Chapter 11 - Paige’s Price
Paige lost her contract.
Not because she slept with CEO.
Because audit found:
Unauthorized access to restricted investor files.
Unsupported expenses.
False statements during investigation.
Improper vendor payment involving her roommate’s company.
The $42,000 Bellweather Events invoice received scrutiny.
Bellweather had performed some work.
About $16,000 supported.
The rest lacked proof.
Paige’s roommate returned disputed portion and cooperated.
Paige agreed to restitution/repayment as part of corporate settlement.
No fabricated giant theft.
Then prosecutors.
Paige admitted she saw Victoria shove me.
Her first statement had omitted.
She admitted she knew my ownership before gala and hid from Dominic.
She admitted Victoria said:
“Let me handle Audrey.”
Did Paige think Victoria would attack?
“No.”
Did she want Audrey gone?
“Yes.”
Did she encourage?
Emotionally, yes.
Legally, no evidence she planned assault.
Then one detail.
At 9:15 p.m., two minutes after staircase camera disabled, Paige texted Victoria:
Don’t do anything crazy.
Victoria:
Relax.
So Paige sensed risk.
Still did not intervene.
Then after fall:
Paige:
Is she okay?
Dominic:
Probably.
Paige:
Should we call ambulance?
Dominic:
Sarah did.
Then:
Paige:
Your mom is losing it.
She had more concern than I expected.
Still stayed.
Still drank champagne.
Still lied.
People can fail in layers.
Paige accepted plea to misdemeanor false statement and unauthorized computer access? Unauthorized access could be serious. Let's fictionalized: reduced unlawful access offense and false statement, probation, restitution, community service, no incarceration due cooperation and limited criminal history.
Corporate career damaged.
She left Nashville after case.
Then she requested permission to send letter to me.
I said no.
Years later, maybe.
At the time, no.
Then Dominic’s plea.
He admitted:
He disabled camera at Victoria’s request to avoid public scene.
He did not know she would push.
After fall, he told Sarah and security staff to characterize as accident.
He failed to disclose camera disable when investigators first asked.
He authorized unsupported Paige expenses.
Some employment misconduct resolved separately.
Criminal plea:
Obstruction/false statement related to assault investigation.
Sentence recommendation:
Eight months custody? Could be. Maybe 10 months home confinement? But seriousness. Let's say 14 months active, with credit, then supervision.
He also had restitution/civil fees.
At sentencing later.
Then divorce proceedings.
Dominic tried to challenge Aster Vale as marital.
Sophia was prepared.
Funding trace:
My father’s trust.
Separate distributions.
Holding formed before/early marriage? Let's say Aster Vale investment holding company created from separate inheritance after marriage but assets traceable; under prenup? We need prenup. Let's introduce.
Before marriage, Sophia had insisted on premarital agreement.
Dominic signed with independent counsel.
It disclosed:
Audrey holds substantial family trust and separate investment interests, values not fixed.
He never asked appraisal.
Agreement said all trust-derived assets and entities remain separate unless expressly converted.
Aster Vale was funded solely with trust distributions.
Clear.
Dominic’s minority Vance shares remained his separate/family property subject recapitalization.
Joint property:
A Nashville condo we owned before moving into mansion? Maybe they lived mansion. Could have joint brokerage, furnishings. We'll divide.
No one takes everything.
Then mansion.
It was corporate property.
Neither gets in divorce.
Personal marital home rights? They occupied under lease tied to company.
After Dominic removed, Aster Vale terminated occupancy per contract after notice and later sold/converted? We'll decide.
Then Dominic said through mediator:
“You made me sign prenup because you knew.”
“I made no one.”
He had counsel.
Then:
“I thought your trust was five million.”
“That was your assumption.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Would I have married you differently if I knew?”
I looked.
“That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
He stopped.
Maybe he understood.
Then mediation ended without full settlement.
Because Dominic wanted one thing:
My mother’s necklace?
No. He wanted wedding home? Not theirs.
Maybe he wanted to keep 10% of Aster? Absurd. Better he wanted no company-related claims in divorce and preserve personal Vance shares. We agree.
The emotional issue wasn't money.
May you like
It was whether he would publicly admit affair and abuse? Divorce could no-fault. Audrey doesn't need.
We can proceed fair.
