Page 30 of Gaming with the Gargoyle in Hallow's Cove
Cecelia bristles, but continues.
“Luckily for you, I am prepared to offer you a deal.” She clicks open the top clasp on her bag and pulls out a folder. She lays it on her lap and smooths it, like she’d done with her pants. I can’t help but wonder if it’s some sort of nervous tic.
“A deal?”
“This contract stipulates that if you are willing to grant me ownership over our penthouse and Preston’s business holdings, with the exception of the game shop. I will certify that we were married after you were. We can split his accounts fifty/fifty.”
Gwen blinks, her eyes flicking to meet mine where I stand next to her chair. “That sounds… risky… for you.” Gwen’s right, of course—she usually is.
Cecelia grimaces. “Yes, well, I do have my own reasons for wanting to avoid an extended legal battle.” Her tone is clipped and dismissive. “And, neither of us are at fault here, really.Prestondid this to us. I don’t know you, and I may not even like you if I did, but too many women get fucked over in this world for us to be doing it to each other.”
I blink several times, because damn. This is some real girl power solidarity shit and it’s pretty magical.
“I see,” Gwen says. “Obviously, I’d need to look over the contract, but if it is as you claim, I would be amenable.” She looks up at me again, this time with a hint of a smile playing on the edges of her mouth.
“Well, then. I think we are done here.” Celia claps her hands on her thighs and stands, “I will leave this with you to review.” She places the folder on the coffee table. “If you see any problems please reach out as soon as possible. I’d really prefer not to take you to court. Because you’d lose, darling—though I genuinely hope not to.”
Without waiting for us to show her out, Cecelia clicks out of the house and shuts the door behind her. Shereallydoesn’t want to go to court… which tickles a part of my brain I can’t quite seem to place.
It’s silent for a moment as Gwen reaches over to grab the folder. She reviews each page before handing it to me. From what I can tell, it says exactly what Cecelia said. She will formally relinquish any claim on Preston’s assets, as long as we agree to transfer ownership of their penthouse and several specific businesses.
We’ll need to have Gilbert, the old slug-man lawyer look it over. He might insist on being called a solicitor like he was when he was overseas, but he still has solid advice.
After we’ve both looked it over. Gwen places it back on the coffee table with a sigh.
“That’s it?” She asks. “All this and it’s over? It seems too easy…”
“I guess? She seems toreallynot want to go to court.”
Gwen’s mouth drops open. “You know what, you’re right!”
“Yeah, it feels fishy to me.”
Gwen purses her lips. “I mean… I hate to accuse someone but… Preston’s brakes on hisbrand new cardid fail at a pretty inconvenient time…”
“Ohshit!Gwen, you might be right! You think she offed him?”
“It would explain why she doesn’t want to go to court so bad, especially if her lawyers are as good as she says. They might be able to get her the money, but getting her off on a murder charge is probably way harder.”
We sit there in stunned silence for a few moments while we take it in.
“I mean, it’s pure conjecture,” Gwen says. “It would be terrible to accuse someone of that. It was just aterrible accident.”
I nod my head and pull her up from the chair to hug me. “Agreed, even if he was a slimy piece of shit that deserved it.”
Gwen blinks and shakes her head. “Whew she wassomethingthough, huh? I was so nervous and ‘m so glad you got here when you did. Having your help really grounded me. Thank you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get here in time, it took me a minute to wake up.”
“Oh my GOD! Gabe! You’re here during the day! How’re you doing that?” she squeals.
“I tried… really hard?”
“Because I needed you?” Her voice is thick and she’s blinking a lot.
“Yeah, can’t have my little thief navigating tricky situations without me, can I?”
Chapter thirteen