Chapter 14 - Martin Vale
Vale agreed to speak after Reid waived privilege over limited drafting circumstances.
He looked embarrassed.
“I believed you knew.”
“I didn’t.”
“He said you disliked custody terminology.”
“I disliked being surprised with custody terminology because apparently I had never heard it.”
Vale winced.
Fair.
He showed his notes.
REID:
Winslet’s travel increasing.
VALE:
How much?
REID:
Enough that weekdays will be difficult.
Reality:
Two overnight trips every other week temporarily.
Then:
VALE:
Why grandmother primary rather than father?
REID:
Managing director transition.
VALE:
Why not mother primary with childcare?
REID:
She’ll use childcare to keep everything as-is.
What did that mean?
He thought I would hire a nanny and refuse separation.
Yes.
The draft was not Vale’s recommendation.
It was a client request shaped into legally reviewable language.
Then Vale wrote:
Independent counsel strongly recommended for Winslet before signature.
That line had been in an email to Reid.
Reid replied:
We can give her time after Friday meeting.
After.
Again.
Vale said:
“I would not have notarized a consent if I believed you did not understand it.”
Good.
No corrupt lawyer.
The signing plan may have failed even without Constance blurting.
May you like
But Reid had still engineered pressure.
That was enough.
