Since being discharged from the hospital, Charlotte had been busy reviewing the Jasper Corporation’s pendingwsuits
<b>They </b>were all major cases–high–value, evidence–heavy, andplex. Even though the files had already been sorted once, she insisted on going through everything again herself.
Charlotte was fiercely dedicated to her work. Ever since she got back<b>, </b>she had practically been living at the office, workingte every night.
That evening, she received a phone call.
“Miss Riley, Mark Gibson is refusing to sign the divorce papers. He even fore them up. He and Monica had another huge argument this afternoon. She’s now hired Gemma Garcia to represent her in the divorce.”
Standing by the floor–to–ceiling window on the 22nd floor, Charlotte looked out over the glittering city skyline. The neon lights flickered below, and her reflection shimmered faintly in the ss, her features sharp andposed.
“Got it,” she replied calmly and ended the call.
She immediately printed a set of civil case authorization forms and a retainer agreement, then grabbed her car keys, locked up the office, and entered the elevator. Petra followed closely behind.
Inside, Charlotte took out her phone and made a call.
“Hello?” came Mark’s gruff voice.
“Mr. Gibson, this is Charlotte Riley.”
“What you want?” His tone was annoyed. “Haven’t you done enough damage to my son already?”
Mark had held a grudge ever since Zac’s suicide attempt, ming it on Charlotte. Lately, Monica kept repeating that Charlotte was the one who drove theirpany into bankruptcy, which only turned his dislike into full–blown resentment.
“You’re the one who ruined the Gibson Corporation, right?” he snapped. “What’s this–calling me to rub it in?”
Charlotte let out a quietugh, her tone calm and even. “Mr. Gibson, you’ve misunderstood. I’m calling to help. I heard Mrs. Gibson is filing for divorce. I’d like to represent you in thewsuit.”
Mark scoffed. “Why would you do that? You destroyed ourpany. Why the hell should I trust you?”
“Mr. Gibson,” Charlotte said coolly, “there’s something I need to make absolutely clear.”
Her voice was steady. “The Gibson Corporation didn’t copse because of me. Zac made a reckless investment in a major project. It failed<b>, </b>the losses were huge, and thepany ran out of cash. On top of that, they had to pay hefty penalties to their partners. At first, all of that debt was on thepany–not him personally.”
She paused. “But then Zac crossed the line. He used his position to mixpany and personal finances. Under corporatew, that’s enough to ‘pierce the corporate veil.‘ The court ruled he had to take on the debt himself, along with thepany.
“You run a business, Mr. Gibson. I doubt I need to exin what that means.”
There was silence on the other end.
Ding.
The elevator doors slid open at the basement level.
Charlotte stepped out and headed toward her white Rolls–Royce. When she reached the car, she tossed the keys to Petra.
“Mr. Gibson, <b>I </b>suggest you put personal grudges aside for now. My record speaks for itself. I’ve been practicingw for three years and have won nearly every case I’ve taken. Hiring me for your divorce wouldn’t be a mistake.”
<b>Chapter </b>393
<b>Mark’s </b>tone finally softened a little. <b>“</b>Why would you want to take my divorce case?”
Petra opened the back door for Charlotte.
“Because I don’t want Monica to get what she wants,” Charlotte replied, slipping into the car, her voice tinged with amusement. “<b>If </b><b>she’s </b>miserable, that works just fine for me.<b>” </b>