Morning all. It is finally Friday. I am kind of relieved actually. But we have one more prompt for the week. Let’s get to it and see what we come up with. Timers set and off we go.
I like elements of this story but I think they got all crunched up as I tried to throw them in before the timer went off.
Friday, June 5th: That is a lie.
“That is a lie,” he said. His voice had no volume to it. He was stunned more than anything else that such a lie would be presented.
“But I have proof,” Devero said smoothly. He placed a stack of pages before the magistrate. “As you can see from this documentation, I believe I have proven conclusively that it is not a lie,” He turned away from the magistrate and offered Galot a smirk. Galot felt his heart sink, falling like a stone into the pit of his stomach.
“It’s fabricated,” Galot said. “I didn’t do any of those things.” He frowned. “I wouldn’t do any of those things.”
“I am afraid the evidence is straightforward,” the magistrate said as Devero resumed his seat. He let his face fall into concerned lines as he waited for judgement.
“But I didn’t,” Galot said.
The magistrate sighed and looked up at him. “It seems you did and I will have to rule in favor of Devero and his people.”
Galot stared at him as the magistrate went through the judgement. The family business was turned over to Devero and the committee working with him. The magistrate took a percentage of the profits as his fee for the ruling. Galot was allowed to keep the personal property but none of the family.
Devero at least looked unhappy about that. Galot knew he hoped to strip Galot of everything leaving him homeless and penniless with a reputation in tatters.
Galot knew going in that the deck would be stacked against him. He prepared for it in ways he knew Devero and the others wouldn’t see coming, but to find the slate of fabricated charges accepted so easily stunned him. The scope of what they were willing to do astounded him.
Still, he had the consolation of planning ahead. His personal property was separated from that of the family long before any of this started. It was done to protect himself from his uncle’s rapaciousness but it served him well now. When his father died he moved his inheritance into his private funds rather than the company coffers. Devero would not know that, he and the others would expect there to be funds in the company account.
Part of the reason they believed it was because he sold the family house when the case was first declared. They thought it was so he could pay his legal fees. The house was too big for him and he was offered a good price. He planned to move into a smaller house closer to town, letting someone else enjoy the sprawling estate. Those funds went into his personal account as well and when all was said and done his legal fees were minimal.
Leaving the court Galot realized that he was free. His accounts were transferred out of the area, his banking never done in town as there was too much gossip here. He kept a small account open for daily business, that was all. Now he walked over to the bank. It was time to close the account and leave. Let them settle things without him. He had the funds and the schematics he created. Soon they would find themselves in possession of only a worn out company rather than the powerhouse of innovation. That he was the brains behind the new developments hadn’t occurred to them.
Yet.
Let Devero and the others celebrate. They would regret it soon enough.
Ten til Midnight 