Chapter 9 - THE SETTLEMENT SLOANE COULD AFFORD
Sloane did not disappear.
People in stories often want mistresses punished with total ruin.
Reality was messier.
Apex had legitimate clients unrelated to Derek.
Employees.
Contracts.
Tax obligations.
Destroying the company would harm people who had nothing to do with us.
So the settlement focused on disputed funds.
After valuation and negotiation, Sloane and Apex agreed to repay $390,000 through a combination of cash, surrendered receivables tied to Callahan Ridge work, and a structured payment plan.
Additional claims were released.
She also gave up disputed rights to certain future compensation.
Was that every dollar I emotionally believed she deserved to return?
No.
Was it supported by evidence and realistic collectability?
Yes.
Before finalizing, Sloane asked to speak to me.
I nearly refused.
Then accepted one meeting with attorneys present.
She wore a gray suit.
No red dress.
No champagne.
We sat across a conference table.
She said:
“I’m sorry.”
I waited.
“I knew he was married.”
“Yes.”
“I knew you existed.”
“Yes.”
“I told myself your marriage was already over.”
“It wasn’t.”
“I know.”
She looked down.
“I also knew those signature packets were wrong.”
That mattered.
“You asked him.”
“Yes.”
“And then you did it anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She swallowed.
“Because I wanted the deal.”
There it was.
No childhood trauma.
No Derek made me.
No romantic destiny.
Self-interest.
I respected the honesty more than I wanted to.
Then she said:
“I didn’t know he hit you.”
“I believe you.”
She looked surprised.
“That doesn’t make what you did okay.”
“I know.”
“And sitting there while he hit me?”
Her eyes filled.
“I froze.”
“You mocked me before he did it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Sloane looked ashamed.
“Because if you looked pathetic, I didn’t have to feel like I was doing something cruel to a real person.”
That sentence stayed with me.
Dehumanization is often ordinary.
Convenient.
I did not forgive her.
I did not need to.
May you like
We signed the settlement.
That was the last time I saw Sloane for three years.
