Broken Lyrics (Book 3 of the Black Heart Series)

Sixteen

Bree

Another week went by and no Asher.

DC said that he was busy when working on band stuff, when they weren't together, but the guys always found time to come around and hang out here and there, whether at the house or the bar.

I didn't care, or so I told myself.

Out of sight, out of mind and all that...

It was around 4pm on a Friday, when I made it into my office, only to be greeted by bestie, who had made herself at home behind my desk.

"Hey, sweets, what are you doing here?" I asked with a smile.

"Hey, Bree. Can you sit with me for a sec?" She asked seriously.

"Sure." I shrugged, feeling out of place, I took a seat opposite her, at my own desk.

She looked at me and took a deep breath, before proceeding, "We've heard from Asher's lawyer."

"Oh..." I swallowed hard.

"This guy is paid very well, I assure you." She tapped a huge stack of files that were on the desk in front of her.

I didn't dare to touch any of it. I just stared at it, as my skin began to crawl. And a lump formed in my throat.

"He's taking her." My words came out in a whisper.

"Look at it." She slid it toward me.

"No." It couldn't be remotely close to what I proposed. "Not with that huge stack of paperwork."

"Fine," She sighed, "Then I'll break it down for you."

She opened up the first file, "Each legal file contains a different section of this agreement. It appears to be a combined contract. You will either have to adhere to all aspects or nothing at all."

"Here," She pointed to the top section, "He starts with the basics. The top form is for the his name addition to her birth certificate, the second is adherence to a legal name change and the documentation, another adds her to his life insurance, health insurance and-"

"No paternity test?" I cut her off, my brow furrowing. Didn't all men want that?

"I guess he didn't feel that he needed one," She shrugged, "I'm still not certain if it's because she's his carbon copy or because of his other terms."

"Other terms, like what?"

She closed that file and pulled out the next. They seemed to be getting progressively thicker...

"In this section he wants 50% legal rights. He wants to consult with you about her wellbeing on a daily basis, but when it comes to physical custody, he wants 100% and no less. He states in here that he wants her in his home, under his roof, 100% of the time."

"He's taking her..." My vision blurred... I knew it... I just knew he was going to do this...

"That's what I initially thought too, but that's not the case." She hurriedly moved that file to the side and pulled out another, thicker file, practically throwing it at me.

I was reaching for it with shaky hands, but froze at her next words.

"That would be your premarital agreement." She sighed heavily.

"Wait! My what?"

"Pre. Marital-"

"DON'T even finish that sentence!" I snapped at her, glaring. This had to be joke.

"Do you want to hear what that one says?"

"NO!"

"Well, I need to tell you anyway," She sighed, "His homes, his cars, his profits, everything will be 50% yours, as long as you remain married. And, let me tell you, he's got a LOT of high ticket items. Two multi-million dollar homes, three high priced cars, including one that could pay for your bar two times over. You will travel with him and bed with him and do all the wifey things..."

"This is a fucking joke, Lexi!" I gaped at her.

"If you marry and divorce, due to irreconcilable differences, mental illness, drug abuse, carnal abandonment or adultery, on his end, he will pay you 50% of all of his assets, until either his or your demise." She continued, "Any purchases or debt incurred by either party, during said marriage, would be paid solely by him. If there is an item purchased during said marriage, such as a vehicle, business, or otherwise, under your name, it will remain yours after the divorce."

"Any child that becomes a result of the union would be in 50% legal custody of both parties. Physical custodial rights would be decided during mediation, unless otherwise court ordered."

"Please stop." I held up a hand, but she still went on.

"There's more to it..."

"No! There can't be more than a premari-... NO, Lexi!" I couldn't even say the words... "And what if I don't agree to this fake marriage he's proposing?"

"Then he has a whole other set of terms." She sighed, picking up a smaller file, "They call it your "second option". Where physical and legal rights of Declan are solely his and visitation for you will be every other weekend, or not at all."

"And if I agree to nothing?" I questioned, "What then?"

"Then he'll most likely take you to court," Her eyes were full of sorrow, "He could fight that you neglected Declan, by leaving him and his money out of her life. I have evidence that I could use, to prove that you did everything you could for her, but I honestly don't know if it would work. We could always have Declan decide who-"

"NO! Declan can't know about this! This is between Asher and I! I won't put this on her!" I snapped, "And you KNOW this can't go to court! People would go crazy! It would kill my child!"

"Bree, his lawyer is good." She shook her head softly, "I don't think I could win this. And if it goes to court-"

"So, basically, he's bribing me... Either I give him what he wants, a fake marriage, or he fights me and everything goes public..."

"Well, this is more like blackmail... You either agree to his terms, or everyone knows what happened." She seemed sympathetic, "I'm the one he's bribing..."

She handed me the last file. The smallest of them all. It only contained two sheets, the top one was a letter.

Dear Miss Thompson,

We appreciate your time and services rendered for one, Sabreena Welks.

Fortunately, Sabreena has accepted the marriage proposal of our client, Declan A. McGhee. They will be married by the end of the calendar year. Henceforth, your services are no longer required at this time. We will be handling Sabreena's legal concerns now through the future.

Our client, Delcan A. McGhee, has enclosed payment, that he sees fit, for the services that you have so graciously provided for our client and his future wife.

"He's lost his fucking mind!" I looked up at her, my jaw hitting the floor, "All of these years and the man has lost his ever-living fucking mind!"

"We can always attempt to revise, see if they throw it back at us." As she spoke, I flipped the next page...

OH. MY. GOD!

"I've never seen that many fucking zeros!" I snapped

"The money is nothing to me, if you aren't happy." She told me, "But can I just say something? Sister to sister?"

I gave her a nod.

"I don't think he would have taken the time to put this all together if he didn't want it... You, Declan, the whole thing... And I have watched you struggle, since the first day I met you. Emotionally and physically. I have seen your heart break a thousand times over. I even watched you strangle a teddy bear, for Christ's sake. Would it be so hard to give in? Just once?"

"And what does my lawyer say, Lexi?"

"I don't know," She giggled, yanking the file out of my hands, "Why don't you call them, because I'm holding a check for a million dollars!"