Chapter 7 - THE DIVORCE DEPOSITION
Julian did badly under oath because he still believed emotional complexity could replace factual answers.
Maya was not conducting the divorce deposition.
Claire’s divorce counsel, Aaron Patel, was.
He asked:
“When did your affair with Chloe Morgan begin?”
“Approximately seven months before separation.”
“Did your business discussions with Chloe begin earlier?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell Chloe that Claire planned to leave Morgan West?”
“I believed she might.”
“Did Claire ever tell you that?”
Julian paused.
“Not directly.”
“Did she ever tell anyone in your presence?”
“No.”
“Then what was your basis?”
“She was burned out.”
Aaron nodded.
“Did burnout authorize you to create an email account in her name?”
Julian’s attorney objected.
Julian answered anyway.
“I created a temporary administrative address.”
“Without telling Claire?”
“Yes.”
“To execute corporate documents?”
“To facilitate them.”
“Did you place Claire’s signature image on those documents?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
There it was.
The room shifted.
Julian’s lawyer looked like he wanted the floor to open.
Aaron continued.
“Did Claire authorize that?”
“I believed she would approve the final structure.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“No.”
“Why did you do it?”
Julian looked at Claire for the first time.
“Because we were going to lose Hawthorne.”
Claire felt nothing.
That surprised her.
Aaron continued.
“And what did Hawthorne capital mean to you?”
“Growth.”
“Control?”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“Growth.”
The documents told more.
Hawthorne’s investment would have elevated Julian to majority voting control.
Claire’s voting rights would shrink.
Chloe would receive equity.
The affair and the business takeover intertwined.
But which one caused which remained messy.
Julian insisted he loved Chloe.
Maybe he did.
That did not make fraud less fraudulent.
Then Aaron asked:
“Did you intend to leave Claire before she discovered the affair?”
Julian stopped.
Claire’s pulse changed.
“No.”
Chloe, who had been told the marriage was already emotionally over, did not know that yet.
Aaron continued.
“Did you tell Chloe you planned to leave?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Several times.”
“Did you mean it?”
Julian looked down.
“No.”
That answer would later destroy whatever remained between him and Chloe.
May you like
Claire almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
