“Good question,” he smiled, ever so slightly. The dimples moved. “Wanda!” His paralegal appeared. I wished we were paying Jake by the syllables he used. He spoke to Wanda, and then she disappeared.

“Let’s talk a minute about Mac’s check. It is my understanding you put it in your joint checking account.”

“Yes. But I was going to—” Jake gave me the signal to stop talking.

“When you did that, Bailey, it became comingled with Elliott’s money. Therefore, making it half yours and half his, legally. I understand that was a check that Mac Whitney gave you to retain your services, but half of it legally became his property when you put it in your joint checking account.”

I had a sinking feeling that things were about to get worse. Wanda dashed in and put some papers in front of Jake.

“Holy shit!” Jake said. “The reason Elliott went to the loan shark is because you cannot borrow against something you don’t own.” I looked baffled. Jake continued.

“Elliott doesn’t own the restaurant or his apartment.” I waited. “Lady Jane Turner owns the apartment. Elliott’s father, Lord Desmond Graemmer, owns the restaurant. Elliott owns less than you do.”

“Elliott doesn’t own them? I can’t go after the restaurant or his apartment?”

“Not even if you put anything into either one of them. Apparently Lady Jane got the apartment in her divorce from Elliott, and he was renting it from her.” I sat in complete shock.

“Larissa and I have talked briefly to Elliott’s attorney. Apparently Elliott is worried about the negative publicity. Elliott and his attorney have already offered a preliminary proposal. He wants to play nice so we will unfreeze his assets and protect his reputation. His proposal is that you will get half of Mac’s retainer back—and I will ask for the fourteen thousand, too, but I’m just not sure we can get that. We can structure it so it appears that fourteen thousand was a loan to Elliott, premarriage, from your money.” In emphasizing the word “your,” it dawned on me he was protecting Griffin. Jake didn’t want Elliott linking that money to him. Elliott would love to sue Griffin.

“However, there are some stipulations to Elliott’s kindness,” Jake said sarcastically. My insides felt like a Mixmaster on high speed. “Here we go. Elliott’s terms. He is willing to give you the retainer back, but your claims to the money are forfeited if you engage in ‘cohabitation.’” He lifted his eyes to meet mine.

“But I’m staying at Griffin’s.”

“Elliott has been gracious to allow that. ‘Staying with’ is not the same thing as cohabitation. Cohabitation in this document is defined as sex.” He looked up again briefly. I didn’t blink. “You guys haven’t already … have you?”

“It’s only been three days!” I said. “Can you even put a thing like that into a divorce?”