"You will never touch her again. Do you understand?"
Sandy doesn't get to answer. One moment he's looking belligerent as he struggles to free himself from his former boss's hold—
The next moment he's down on the floor, his nose bleeding, and he's crying.
"You fucking broke my nose! You'll pay—"
I catch Jeanne nodding at Mr. Everford before stepping forward.
"I'd be more careful with my choice of words if I were you, Mr. Pettyfer." Her voice is still sunny. "This room is under surveillance, and I don't think you'll appreciate footage of this becoming public—"
"She cheated on me!"
His voice has gone nasal from the bleeding. He's still on the floor. His shirt has come untucked. There is a smear of blood across his chin where he tried to wipe his nose with the back of his hand.
"Especially as Mr. Everford has been aware of how you've been embezzling funds from his company in the last two years."
Sandy...was what?
"That's...that's defamation of character!" He's struggling to his feet, one hand cupped under his nose to catch the blood, the other braced against the table. "I'll fucking sue—"
"Do you recognize the name Robert Charles?"
I have no idea who that is. But the name Jeanne mentions seems to catch Sandy flat-footed, and he just freezes. His nose is still dripping blood, but he no longer seems to care.
"Sign the divorce papers, Mr. Pettyfer. And in return, the company will not be pressing charges against you."
"How do I know if you're telling the truth?"
The third man steps forward from the wall and hands his slim folder to Howie Lyle without a word, then steps back.
Howie opens it...and starts biting his nails by the third page. When he’s done skimming, he clears his throat and says, “It’s all here. Sign the papers, and they won’t press charges. It’s a good deal—”
“You only looked at it for a second.” Sandy seems to have finally recovered from his shock, and he’s back to speaking with a mixture of petulance and resentment. “How do you know—”
"Just sign it," Risa snaps.
"But Mother—" Sandy is actually wailing like he's four years old instead of forty, while his own mother ignores him like he really is a toddler who can't make decisions on his own.
Risa looks at their lawyer.
"You're sure it's good?"
"Yes, Mrs. Pettyfer."
As soon as Howie confirms this, Risa snatches the divorce papers that were still on the table and shoves them at her son's chest.
"I will not have you ruin our name over—"
That slut.
It's what she almost said. But she manages to catch herself in time and tightens her lips in silence instead.
"Just sign it!"
She grabs one of the pens on the desk and hands it to Sandy.
His hand is shaking. There's blood on his chin, on his collar, on the cuff he tried to use as a tissue. The pen leaves a small red smear on the corner of the first page when he begins to sign.