Page 56 of Intentional Foul
One Week Later
I took a seat in Jason McKnight’s office. He was the top divorce lawyer in the Midwest. My body was exhausted after I spent a night in Kansas City with Moe. Then I booked it to the train station this morning. It took me seven hours to make it, but I didn’t mind. I wrote two songs, “Misunderstood” and “Never Be” on my new prepaid phone.
“Jhae Davis,” he said as he entered.
The warmth of his office almost put me to sleep with the view of the Riverwalk and comfortable leather seats. With the wall of law books behind his desk, I hoped my way out rested somewhere within the pages. Jason McKnight was a fine but married man. His skin held a warm brown hue, gray beard, and bald head. He had a nice, structured body behind his tailored suit.
“Anything you tell me will fall under attorney client privilege,” he said as he readily put his hand on the legal pad.
“Okay. I’m trying to get an annulment or divorce from my unwilling husband. We were married in Vegas while I was drunk,” I said, and my voice trailed off toward the end.
“Oh, that shouldn’t be too hard. Do you have any proof or witnesses?” Mr. McKnight asked as he sat back in his chair.
I chuckled as he underestimated my husband.
“They’re not talking,” I said.
“Excuse me,” he stated after clearing his throat.
“Let me give you the rundown. My husband is Malcolm Shaw-Jefferies, and he doesn’t want the divorce or annulment. The witnesses were his twin who isn’t going to turn on him, and my ex-label mate, Chasity, who is also on his payroll. She said I was sober. My PI, Papers, can’t findanyvideos of me drinking or being at the nightclub. The officiant is nowhere to be found. Look, I need a quiet, no press divorce,” I said as I moved to the edge of my seat.
Mr. McKnight’s mouth was ajar as he rubbed three fingers across his forehead.
“If Papers couldn’t find them, they don’t exist. I’m going to be honest with you. This isn’t going to be easy with him contesting. It isn’t going to be quiet with you both being high profile. His mother istheshark. Does she know? Why didn’t you have her fix it?” he asked.
I sat back in my seat. “She is my best friend,” I said.
“Excuse me,” he said.
“I’m trying to divorce the son and keep the friend. I threatened to tell Anissa, and he gave me his driver’s license and quoted he was a grown man. He doesn’t care if she knows because he loves me,” I said and caressed my temples in a circular motion.
“Is he mistreating you? Did you guys sign a prenup?” he asked.
I tossed my hands in the air and chuckled at the thought of Malcolm mistreating me. “Malcolm doesn’t care about money. He bought my masters to get me out of a record deal and built me a studio in his penthouse. He is bank-rolling my next albumamongst the diamonds and flowers he buys on a regular basis,” I said.
Mr. McKnight’s brows crowded his forehead. “If you could keep the friend, would you divorce him?” he asked.
I dropped my head and told the truth, “no.”
“She means that much to you,” he asked.
“Yes. She was there for me at my lowest. I would’ve been homeless in L.A. if she hadn’t let me live in her guest house. She helped me get a manager. I owe her everything. Fucking her son will not sit right with her, but he doesn’t care. Malcolm has this fantasy of us being in this happy marriage. He bought us property for a family compound. Treats me better than any man I ever dated, but I can’t hurt Anissa. What are my options?”
Mr. McKnight nodded his head in understanding. “I hope she one day appreciates what you’re giving up. To annul the marriage, you will need to live in Nevada for six weeks. You could try to push the annulment without him finding out. If he contests it, this could take weeks or months. Then there is the fight for your music. There is no clean way to do this. Anissa is going to find out and still be upset, so you might as well stay with him. How doyouwant to proceed?” he asked.
I sat with his words as my head pounded. Walking away unscathed wasn’t going to happen. Malcolm’s words about him attaching me to him rung true at this moment. He had blocked me at every exit point. Regardless of the path, I was going to hurt someone I loved. There is a good chance doing the right thing would cause me to still lose everything and everyone. Do I take that chance or be selfish?
“I don’t know. Give me some time to think,” I said.
“Before you leave. The question I would ask myself is whether she truly is my friend. A friend would be happy her son found someone who would love him back. But you know how to reach me,” he said, and we stood and shook hands.
I walked out of the lawyer’s office with a pair of sunglasses and a decision to make.
“Jhae!” Nia said as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
I called her on the train, and she put me into what she called a mini suite. My mouth dropped at the high-end finishes, large bed, the amenities, and the view.
“Nia, you are beautiful. Your skin and the ring finger are glowing,” I said.
