I Took the Money and the Quadruplets Chapter 11

I Took the Money and the Quadruplets Chapter 11

He always thought he could rewrite reality just by issuing a statement.

I picked up my phone and called my lawyer, David.

“Have you seen the news?”

“Have I seen it?” David’s voice was electric with excitement. “They’ve handed us a gift, Ava. This is a public, material misrepresentation to the market.”

“I need you to do two things,” I said calmly.

“Name them.”

“First, send a legal notice to every outlet that ran this story, including the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. Attach a scanned copy of the notarized divorce decree, the one bearing Liam Walker’s own signature.”

“Brilliant,” David said.

“Second, issue a statement of your own. Make it clear that Walker Group’s announcement constitutes a false representation that has misled the public. I am reserving my right to sue for damages to my reputation.”

“Ava, I am on it. Their stock price is going to be very interesting this afternoon.”

I had just hung up when my phone vibrated.

It was a number I knew all too well.

I answered.

“Ava, where are you?” Liam’s voice was low, but the anger was unmistakable.

“Mr. Walker,” I said, using the formal address we’d used when we first met. “I’m under no obligation to report my whereabouts to you.”

“We are not divorced,” he said, his voice urgent. “You saw the statement. I will handle this.”

“Is that so?” I leaned back in my chair, enjoying the sun. “But I did receive twenty million dollars. Are you calling to ask for it back?”

The other end of the line went dead silent.

After a long moment, he spoke again, his voice softer.

“Keep the money. Ava… just come back, all right?”

I looked out at the endless blue of the Pacific.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Walker. Trading my freedom for twenty million dollars is a deal I’m very satisfied with.”

I let that hang in the air for a beat.

“In fact, I should probably thank you.”

I ended the call and added his number to my block list.

The world went blessedly quiet.

Julian raised his glass in a toast.

“Well played.”