Page 39 of Sultry Nights

Grant reached forward and shook his hand. "I understand problems are afoot."

Grant motioned toward the conference room, and Quinn followed. "Yeah, it appears the ex wants twenty percent of my business for writing out a couple of bills back in the early days."

Grant scoffed. "Well, let's see what she's saying."

He sat quietly as Grant read through the motion. He hummed a couple of times and Quinn tried not to squirm.

"Well, let me first ask you this," Grant said. "Are you willing to offer her anything? And before you say no, let me advise you that she does have certain rights under the law. She didn't work while you were married. She did stay home and raise the kids. And she helped out with things around the house and took care of the home. In the courts’ eyes, that's going to mean something. So they're going to be inclined to offer her something. As painful as it is for you to offer her anything, please know that I'm going to encourage you to offer her something. And it can be small, but at least it looks like you're willing to work with her. And for another thing, you're going to have to give it up, anyway. So how long do you want to drag this out? How much of a fight do you have in you? Because that's what I'm asking you now. And it does appear that she's willing to fight."

Quinn leaned back and huffed out a breath. He should have known it was too good to be true.

"Is five percent too much or too little?"

Grant shrugged. "Here’s what I think we’ll respond with. I need financials from you from the beginning of the business until the day of your divorce. She isn’t entitled to anything from the business from the date of divorce until today. That’s all after the fact. And I can’t believe her attorney didn’t fight for this for her in the divorce.”

Quinn took in a deep breath. “If you’ll remember, that’s where the alimony payment amount came from. That’s why it was so high. It was partially alimony and partially a settlement from the profits of the business at that time paid over five years.”

Grant nodded. “Yes, I recall that now. I’ll pull those papers and the Divorce Order and reacquaint myself with the terms and conditions. In the meantime, don’t engage in conversation about this with her. Every communication about this goes through my office.”

Quinn nodded, "Got it.”

"And also, I understand you're working on the barracks. May I suggest that we create a separate LLC for that and put it in a separate account so it's not under Quinn Kurtz Construction, but as the owner and landlord it'll be under a whole separate entity? That’s just protection moving forward, and we’ll do the same with any other properties you purchase in the future."

"I just signed papers on that today.”

"Yes, and she isn't in any way entitled to that property, but let's keep it nice and clean, okay?"

Quinn nodded. "Okay we'll go ahead and set up a new LLC for that. I can bring the closing paperwork down here in a few minutes, so you have the information on that and the copy of the deed to put that in the LLC's name."

Grant nodded, "Perfect. I'll get that straightened up. I’ll look over this paperwork more completely, pull out the Divorce Order, and work up a response to this. I’ll let you know when that’s available to take a look at.”

Quinn nodded. "Okay, thank you. Just give me a call when I need to come in and look at anything."

Grant nodded his head. Made a couple of notes on his tablet and Quinn settled in to resigning himself to the fact that his life wasn't perfect either. He'd tell Hanna tonight, so she'd feel a bit better about the shit going on in her life. They'd have a drink and laugh about it all, and then he'd make love to her again. It sounded like the perfect evening.

He shook hands with Grant and walked out the door. His phone chimed that he had a text. Glancing at his phone briefly as he strode toward his office, he saw Hanna's name and his spirits immediately soared.

"Congratulations! balloon emoji happy face emoji. I'm proud of you," she said.

His heart beat a little faster just seeing her name on his text. His heart swelled seeing that she was proud of him. He responded back with the lips emoji as a kiss, and said, "See you later."

Pocketing his phone, he got in his truck and headed toward his architect's office. Things could be worse. He was making great money. He was going to do just fine with this new venture, and he had a new girl in his life that he was so darned excited about.

21

Hanna smiled as she bagged up the buns for the Sandbar, eager to drop them off. She was making money with the bakery and her account with the Sandbar helped immensely. She was happy with the direction her life was going. She really liked Quinn. He was, well, he was everything she'd always hoped for in a relationship. He was a gentleman. He was honest. He ran a good business, which meant he was gainfully employed. Something that Isaac never was. Well, unless you call scamming people gainful employment. She didn't.

Carrying the racks out to her SUV, she stacked them up inside, made sure the front door to the bakery was locked, grabbed her purse off the hook in the kitchen, and set out to deliver her buns. Her phone rang as she drove to the Sandbar, and she tapped the button on her steering wheel. "This is Hanna Valentine."

"Well, Hanna Valentine, I am so happy to speak with you. You owe me money, and I understand you've spoken to a couple of my friends this week, and you owe them money as well. And I just wanted you to know that we are working very hard to get an attorney to force you to pay us the money you owe us."

Hanna's heart beat quickly, and her stomach rolled. Another one. Another one. "My attorney's name is Grant Park. His phone number is 800-555-2121. Feel free to give him a call. That is all I need to tell you. Thank you."

She tapped the end call button. Her finger shook slightly, and she swallowed several times to dispel the icky feeling in her throat. How many more would there be? "Isaac, you truly are a piece of shit," she said out loud. She turned her SUV into the Sandbar parking lot and parked as close to the kitchen door as she could. She opened up the back of her SUV and began carrying the buns into the kitchen.

She was greeted with many hellos, including Jace. "Hey, Hanna. Good morning."

"Morning, Jace. How are you?"

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