Treachery

The witness takes the stand, is sworn in, and when he flops down into his seat, he lays both hands on his belly and burps.

I cover my mouth to keep from laughing, but Ta

Rather than wasting any time on pleasantries, Ta

“Mr. Hillcox, you’re here today because you indicated to me that you have information relating to the Respondent in this matter, Luca Hughes. Can you describe for me now, what that information is?”

“I fucked her. Fucked her good, in fact. She stopped reaching for the remote to watch television during it after the third or fourth time.”

The courtroom goes silent for a second, Marjorie stilling at my side as the judge snaps his gaze to the witness.

Ta

“Okay, thank you for that, Mr. Hillcox. Can you elaborate on that without being so crude?”

“What do you want to know?”

“Let’s start with the dates and times you had relations with Mrs. Hughes.”

“Tuesday and Thursday nights. She charged me fifteen dollars per hour. I only needed seven minutes, though because the willy ain’t what it used to be. Know what I mean?”

The witness laughs, a wet chortle that forces my eyes closed as I struggle not to react in a way I shouldn’t.

“Yes, well, willy problems are regrettable, but I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

I bury my face in my palms, hoping like hell people think I’m panicking instead of fighting not to laugh.

Ta

“Can you identify Mrs. Hughes for me? Is she sitting anywhere in the courtroom?”

Pulling my hands away from my face, I let the witness get a good look at me. He shakes his head and returns his stare to Ta

“She’s not here. You’d know her by the patches of hair that are missing and the fact she only has one eye. She also has pockmarks on her face, but I think that’s from her drug addiction.”

Ta

His voice astute and controlled, Ta

“No sir, that woman looks like a sensible lady.”

The witness glances at me and grins.

“Although she does look like the type who argues too much and would be better off doing as she’s told.”

Oh my God.

Ta

I’m going to kill him.

My eyes flick to him, and he covers his mouth as if thinking, but we both know what he paid this man to say.

“No further questions,” Ta

Beside him, Clayton is fuming, a red sheen across his cheeks and his mouth a stern line. He angrily whispers to Ta

“Counselor Stoneman, do you feel the need to question the witness?”

“No, Your Honor.”

“Mr. Hillcox, you can step down.”

Marjorie pushes to her feet as Mr. Hillcox climbs down from the witness stand.

“Your Honor, in line with Petitioner’s Motion, I’d like to file and have heard Respondent’s Motion to Enforce the Terms of the Prenuptial Agreement Due to Extramarital Affair.”

Clayton shoots a look my direction, and I ignore him. It takes effort to keep my eyes trained straight ahead, but I can still see him shift in his seat through my peripheral vision.

Ta

“What?”

The judge looks to Clayton. “Is there a problem, Mr. Hughes?”

Clayton shakes his head before leaning over to whisper to Ta

“Proceed, Counselor Stoneman.”

Marjorie goes through her spiel, but when she calls Melody Korsak to the stand, Clayton’s face goes ashen, all color draining as his secretary walks past him.

Melody is sworn in, and Marjorie spends almost twenty minutes with her going over the details of the affair she had with Clayton. It doesn’t sting as much as it used to, and I’ve stopped caring about the details. It helps that Melody claims she can provide recordings that back up her claims.

When she finishes, Clayton’s face is an angry shade of red, but Ta

“Ms. Korsak, I only have one question for you.”

Melody smiles and waits.

“Just how bored were you during sex with my client?”

“Objection!” Clayton’s chair legs screech over the tile as he pushes to his feet and yells.

Ta

A banging gavel drags all our eyes to the judge. “I think we’re done here. Ms. Korsak, please step down from the witness stand.”

We wait as Melody leaves the courtroom, the judge glancing between all of us before he says, “I’m going to grant Respondent’s Motion. The Petitioner has seven days to transfer the money owed to his wife. We’ll set a final hearing for two weeks from now.”

Clayton gets up and storms out of the courtroom, his father’s men fast on his heels. Meanwhile, I take a deep breath and relax in my seat while Marjorie practically runs a victory lap in her head.

Glancing over at Ta

I could kiss him right now in front of everybody, but I stay in my seat and wait for the judge to dismiss the courtroom.

Thrilled that the divorce is almost over, I close my eyes and feel a weight drop from my shoulders.

This isn’t the end of it.

I know that.

Ta

But for the first time, I’m actually thankful for the maelstrom I have on my side.