Chapter 18
Camila
I drum my fingers on the table in front of me, replaying the almost kiss that wasn’t even close to a kiss between me and Hess.
The escapade has lived rent-free in my head since it happened last week.
Not because it was a stolen romantic moment, but because I let my guard down for one second, and I hate that I did that.
Granted, it was one in the morning, so we can chalk my weakness up to being tired. Though, deep down, I know the truth.
I felt something.
Attraction, yes. Despite my best efforts, I’m always attracted to Hess.
But I also felt a flicker of something real.
The possibility that Hess truly wanted to know me in a wholesome and pure way. A way that was different than all the men my mom paraded through my childhood.
Which, now that I think of it, sounds completely stupid.
I’m embarrassed the thought momentarily resided in my mind.
From now on, I’m back to my old self, to the woman who isn’t easily swayed by kind smiles and gentle words—or shirtless men.
Those are probably all the same things that landed my mom in four different marriages.
There’s a knock on the conference room door before Richard Vanderveer pops his head inside. “You ready for this client?”
“Of course.” I stand, placing my palms on the table. I’ve never been more ready to remind myself why marriage and love are foolish notions. “I’ve been debriefed on Ms. Becker’s case.”
“Good. I shouldn’t have to remind you what’s at stake here. Monica Becker’s divorce settlement will be our firm’s biggest one of the year. The board is trusting her with you. Don’t let us down.”
I smile confidently. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“That’s what I like to hear. And if all goes as it should, you’ll be well on your way to partner.”
Translation: get a huge divorce settlement for Monica Becker, and the partnership is yours.
Until then, they’ve been dangling the promotion over my head for the last month and a half, holding it just out of reach enough so I keep doing their bidding.
But this should be the final test, and I’m confident I can ace it.
“Camila?” Marcy buzzes in over the speakerphone.
I push the button on the phone. “Yes?”
“Monica Becker is here for you.”
“Show her into the conference room, please.”
“You’re the closer,” Richard says just before he turns to go.
“I always am.” I straighten my skirt and pull my shoulders back, waiting for my client. She walks into the room, flicking her eyes to me. “Ms. Becker, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Camila Jiménez.” I gesture to the row of chairs in front of her. “Please, take a seat.”
“Call me Monica. With your help, I won’t be Ms. Becker for very much longer.”
I take a moment to study her as she gets situated. Long brown hair, thin body, surgically enhanced chest, expensive clothes, but really, she’s just a woman about my age who made the mistake of trusting a man enough to marry him.
“First things first, as your lawyer, I want to emphasize the importance of honesty. Anything you say to me is protected under the attorney-client privilege. It’s expected that you speak openly and honestly with me without fear that what you say will be used against you.”
“Absolutely.” She nods. “I’ll tell you everything as it is. I have nothing to hide.”
I love it when my clients are honest. It makes my job so much easier and makes me one step closer to becoming a partner at this firm.
“Let’s get started.” I scoot my chair in and flip open the case folder.
“I know this is a really emotional time for you. Divorce is never easy. There are many layers and nuances to every relationship, but I’d like to hear your story.
Tell me a little bit about your marriage and why you’re seeking a divorce. ”
“Chad and I have known each other for ages. We were middle school sweethearts. I’ve literally never kissed another man besides him.”
I keep my face even, though my heart aches for her.
Monica seems like a really sweet—albeit naive—woman who thought, at thirteen, she’d found her Prince Charming.
But Prince Charming doesn’t exist—no matter how much we want to believe he does.
If only she’d had an older sister like me to tell her she was making a mistake.
Selena doesn’t know how good she has it.
“After high school, he was drafted into the MLB to the Dodgers farm system. He started in Oklahoma for the Tulsa Drillers, while I stayed in Alabama, working. The long-distance relationship was really hard, so after a few years, we decided to get married.”
“And what age were you both when you got married?”
“We were twenty-one.”
Of course they were.
“What happened next?”
“We were happy that first year. Chad was playing really well and was moved up to Triple-A for a couple of months then eventually promoted to the majors. It was kind of hectic, moving around so much to follow his baseball career, but I didn’t mind.
I loved him, and I was proud that his dream was finally coming true. ”
I can already see where this story is going.
She loses her identity so he can shine. Then they have a few kids, and she can’t travel with him anymore.
That’s when they drift apart, and he cheats while on the road, playing ball.
I’ve seen it a thousand times. A tale as old as time—not the Beauty and the Beast kind.
“Then he got traded to the Arizona Cardinals, and we decided to buy a home here because I was pregnant with our first child.”
“And how long ago was that?”
“About five years ago. But once I had Gigi, I didn’t travel to the games as much. Things were okay for a while. We ended up having another little girl three years ago, and that’s when everything kind of fell apart.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“Chad was gone a lot, and whenever he came home, he wasn’t content.
He started distancing himself from us, talking down to me and the girls, just kind of living a separate life, and it’s been that way for a couple of years.
I started posting on Instagram and TikTok and building a good following there.
You know, just trying to have hobbies and fill my time.
Then six months ago, I had a woman DM me and say she’s been sleeping with him for the past nine months.
I was devastated, of course. I’d given everything to this man I’ve loved my whole life.
I didn’t attend college, pursue a career, or do anything I wanted to do.
I just lived for him, and it felt terrible that he could cast me aside that easily. I’m the mother of his children.”
And this is exactly why being a strong, independent woman who doesn’t rely on a man is so important.
“Did you confront Chad about the affair?”
“Yes, but he denies it. He denies ever knowing her, even though she has pictures with him.”
“I’m going to need those pictures and a screenshot of the direct message she sent you for evidence.”
Her brows lift. “Evidence?”
“Monica, as a successful, professional baseball player, your husband is worth a lot of money.” She shrugs innocently, as if she didn’t know he’s worth millions.
Chad Becker’s net worth is why this case is so important to Richard.
“And since you were both so young when you got married, I’m assuming there wasn’t a prenup.
” She shakes her head. “So your husband’s infidelity can be used to help with the settlement. ”
“I thought Arizona was a no-fault divorce state.”
I’m impressed she knows that. “It is. However, as your lawyer, I plan to use the infidelity as leverage for settlement negotiations. Your husband is a public figure. He won’t want to air his dirty laundry.
Because he cheated, he might agree to a more favorable property settlement or child support to avoid the mess becoming public. ”
“I see.” She swallows, visibly upset.
“I know this is hard.”
Monica pulls out a tissue from inside her purse and dabs at the corners of her eyes.
“I just never thought that he’d change so much or become so cruel.
You don’t understand what it’s been like living with him over the last few years.
He’s so controlling of everything I do. He’ll never let this divorce go through amicably. ”
“You don’t have to worry about any of that. I’m here to help things go as favorably for you as possible.”
“I’m not saying it’s all his fault. I’m sure there were times I wasn’t that great to live with, but I’m also saying I didn’t want things to end like this. I would’ve been committed to him forever.”
Nothing lasts forever.
Especially commitment.