Page 5 of Second Chances
"I know that. I just have to wait for the settlement."
"There's no money left. Alex is broke."
"That's impossible, I do the books, I know exactly how much money comes in and goes out. We've been saving for our kid's college education, for our retirement. We're not wealthy, but we're definitely not broke."
"I've seen this happen before," Margot folded her hands on top of her notebook. "That ex-husband of yours has either blown your life savings, or he has hidden them."
Megan’s head bobbed forward, a sudden case of vertigo overtaking her body. Charlotte jumped up from her chair and ran to Megan's side, putting her arm around her shoulder and righting her body. The room was spinning, and Megan felt like she was going to pass out or throw up, or both. Charlotte squeezed her shoulders, “Breathe Meg, breathe”.
Megan took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut. "The house. You can sell my house, right Meg? He can't hide a whole house."
She felt Charlotte stiffen. "What?"
Charlotte sat back and stared intently at Megan, "Do you remember when Alex bought the office building?"
"Of course, I do," Megan said hesitantly.
"He leveraged the house."
"I know that. I'm not an idiot Charlotte. I signed the spousal agreement on that deal."
"As you would have had to," Margot interjected. "But what you wouldn't have to sign is the commercial agreement he put together to pull out all the equity from the office building. And who knows what he's done with that."
"So, you mean to tell me..."
"There's nothing." Margot put the notebook back in her briefcase.
"That's impossible," Megan's voice shook.
"Megan. We think that he's hidden the money offshore. Margot has the connections to prove it, but it might take some time."
"How much time?"
"It's hard to say - depends on how good he is at covering his tracks. I've seen it take a few months to a few years."
Charlotte rubbed Megan's bare arms. "Meg. If he's hidden it, we will find it. I promise you that."
"But what am I supposed to do in the meantime?"
"You are a smart woman, you will figure it out - you all do." Margot stood up. Charlotte stood, shook her hand, and whispered conspiratorially, "Whatever it takes."
Megan stood too, her legs shaking. Charlotte slung her arm behind Megan's back to support her as Megan shook Margot's hand. "Thank you, Mrs. Meyer," she said.
"We will get him, dear. And it's Ms. Meyer."
The silver-haired woman turned on her Jimmy Choos and left the room.
The vertiginous feeling returned, and Megan reached for the arm of the sofa. "What am I going to do?" she whispered. Then the tears came. "Charlotte, what am I supposed to do?" she gasped through sobs.
"You heard Margot. You will figure it out - and I will help you."
