Chapter 5
I stood in the milkshake shop across the street and watched her through the glass.
Blair was twenty-five, with long hair, flawless skin, and a slender figure. Her lower abdomen was slightly swollen.
She was more than five months pregnant, wearing a loose dress and flats.
A nanny was beside her, pushing a stroller.
Inside sat a little boy, a bit over two years old.
I studied the kid.
I looked at his eyebrows, his eyes, and his nose.
He was the spitting image of Barry in those old childhood photos.
Blair was shopping for baby stuff in the store, looking totally at ease.
She picked up a baby onesie, barely glanced at the price tag, and told the clerk to bag it up.
She didn't even blink, didn't bother to compare prices.
She was blowing through my money, so why would she feel a thing?
I gripped my milkshake cup tightly.
Ashlyn whispered beside me, "Don't do anything rash."
"I won't," I replied.
I watched Blair pay for her purchases and push the stroller out.
As she passed the milkshake shop, she glanced inside by chance.
Our eyes met through the glass.
Blair didn't know me.
Her gaze brushed past me, then she kept walking.
To her, I was a stranger.
But to me, she was the woman who destroyed twelve years of my marriage.
"Let's go," I said, turning away. "I've seen enough."
Once we were out of the mall, Ashlyn asked, "So, how do you feel?"
"Not much," I replied.
"Really?" Ashlyn pressed.
I thought for a moment. "If anything, I'm more sure about what I need to do."
"Sure about what?" Ashlyn asked.
"I'm dead set on making sure Blair and Barry lose everything," I said.
*****
Back at the office, I called Karl into my office.
"Is the plan ready?" I asked.
"It's ready," he said, handing me the file. "Mrs. Harman, I have a question."
"Go ahead," I said.
"If we move forward with this restructuring, the company's value is going to take a big hit. Are you really sure about this?" Karl asked.
"I'm sure," I replied.
"But if we do this, your own interests will also take a hit—" Karl said.
"I know," I cut him off. "Let me ask you this: if I divorce Mr. Harman, how much would he get under this plan?"
Karl did some quick math. "If the restructuring goes through, the company's remaining assets would be less than six million dollars. He'd get half of that, so about three million dollars."
I nodded. "Three million dollars. Is that really enough for him to raise three kids?"
Karl stayed silent.
"If that's enough, then it's way too much," I said, flipping through the file. "Keep refining it. I want the remaining assets to stay under three million dollars."
"Mrs. Harman," Karl said.
"What is it?" I asked.
"If we go through with this and someone finds out, we could be in some serious legal trouble," Karl said.
"That's exactly why I need you to make sure the risks stay as low as possible. That's the whole reason I brought you on," I replied.
Karl looked at me for a few seconds, then nodded. "Understood. I'll revise it."
"Have it on my desk within three days," I said.
"Got it," he replied.
After he left, I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes for a moment.
Barry had siphoned off nine million dollars from the company to support his mistress and their kids.
What I was going to do was transfer everything that was left.
So in the end, all his scheming would leave him with nothing at all.
And I'd make sure Blair's little scheme came crashing down.
And I'd make sure everyone in the Harman family who covered for him would witness how it all ended.