Gabi stayed seated as Hunter introduced one of his lawyers.
Ben Lipton was a personal attorney who’d been given enough information to know that Gabi wasn’t in Hunter’s life because of a romantic relationship.
He shook her hand and took the contracts to the opposite side of the room to read.
“Can I get you something to drink, Gabi?”
Hearing her name from Hunter’s lips wouldn’t sit well for some time. “Tea.”
He buzzed Tiffany, placed her request.
The silence in the office was broken by the door opening and the tea setting being placed on the table.
Tiffany glanced between the three of them and left in silence.
Mr. Lipton would occasionally lift an eyebrow, glance Gabi’s way, then return to the contract.
When the man finally finished, he evened out the pages and stacked them on the table. “Have you read this?” he asked Hunter.
“That’s why I have you.”
Mr. Lipton was in his fifties . . . his salt-and-pepper hair and starch-filled suit would label him as sophisticated. He had kind blue eyes, but if he was in business with Hunter, Gabi believed he couldn’t be trusted.
“Then let me spread before you Miss Masini’s terms.”
“I’m listening.”
Gabi sat back and heard her words spoken through Hunter’s lawyer.
“Your contract is for eighteen months. At which time divorce proceedings will begin without contesting from either side or the entire contract is forfeited and no money will exchange hands.” All that was standard.
“The agreement is for twenty-four million, one million for each month of marriage, and one million for every estimated month it will take for the divorce to be final.”
Gabi met Hunter’s eyes. The amount was triple the normal contract.
He didn’t bat an eye.
“Continue.”
“As your wife, she insists on a new residence, one in keeping with your current lifestyle with no possibilities of a previous woman having ever been in attendance.”
There was a smirk . . . maybe even a little admiration behind his eyes.
“Continue.”
“If the marriage lasts eighteen months, she wants five years in the home you purchase before selling and splitting the profits. If the home loses money, you will pay the difference.”
There was no doubt now . . . he was smiling.
“Continue.”
Ben shook his head.
“Any extramarital affair going public . . . assumed or proven, will cost one million per affair.”
That made him pause. “Really, Gabi?”
“I hate being made a fool.”
He shook his head, rolled his fingers in the air. “Continue.”
“In the event of any criminal charges being brought against Miss Masini, your marriage will continue until she has been freed of all charges, to which all funds will continue as promised. All legal expenses to exonerate Miss Masini will be paid for by you.”
Hunter tilted his head. “Touché.”
She grinned, feeling more confident with every word the lawyer spoke.
Ben tuned the page and continued to paraphrase. “In the event of any domestic violence, Miss Masini has the right to terminate the marriage and will obtain one hundred million dollars. Said funds will be placed in an account on the first day of marriage and held in trust until the completion of the contract.”
Hunter’s smile fell, and for the first time since walking into the office, Gabi felt exposed.
“I’ll never hurt you,” he said softly.
I’ve heard that before.
Staring directly at Hunter, she said, “Please continue, Mr. Lipton.”
“In the event of Miss Masini bearing your child, half of your net worth will be placed in a trust for your child. The marriage can be terminated at any time after a pregnancy is determined, and the home you purchase will be free to live in until your son or daughter reaches eighteen or graduates from high school.”
Hunter frowned.
“That’s an expensive child.”
She leaned forward, made sure he understood her words.
“The only way a child would be conceived between us would be through force. I’m assuring my safety, Hunter.”
It was his turn to hold her eyes with his own. “Anything else, Ben?”
“Standard stuff . . . if you both agree to early divorce, the original payout is applied.”
Hunter twisted his phone toward her. “Get your attorney on the phone . . . I have a couple of conditions of my own.”
Two hours later, Gabi agreed that if she were to have an affair, the settlement would be half of the expected twenty-four million. The home would be sold within one year of divorce, and any child not his would keep her maiden name and be entitled to half of the final settlement.
By the time Mr. Lipton left Hunter’s office, the hour closed in on three.
Gabi’s back ached from sitting in the office chair, the view from Hunter’s office forever burned in her brain.
They discussed marriage in terms she never thought possible.
There was a day in her life that love and devotion were once a part of till death do us part. She knew better now.
There were many examples of “good marriages” around her . . . but she couldn’t help but question. What didn’t she know . . . what was happening behind the scenes that no one spoke of?
It made her sick . . . the questioning . . . the wondering.
The memories.
“We missed lunch,” Hunter said when they were alone.
The agreement was made . . . the contracts sat in front of them, waiting for their signatures.