Borrow My Seat novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Half

They filled the conference room in under a minute.

The chief executive of the beverage company was a woman in her sixties with a red scarf and no patience.

Her general counsel sat on her left, a brand director sat on her right, and an assistant stood by the door with a tablet.

Tobias took his chair without a word.

Lane took the seat nearest the chief executive.

His lawyer had left half an hour before, and Marjorie had gone with him, white around the mouth.

"I'll be brief," Lane said. "I'm Ingrid Eklund's husband."

The brand director looked at me.

"I am her husband of three years," Lane said.

"I'm telling you because the woman on your account hid that from her employer to get a stock grant."

"I found out on Tuesday," I said.

"She is entitled to her salary, and I am entitled to half of it. I'm also entitled to half of the grant."

He put both hands flat on the table.

"I'm willing to settle that today. Otherwise I'll take what I know to the press, and the press will have a good time with you."

Nobody said anything.

The general counsel turned his tablet face up and tapped it twice.

"Mr. Raskin," he said. "Would you say that again? I'd like to have it exactly."

Lane smiled.

"Half of her income since March, half of the grant, by Friday. Or I talk."

"To the press."

"Yes."

"About a client's designer, in front of the client."

"I'm not threatening anyone," Lane said. "I'm explaining what's fair."

"You are asking a company for money to stay quiet," the general counsel said. "Do you understand that I have the recording?"

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