to greet the receptionist who took her and Vanessa to the conference room. They were the first ones there. Kate was pleased. She always like sitting on the far side of the room. A weird quirk she'd picked up over the last eight years. They took their seats and continued their conversation.
“All I want is my car and the things that I brought into the marriage,” Vanessa said.
“I know,” Kate told her. “But, you're entitled to an equal share of the assets. I'll do my best to get you a good deal.” Kate pulled a sheet of paper from her briefcase that outlined the assets that Vanessa and Chris shared. A house, two vehicles, the personal property and the investments that they'd made while married.
“I don't need all of this,” she told her. Kate nodded, but she knew that it was expensive to be on your own in the city. Vanessa would need more than she thought she did to survive until she found a job.
“I'll make this as quick and painless as possible,” Kate said.
“Okay,” Vanessa nodded.
The mediator came in a few minutes after they arrived and introduced herself. Mrs. Hillborne. Kate was happy that it was a woman. She had better luck when it was. The exchange of greetings was followed by a fifteen-minute wait for Chris and his lawyer to arrive. Kate didn't mind that he was late. It just made Vanessa look that much more appealing.
When Chris entered there wasn't an exchange of pleasantries, or anything for that matter. He stoically took his seat across from Vanessa, never letting his eyes meet hers. Kate could feel Vanessa tensing next to her.
“Let's begin,” the mediator said. “Let's see if we can't come to an agreement on the vehicles first,” she suggested. Kate and Vanessa nodded, along with Chris's lawyer—Vance Lamkey. Kate had squared off against him a couple times and she knew that he had a tendency to be ruthless. Lucky for Vanessa, so could Kate. “Both are paid for so there shouldn't be any issue.”
Kate and Lamkey both nodded.
Chris stared across the table at Vanessa like he was looking straight through her. “There are two. I would suggest each of you taking one,” Mrs. Hillborne said.
“That would be fine,” Kate answered for her client. “Vanessa would like the car. Chris can have the SUV.”
“Mr. Monroe,” the mediator said, “do we agree?”
“We do not,” he answered quickly.
Kate and the mediator exchanged looks before either spoke. Looks that said this was all going down the road that Kate had been hoping to avoid.
“What do you counter?” the mediator asked.
“My client doesn't wish to divide any of the assets,” Vance answered.
“That is not the purpose of mediation,” Mrs. Hillborne reminded. “Can we please try to come to amicable terms and avoid court and cost for both parties?” she asked.
“We cannot,” Vance said firmly after looking to Chris who promptly answered with a shake of his head.
“Why are you being so difficult?” Vanessa asked.
“You know why,” he answered, his dark eyes finally looking at his soon-to-be ex-wife. “You're the one who walked away.”
“That is not what happened,” Kate spoke up. She felt Vanessa's body tense next to hers. “My client filed for divorce because her husband was barely present for the marriage himself. If anyone walked away from this marriage it was him.” Kate was treading a very fine line between lawyer and friend. Chris was making it very hard for her to stay professional. She really wanted to reach across the table and slap him.
“But he didn't leave. He stayed,” Vance argued. “She abandoned him.”
Kate felt the slack in her jaw as she stared at Vance. His jet-black hair slicked back and a look in his eyes that screamed arrogance.
“I'm not here to put the blame on either party,” Mrs. Hillborne reminded them. “I'm here to help facilitate a peaceful resolution to a very difficult situation.” She paused. “Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that that is going to be possible.” She tidied up her stack of papers. “I'm afraid I'm going to have to suggest that this case move forward with a judge.”
Kate looked at Vanessa who was in a stare off with Chris. Unlike her soon to be ex, Vanessa had the start of tears in her eyes. Chris was wearing more of a menacing smirk.
“This is preposterous,” Kate scoffed, as the mediator stood to leave.
“Also,” Vance added. “Ms. Monroe has already taken up residence with another man.”
“He's a friend,” Vanessa said, finally hearing enough. “There's absolutely nothing going on between the two of us.”
“We'll let a judge decide that,” Chris said.
“There is absolutely no reason to take this to trial,” Kate countered, looking past Chris and at his lawyer hoping for some common ground and sense to kick in. “There are no children and only four years of marriage to sort through. Surely we can come to some sort of agreement over what each person is entitled too.”
“We won't be doing that,” the lawyer answered without so much as a second thought.
“Why are you doing this?” Vanessa asked Chris.
“You didn't have to leave,” Chris told her. “But you did. Now you'll have to live with the consequences.”
“You're not going to like the outcome of this,” Kate said, with a promising look that she'd dig up every single seed of darkness or deceit that Chris had buried over the years. If he wanted to play hardball, then so be it.
“I'm not worried,” Chris said smugly. He and his lawyer stood. “We'll see you in court,” the lawyer said before they walked out of the room.
Kate didn't speak another word until they were out of the room and the mediator had excused herself.
“We're going to win this,” Kate told her friend who had finally allowed the tears she was fighting back to fall. “Don't worry,” she said as she wrapped her arms around Vanessa.
Vanessa nodded as she hugged Kate and when the moment passed, she held her shoulders back and let out a sigh. “I'm not crying because I'm sad,” she promised Kate. “I'm so fucking mad that it's either cry or punch things.”
“I'm right there with you,” Kate said, handing Vanessa a tissue.
“He thinks I'm going to just let him have it all and take the easiest way out.” Vanessa shook her head. “He forgets that I know all of his secrets,” she said. “I know things that he does not want other people to know.”
“Good,” Kate told her as they gathered up their belongings and stood to leave. “We might need it all.”