this can help.”
“I understand.”
Lecia would say nothing of her suspicions to Liz. If the woman had been sexually abused, she would have to discover that on her own, through treatment. There were stories of patients uncovering repressed memories through the guidance of therapists, only to realize later those memories had practically been implanted. Families had been torn apart by such painful accusations.
Lecia concentrated on what Liz was cognizant of. “In the meantime, you need to encourage open discussion with your husband about how your behavior has hurt him. This may serve as a sort of wake-up call for you. I’m hesitant to suggest couples counseling yet, because you need to work on yourself first.”
Liz dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “Okay.”
Lecia glanced at the clock. She was a couple minutes over her time. She rose. “I’ll see you next week, Liz. Same time.”
“Thank you, Dr. Calhoun.” She stood as well. “By the way, I saw you on the Tonight Show. I was like, you go girl.”
“Thanks.”
Lecia sensed that Liz wanted to say more, but she didn’t. And Lecia was glad. She had spent half the night trying to put Anthony Beals out of her mind, and hadn’t succeeded. She didn’t need anyone else reminding her of him and what had been an incredibly embarrassing episode.
“Next week,” Lecia said.
“Yes, next week.”
Alexander Brody eyed Ginger with an uncompromising gaze. “Maybe you didn’t hear me correctly. I said a million dollars.”
Ginger met the look with one that was equally unwavering. “With all due respect, I heard you the first time. And I’m more than a bit confused. Why do you think I’d want to settle for a million?”
The lawyer exhaled his frustration. “Quite frankly, I think a million is a great deal.”
“For my husband, yes, because five is what we agreed upon,” Ginger pointed out. “It’s written in black and white in a contract that’s binding. If he cheats, I get five million dollars. He more than cheated on me. He humiliated me with some lowlife prostitute.”
“The allegations of infidelity are unsubstantiated,” the lawyer pointed out.
“He did it.”
“No one can be sure.” Brody shrugged. “Who knows—maybe things did happen as your husband said. Maybe he didn’t know that woman was a prostitute.”
Ginger snorted her contempt. “He knew. And he was willing to pay for sex because he’s a pig. Who knows how many other women he’s been with?”
“Accusations are one thing. But it’s my job—the court’sjob—to deal with fact. And without any proof of infidelity, your prenuptial agreement can’t be enforced.”
“But—”
“In light of that, I think the offer of one million dollars is very generous. You were only married for five months.”
Ginger summoned her tears, hoping they would do the trick. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she sobbed. “That he hasn’t ripped my heart to shreds?”
The lawyer was unimpressed by her display of melodrama. “It means that you should consider yourself lucky. A million dollars will go a long way to helping you start your new life.”
“It’s not enough,” she hissed through clenched teeth.
“Enough for what?”
Shit. She knew she shouldn’t have spoken that aloud. But whose side was this lawyer on, anyway? What kind of high-powered lawyer to the stars was he? She snatched a tissue from the jerk’s desk and dabbed at her eyes before speaking. “Enough for…for my emotional pain and suffering.”
“It’ll buy you a good shrink.”
Ginger sucked in a shocked breath.
“Sorry.” Brody held up a hand. “That was out of line. I’ve made my position clear. I think you should take the offer.”
“It’s not what we agreed upon.”
“When you told me your husband had been unfaithful, I thought you had proof. That’s why—”
“A judge may believe me.”
“Sure. That’s possible, however unlikely. Even still, it could take several months before
“I understand.”
Lecia would say nothing of her suspicions to Liz. If the woman had been sexually abused, she would have to discover that on her own, through treatment. There were stories of patients uncovering repressed memories through the guidance of therapists, only to realize later those memories had practically been implanted. Families had been torn apart by such painful accusations.
Lecia concentrated on what Liz was cognizant of. “In the meantime, you need to encourage open discussion with your husband about how your behavior has hurt him. This may serve as a sort of wake-up call for you. I’m hesitant to suggest couples counseling yet, because you need to work on yourself first.”
Liz dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “Okay.”
Lecia glanced at the clock. She was a couple minutes over her time. She rose. “I’ll see you next week, Liz. Same time.”
“Thank you, Dr. Calhoun.” She stood as well. “By the way, I saw you on the Tonight Show. I was like, you go girl.”
“Thanks.”
Lecia sensed that Liz wanted to say more, but she didn’t. And Lecia was glad. She had spent half the night trying to put Anthony Beals out of her mind, and hadn’t succeeded. She didn’t need anyone else reminding her of him and what had been an incredibly embarrassing episode.
“Next week,” Lecia said.
“Yes, next week.”
Alexander Brody eyed Ginger with an uncompromising gaze. “Maybe you didn’t hear me correctly. I said a million dollars.”
Ginger met the look with one that was equally unwavering. “With all due respect, I heard you the first time. And I’m more than a bit confused. Why do you think I’d want to settle for a million?”
The lawyer exhaled his frustration. “Quite frankly, I think a million is a great deal.”
“For my husband, yes, because five is what we agreed upon,” Ginger pointed out. “It’s written in black and white in a contract that’s binding. If he cheats, I get five million dollars. He more than cheated on me. He humiliated me with some lowlife prostitute.”
“The allegations of infidelity are unsubstantiated,” the lawyer pointed out.
“He did it.”
“No one can be sure.” Brody shrugged. “Who knows—maybe things did happen as your husband said. Maybe he didn’t know that woman was a prostitute.”
Ginger snorted her contempt. “He knew. And he was willing to pay for sex because he’s a pig. Who knows how many other women he’s been with?”
“Accusations are one thing. But it’s my job—the court’sjob—to deal with fact. And without any proof of infidelity, your prenuptial agreement can’t be enforced.”
“But—”
“In light of that, I think the offer of one million dollars is very generous. You were only married for five months.”
Ginger summoned her tears, hoping they would do the trick. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she sobbed. “That he hasn’t ripped my heart to shreds?”
The lawyer was unimpressed by her display of melodrama. “It means that you should consider yourself lucky. A million dollars will go a long way to helping you start your new life.”
“It’s not enough,” she hissed through clenched teeth.
“Enough for what?”
Shit. She knew she shouldn’t have spoken that aloud. But whose side was this lawyer on, anyway? What kind of high-powered lawyer to the stars was he? She snatched a tissue from the jerk’s desk and dabbed at her eyes before speaking. “Enough for…for my emotional pain and suffering.”
“It’ll buy you a good shrink.”
Ginger sucked in a shocked breath.
“Sorry.” Brody held up a hand. “That was out of line. I’ve made my position clear. I think you should take the offer.”
“It’s not what we agreed upon.”
“When you told me your husband had been unfaithful, I thought you had proof. That’s why—”
“A judge may believe me.”
“Sure. That’s possible, however unlikely. Even still, it could take several months before
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