Chapter 7 - The Secret Meeting
Two weeks after the board coup, Julian received an unmarked envelope slipped under the door of his temporary apartment. Inside was a single printed address and a specific time for the following evening, with no signature attached. Driven by desperation and a lingering thread of hope that he might negotiate a settlement, he arrived at the quiet downtown law office well before the designated hour.
The frosted glass door opened to reveal Arthur Sloan, sitting behind a small table with two cups of black coffee. Arthur motioned for Julian to sit, his expression neither hostile nor sympathetic, merely professional. "Mr. Meridian, you received my note. I brought you here because there are certain administrative realities regarding the divorce proceedings that need to be addressed outside of a public courtroom."
"I want to speak to Evelyn," Julian demanded, leaning forward across the table. "I want to look her in the eye and hear her explain how she plans to throw away a five-year marriage over a single mistake." Arthur took a slow sip of his coffee before answering. "Evelyn has nothing left to say to you, Julian. Her focus is entirely on restructuring the foundation and honoring the memory of what was lost. If you attempt to contest the proceedings, we will introduce every single corporate document, bank statement, and communication log from your trip to Napa into the public record. You will lose everything down to the clothes on your back."
