Bikers and Bakeries

Court and Cupcakes part 2

Melody’s POV

“I told you the other day on the phone, stop calling me Babe.” Mediated phone calls were her regular that week as she had gotten the layer to set up today for Mike to get his things. “You can come into the living room until the lawyer gets here; but that’s it”

Mike huffed and shoved past her into the house. The living room was small, but cozy. One wall was covered in wooden bookshelves, and the other a fireplace with a television mounted above it. The third wall had a picture window that looked out at the street. Mike sat in the winged back chair and looked to Melody.

“How has your week gone, Mells?” Mike attempted small talk, sensing the tension in the air.

“Fine, except for the fact that my husband f****d who I thought was my best friend.” Melody spit out husband like the word was poisoned.

Mike flinched at the bite in her voice. “Good to hear that,”

After another few minutes of both of them sitting in a bitter silence, there was another knock at the door.

“Thank Goddess” Melody mumbled and got up. She didn’t want to talk to Mike more than she had to.

The lawyer was at the door with his assistant. “Hello Mrs. Swanson, I hope I didn’t keep you all waiting.”

“Not at all; please enter.” Melody stepped aside and ushered them into the living room. The lawyer sat at the couch and his assistant sat next to him. They began pulling out papers from briefcases and setting stacks of them on the coffee table.

“Before we begin; we have four hours today to go over belongings and buildings. It’s unusual to do these on a Saturday, but I understand that both parties want this finished quickly?” The lawyer adjusted his glasses.

“Yes, the sooner the better.” Melody replied.

“I guess.” Shrugged Mike.

“Alright; let’s start with the heavy things first. Buildings..”the lawyer squinted at the paper, “I have here listed 3021 W Street as the prime residence for both parties.”

“Yes, but the house was my father’s and is listed in my name.” Melody answered.

“Come on Mells- you’re not going to make me live out on the street are you?” Mike pouted.

“It’s in my name, Mike. If you had wanted to stay here, you should have thought of that before shagging Tiffany.”

“I have to agree with Mrs. Swanson on this, Mr. Swanson. At least on the first half.” The lawyer tried to say diplomatically. “The pack law clearly will state that all property acquired before the mating is legally hers.” The lawyer had the secretary make note on one of the papers and continued on. “The secondary residence is a condo on the beach in Florida, correct?”

“It was a wedding gift from my parents” Mike said.

“He can keep it, no contest there, I don’t want anything from his family.” Melody spoke up. At least this all should be simple and straightforward, she thought to herself as the secretary made note again.

“And finally, we have the bakery ‘Just Desserts’ listed as the third owned property.”

“Mine again before the marriage.” Melody stated quickly.

Mike coughed and looked down. Almost like he was guilty of something.

“Normally, yes, Mrs. Swanson.” The lawyer spoke up. “ but I have here a note for a substantial loan taken out last year in both of your names and the building space listed as collateral.”

The room became stuffy and silent when the lawyer spoke those words. “What..” Melody couldn’t believe her ears. “What loan?”

“I have here bank papers and statements showing the loan for one hundred thousand dollars and the bakery listed as collateral. As per law; since technically both of your names are listed on the loan, it will be split equally.”

Melody slowly turned to Mike. “What did you do?! You Bastard!” Melody was trying hard to control her shift. Fur was spreading up and down her arms in waves.

Mike was looking anywhere but at Melody. Staying silent. Trying to not squirm in his seat. “So it’s both ours, can we continue on now?” Mike tried to change the subject like the coward he was.

“No Mike, we are not continuing on!” Melody fumed. “What the actual f**k?!”

“So I take it this will be contested then on Monday?” The lawyer stammered while trying to retain his cool. “It’s going to be hard to do, seeing as how your signature is on the loan as well Mrs. Swanson.”

“I never signed anything though!” Melody was flabbergasted.

“Here it is.” The Lawyer slid a paper over to the other side of the coffee table in front of Melody. There, in an almost perfect copy of her signature, was her name written neatly above Mike’s at the bottom of the loan agreement.

“This isn’t mine.” She stammers. “Someone forged it.”

“Stop lying, Mells, you were there with me.” Mike finally had the gall to speak up.

“The hell I was!”

“Please remain calm, both of you.” The lawyer spoke to both of them. “If you would like to contest this, please wait until Monday for the court and have evidence by the following Monday for finalization.”

Melody tried to rein in her shift; her wolf was struggling to come out and kill Mike as soon as possible. After a minute or two of calming breaths, the shifting slowly stopped and settled back to her normal alabaster skin. If Mike forged her signature, there was bound to be evidence somewhere. “Please; continue,” she finally sighed and the lawyer continued on to the cars and furniture.

Four grueling hours later, the lawyer and his secretary finally left Melody’s house; cupcakes safely tucked into their arms as they departed. Mike lingered in the first step. “I should get going.” He finally said.

“Yah; you should Mike.” Melody glared at him. “We both know that that wasn’t my signature though.”

“Babe, you signed it.” Mike smiled at her, in an awful sickeningly sweet voice. “The bank will say the same thing. And as far as pack law goes, you’ll have to buy me out of my share. We both know you can’t though.”

Melody glared at him. “We’ll see.”

“Come a week from Monday, I doubt it.” Mike chuckled to himself and turned to walk down the porch.

As he made his way to his brand new truck, and then finally drove off, Melody let the tears flow freely. What the f**k am I going to do? She cried as that thought bounced back and forth in her head. That was definitely not her signature on the papers and she had one week to prove it.