Chapter 7 - Confrontation at the Deposition
The deposition took place in a neutral conference room downtown. Gertrude and Prudence arrived dressed in black, looking like high-society martyrs, flanked by their smug, eager lawyer, a man named Henderson who smelled of cheap cologne and expensive ambition.
"Mr. Vance," Henderson began, looking at me with condescension. "We are prepared to settle this matter today if your client agrees to transfer the deed of the Bayside Heights property to his mother, along with a lump sum of five hundred thousand dollars for emotional damages."
"Is that all?" I asked, leaning back, my hands laced behind my head.
Prudence sneered. "You should be grateful we're being this lenient, Michael. We could take everything you earned in Saudi Arabia. We have the community on our side."
Arthur Vance, my attorney, chuckled softly. It was a terrifying sound.
"Mr. Henderson," Arthur said, pulling a heavy leather binder from his briefcase. "Before we discuss settlements, we would like to enter a few items into the record for this deposition. Let's start with Exhibit A: Five years of financial forensic audits."
He slid the documents across the table. Henderson’s eyes scanned the pages, and his confident smile began to falter.
"This details ninety thousand dollars sent directly to Gertrude Vance for the care of Sarah and Jamie Vance," Arthur continued smoothly. "And here are the corresponding bank statements showing every single dollar being spent on Prudence Vance's boutique debts, luxury car leases, and European vacations."
"That... that was family management!" Gertrude interjected, her voice rising.
"Silence, please," Arthur snapped. "Let's move to Exhibit B: The medical evaluations of six-year-old Jamie Vance upon his father's return, detailing severe malnutrition and psychological trauma caused by confinement in an unheated, unventilated service kitchen."
Gertrude’s face went white. Prudence shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
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"And finally," Arthur said, pulling out a small speaker and placing it on the center of the table. "Exhibit C."
He pressed play.
