Chapter 4: The Call That Changed Everything
The phone rang twice before a deep, familiar voice answered.
“Claire?” the man said, sounding surprised. “It’s been a while.”
“Marcus,” Claire said quietly. “I need your help.”
Marcus Hale was one of the top corporate lawyers in Boston. He specialized in high-stakes business litigation and had a reputation for being ruthless when necessary. Claire had worked with him once before on a difficult contract dispute, and he had been impressed by her composure and strategic thinking.
“What’s going on?” Marcus asked.
Claire glanced toward first class, where Ryan was now sitting stiffly, occasionally glancing back at her with visible panic.
“I just found my husband on a flight with his secretary,” she said calmly. “They’re in first class together. He just called her his wife to a flight attendant.”
There was a short pause on the other end.
“I see,” Marcus said. His tone had shifted into professional mode. “What do you need from me?”
Claire had been thinking about this moment ever since she saw Ryan and Chloe together. She had already made her decision.
“I need you to start the process immediately,” she said. “Full divorce proceedings. I want everything documented — the affair, the financial discrepancies, everything. But more importantly…”
She paused.
“I want you to look into Ryan’s company. I have reason to believe he’s been using company resources for personal expenses. And I want everything ready before he even realizes what’s happening.”
Marcus was quiet for a moment.
“You’re moving fast,” he said.
“I don’t have time to move slowly,” Claire replied. “He thinks he’s won. I want to make sure he understands that he hasn’t.”
Marcus’s voice was steady when he answered.
“Understood. I’ll start gathering everything today. Do you want me to send someone to meet you when you land in Denver?”
Claire thought for a moment.
“Yes,” she said. “Have them bring the initial paperwork. I want Ryan served as soon as possible.”
After ending the call, Claire put her phone away and leaned back in her seat. Her hands were steady. Her breathing was calm.
She had just set something in motion that Ryan would never see coming.
He thought he was being careful.
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He thought he could have both lives — the respectable marriage with Claire and the exciting affair with Chloe.
He was about to learn how wrong he had been.
