I took the phone and entered the password. “My clients are pretty well-known and value their privacy. I trust I can count on your discretion?”
“Absolutely,” he said, clicking on Jennifer Lopez’s glowing testimonial. Melody changed my life, inside and out. Life isn’t just about the stuff you accumulate and how you arrange it. It’s about the internal landscape as well. Your mental approach to your relationship with things. With people. She’s a life designer.
He flipped through a couple more before handing my phone back. “Impressive,” he said. “Explain how this will work.”
“It’s very simple. You’ll hire me as your life coach. We’ll do some decorating too, since that’s how I generally work. The goal is to lower your liquid assets. The less you have in the bank, the less you have to split.” I thought of Celia, counting on Phillip’s fat bank account to cover her bills. Pay off her attorney. I’d like to think I was doing her a favor. The tighter I could wedge Phillip in now, the more leverage she would have when the truth came out later. “I charge $30,000 a month for full access—24/7, plus the decorating and space renovation, though we can adjust that depending on how much you want to shelter. The bulk of your fee will go toward coaching, under the guise that this is a big life transition—it’s the end of a thirty-year marriage. I’ll provide documentation of our sessions together, and of course, any time you want to check the account, you can. When your settlement is finalized, I’ll transfer the money back to you, into an offshore account that you’ll set up later.”
Phillip blew out hard, gesturing toward the phone. “People really pay $30,000 for that?”
“Mental health is a big market. I’d like to say I really help them. They certainly think so.”
“I wouldn’t have to do any of that, would I?”
“Not unless you want me to keep your money—which I’d be happy to do,” I said, winking.
Phillip did some mental math. “Over the next eight months, that would only be $240,000. Could you inflate your fee to $50,000? That would get me a lot closer to what I want to set aside.”
Set aside. Shelter. Euphemisms of a corrupt man with an urgent deadline. My favorite kind.
“Of course.” I paused. “In order for this to look legitimate, you’re going to have to tell people that you’ve hired me. It’s important you demonstrate—especially to your attorneys, who will be watching every move you make—that all of this is in good faith.” I grabbed my golf bag and slung it over my shoulder. “Let’s finish this round.”
After returning my clubs at the pro shop, Phillip offered to buy me dinner. The sun was sinking in the west, and the air had a real bite to it. I crossed my arms over my chest and said, “I had fun today. And dinner sounds lovely.” I looked down at the white golf shoes I paid over a hundred dollars for, then back up. “Full disclosure, I’m attracted to you. But it’s too soon for me to jump into something. I just wrapped up my own divorce, and I don’t want to step into the middle of yours.” I looked into his eyes and saw a flash of anger. Just a flash, there, and then gone again. Phillip wasn’t used to hearing no. “I’d like to keep spending time with you,” I continued. “But for now, can it be just as friends? I’m trying to start my business, and I’d like to do it on my own terms, not as the girlfriend of the most powerful man in town.” I reached out and brushed my fingers down the length of his arm. “I’m not saying no, I’m saying not yet. I hope that’s okay.”
He nodded and said, “Of course. I’d like that.” He cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “I really appreciate your honesty earlier. I know it wasn’t easy, and I’m grateful for your help.”
I took his hand and squeezed it. “I’m honored to be trusted. This is a really stressful time, so try to go easy on yourself.”
He looked across the emptying parking lot. “Now all I have to do is sort out the lake house,” he said.