Delaney James seemed to have it all-a Manhattan townhouse, a thriving career as a fashion journalist, and a handsome, high-powered husband, but when he announces he's leaving her, Delaney's picture-perfect life unravels. Heartbroken and in need of a...
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I'm sitting at my desk, an overwhelming amount of paperwork splayed out in front of me. My divorce papers. Documentation on New York State divorce laws and equitable distribution. A Google search of divorce and property rights pulled up on my laptop, as well as health and life insurance options, a budgeting plan and credit card applications – because Will never wanted me to have my own. He always put them in his name, and a little research, I realize he wasn't doing me any favors, because my credit score is embarrassing.
I grab the packet on New York divorce laws and begin to flip through it. My lawyer doesn't approve of my getting involved, but I want to be prepared.
I don't want any surprises.
Nico's father was kind enough to refer me to a lawyer friend of his. He happens to be one of the best divorce attorneys in the state, and my parents were generous enough to lend me the ten thousand dollars for the retainer, with the promise that I pay them back of course. He's a nice guy and he knows what he's doing. I just can't tell if he's a minnow or a shark, and if I'm going to win the war Will is surely about to declare, I'm going to need a great white.
Will owns everything we had together, from the watch on my wrist to the forks in his silverware drawer, and according to my lawyer, he owns the house outright. He never put my name on the deed when he bought it. I guess he planned on keeping that little secret forever. Any monies acquired during the marriage are considered marital property, but my lawyer won't be able to touch his trust fund.
New York is typically a no-fault state, but my lawyer said because Will committed adultery, we may have a leg to stand on, even though nothing is legally in my name. I'd have to file a 'fault divorce' though and that'll be a fight every step of the way. It could be years before we settle. If we file as 'no-fault' we have to be separated for six months before any proceedings can occur, and as hard as I know it's going to be to sit in a court room and listen to his lawyer badmouth me, I just want to get started so I can begin the next chapter of my life.
I've been reading legal jargon for almost two hours. My hand aches from taking notes and highlighting key points, and there's a blue ink stain on the knuckle of my right pinky. My eyes are burning from staring at the computer screen, and I feel the twinge of a migraine coming on, so I pull my glasses off and rub my eyes with my thumb and middle finger, and as I drag my hands down my face, someone suddenly grabs my shoulders.
I nearly jump out of my seat. "Shit!"
"It's me."
I look up to find Greyson's smiling face hovering above me. "You scared me."
"I'm sorry." He leans over the back of my chair and grabs my face, pressing an upside-down kiss to my lips. "I didn't mean to."
"What are you doing here? I thought I wasn't going to see you until tomorrow."
"That was the plan, but I missed you."
He squeezes in behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, peppering kisses along my shoulder, up my neck, and across my cheek. I wrap my arm around his neck and slide my fingers into his hair, resting the back of my head against his shoulder as I savor all his attention. Ever since L.A, we can't get enough of each other, no matter how much time we spend together.
