63. Nigel
NIGEL
Nigel and his divorce attorney, Chris, were sitting in the offices of the most expensive legal firm in town - only the best for Madison. A smartly dressed woman stuck her head out of the conference room door.
‘Chris. Good to see you,’ she said.
‘Veronica,’ Nigel’s attorney replied.
‘Come in. Everything’s set.’ She disappeared back into the room.
Nigel straightened his tie.
‘Ready?’ Chris asked.
‘As I’ll ever be.’
He was eager to get this over and done with. He’d seen far too much of corporate offices this week. He’d much rather be back in Devon. Being grilled by Mary in the beach cafe would be a doddle compared to this.
Chris opened the door for him. Nigel walked into the conference room and stood stock still. Madison was sitting halfway along the mahogany table that dominated the room. ‘Why didn’t you warn me she’d be here?’ he hissed at Chris.
‘I didn’t know she would be.’
Veronica was next to Madison, and another woman was sitting at the end of the table, a stenotype machine in front of her - the court reporter, presumably.
Madison kept her eyes firmly on the notepad in front of her. How bloody dare she! It was one thing ignoring him when they were on opposite sides of the Atlantic, but he wasn’t going to put up with it in person.
‘Why are you here, Madison?’
Veronica turned to her. ‘You don’t have to answer that.’
Madison looked up and glared at Nigel. ‘I want to make sure you’re telling the truth.’ She folded her arms.
‘And why wouldn’t I tell the truth?’
‘You tell me.’
Veronica spoke up again. ‘We have a lot to get through. Let’s make a start.’
Nigel sat down in the chair opposite Madison. Chris sat next to him and opened his laptop.
The court reporter looked up from her stenotype machine. 'Please raise your right hand.'
Nigel did as he was told.
'Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?'
'I do.'
'Please state your full name for the record.'
'Nigel Alexander Farnham.’
Veronica took over. ‘Your current address, please, Mr Farnham?’
‘Dashford Grange, Dashford, Barnstaple, EX34 5XF.’
‘And that would be in England.’
‘The UK, yes.’
‘How long have you resided there?’
‘Since New Year’s Eve 2023.’
‘31st December?’
‘That’s usually when New Year’s Eve happens.’
Chris coughed. He’d told Nigel to avoid sarcasm, but it was proving difficult.
‘And prior to that?’
‘The same address as your client. 612 East 74th Street, New York, NY 10021’
Madison was making notes on her pad - or pretending to. Surely she didn’t need to write down her own address.
Veronica moved on. ‘Let’s talk about your current employment status, Mr Farnham.’
‘I’m unemployed.’
‘When did you last draw a salary?’
‘30th November 2023.’
‘Four months ago?’
‘If you say so.’
‘And did you leave your position voluntarily?’
‘Yes.’
Madison huffed. He ignored her.
‘Are you currently looking for employment?’
‘No.’
Madison rolled her eyes.
‘Let’s move on to your living arrangements. Are you currently in a relationship?’
‘How is that relevant?’
‘It’s relevant if that relationship affects your living expenses. Are you cohabiting with anyone?’
‘My mother, stepfather, younger brother and future sister-in-law, who’s pregnant if you want to include unborn babies as well.’
Madison was glaring at him again now. ‘Liar.’
Chris interrupted. ‘Please remind your client that she has to remain silent during the deposition.’
‘Who do you think I’m living with, Mrs Farnham?’ Nigel asked, staring at Madison.
Chris kicked him under the table.
Madison ignored her lawyer’s glare. ‘Ms Styneson to you.’
So Madison was using her maiden name again. Trying to eradicate all traces of him from her life. Nice.
‘You’re living with Helen,’ Madison said. She looked at her notepad. ‘Helen Simpson, Cove Cottage, Watery Lane, Dashford, Barnstaple, EX34 5XF, United Kingdom.’
Nigel tried his hardest to keep his expression neutral. How did she know Helen’s name and address?
Veronica turned back to him. ‘Are you living with Helen Simpson, Mr Farnham?’
He hesitated. Technically, he wasn’t now that Helen had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. ‘No.’
Madison huffed and raised her eyebrows at Veronica.
Veronica turned her attention to Nigel again. ‘May I remind you that you are under oath, Mr Farnham?’
‘I’m fully aware of that. I’m living in my family’s home at Dashford Grange.’
‘Do you contribute to Ms Simpson’s household expenses?’
‘No.’
‘Very well.’ Veronica turned to her laptop and moved her mouse. ‘Let’s move on to assets.’
She pushed two sheets of paper across the table to Nigel. ‘Is this the list of assets you shared with us in February?’
Nigel took his time reading the list, checking that nothing had been amended. ‘I believe so, yes.’
‘Have you acquired any assets since you wrote the list?’
‘A car.’
‘What type of car?’
‘A BMW Z4 Roadster convertible in red.’
Madison muttered ‘pathetic’ under her breath, but loud enough for the whole room to hear.
Nigel didn’t react.
‘Worth?’ Veronica asked.
‘Definitely worth it.’
‘I meant how much did you pay for it?’
‘￡32,375.’
‘And how did you fund that?’
‘By withdrawing the money from the savings account at the top of the list.’
‘Not much left in that account now, then, Nigel.’
He smiled at Madison. ‘Enough for me. I’m not as extravagant as you.’
Chris shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘We need to take a break.’