Page 25 of Laws of Love
Aiva would not debate rental properties with them because Knox did not hold them personally in his name. They were held under his business, and since Mia was not a partner in the business, it wasn’t something Aiva wanted to waste her time discussing or going back and forth about. At least not until they’d made their way through the items listed on the counterclaim, and they had a way to go until that happened.
Knox listened as Aiva informed Mia and her lawyer that she could have the house and the car. He didn’t miss how his soon-to-be ex-wife seemed to sit up straighter with having her first couple of demands met. He wasn’t sure why she was so happy about it. He’d listed that she could have those things in his divorce claim. So, he wasn’t sure why she seemed as if she’d gotten something from him, gotten over on him. Even her lawyer seemed to be bolstered by it.
However, Knox didn’t miss the way they both seemed to deflate when she asked for fifty percent of his rental properties, and they received a swift no from Aiva. He had to contain a smirk as Aiva told Mia she wasn’t entitled to any of his properties and demanded they move on. Her tone of voice left no room for further negotiation on the matter, and Knox shouldn’t have found that as attractive as he did.
Mia did not take heed of Aiva’s tone, as she made a sound of irritation before speaking again.
“We will not be moving on. I put years into this marriage, and it is only fair that I walk out of it with my just dues.”
“Mr. Chandler’s business owns those rentals. Not him, personally. So, they aren’t a part of this mediation.”
“That doesn’t matter. He owns the company; therefore, he owns them, and I deserve half of them.”
Knox watched Aiva lean back in the seat she occupied. “Did you manage the rentals, take deposits, schedule maintenance and cleaning, inspect the properties before and after someone moved in or rented while they were on vacation?”
“Knox didn’t even do that,” Mia countered. “He has a company that takes care of that for him.”
She wasn’t wrong. Knox had a property management company he owned, which he’d opened once his properties expanded. It was easier that way, hiring his own employees rather than having a third party do it for him.
“Fair enough,” Aiva responded. “Did you liaise with the company to have any of the aforementioned things done? Did you check in with the company to ensure everything was running smoothly? They were conducting themselves according to state regulations and the Fair Housing Act for long-term renters?”
Mia remained quiet because she had done none of those things. Knox watched as her jaw ticked and her right eye twitched slightly. A sure sign she was annoyed.
“Then, as I stated, next item.”
Harvey cleared his throat. “Moving on to the proposed spousal support. We believe eighty thousand a month is more amenable for Mrs. Chandler.”
“I disagree,” Aiva responded. “What Mr. Chandler is offering is far more generous than what the court will order him to pay in spousal support if this goes past mediation.”
“I fail to see how,” Mia countered.
“At the moment, Mr. Chandler will uphold the promised amount in your prenup and pay you two million dollars. You’re asking for eighty thousand a month in spousal support. If taken before a judge, I will counter at fifteen thousand while presenting them with a slew of evidence of your less than cordial attitude towards my client. If the judgment is found in Mr. Chandler’s favor, you’ll receive half a million dollars since, by law, he’ll only be required to pay you for three years.”
Knox looked at her in awe of how flawlessly she’d broken that down without skipping a beat. He shouldn’t have been. Her firm didn’t have those outstanding reviews for nothing, and she’d proven over the past month of working together that she was more than competent and fought for her clients.
“You signed a prenup?” Harvey questioned, turning his attention to Mia.
At the same time, Mia questioned, “He only has to pay me for three years?” As if she were in disbelief at the information.
He listened to Aiva answer them both. “Yes, she did, and yes, he does.”
Knox wasn’t surprised Mia hadn’t told Harvey she signed a prenup. He wasn’t even sure she remembered signing since it had been so long ago and had never been updated. So, they had no reason to discuss it while they were still married.
“Yes, I signed one, but it’s no big deal. I deserve more now that he’s worth more,” Mia responded.
“I take it you haven’t seen the prenup then, Harvey,” Aiva said. “I have a copy here if you’d like to look at it.”
Aiva handed the copy over to the other lawyer, and the room was quiet for a few moments as he read through it. Mia seemed tired of waiting and the session being on hold.
“Can we get back to it?” she questioned, impatience lacing her voice.
“I may need a brief break to confer with my client,” Harvey spoke.
Knox wasn’t sure if calling a break this early in mediation was normal. They were barely half an hour into it and already needed a break. He took that as a sign in their favor. Mia seemed to handicap her lawyer by not informing him she’d signed a prenup. Knox hoped that whatever strategy the other two came up with was knocked off its axis by that fact. It would favor him and Aiva better.
“We don’t need to step out and speak,” Mia informed Harvey. “Let’s move on and move away from money for a moment.”
Knox was surprised to hear her say that because her counterclaim only focused on money. The only thing she’d been worried about when he had her served was money.
