CHAPTER 84: THE SETTLEMENT

"Mr. Zakhrov, you mentioned that Aaron had stepped into a politically charged case of domestic violence when he was in high school. Could you elaborate on that?" asked Ruth.

"Aaron had made friends with a girl named Daisy Eddington. Daisy’s parents were in the employ of Senator Sarah Clarke, and her daughter, Emily, was taking advantage of the situation. Emily was a bully, and she had been tormenting Daisy by forcing her to wear old clothes, and calling her names. Aaron’s friendship with Daisy put him in the crosshairs of Emily and her mother," explained Ivan.

"My client has insinuated that Aaron had taken advantage of Daisy by manipulating her into wearing a corset. What do you know about that?" Ruth inquired.

"Aaron didn’t manipulate Daisy into anything. Daisy decided to wear the corset on her own, and it had helped her self-esteem." said Ivan.

"All right, let me see if I have this straight. Aaron’s friendship with Daisy, lead to him and by extension, you, to be targeted by a sitting senator, with IRS and CPS investigations, and a smear campaign for Aaron and Daisy at school. Is that correct?" asked Ruth.

"Yes, that’s correct," Ivan replied.

"I see, and now. Aaron and his company, Sirius Software, were recently investigated by the IRS and by Senator Goldberg on charges of tax fraud, treason and threats to national security. Is that correct?" Ruth asked.

"Yes, that’s correct," Ivan replied, a vein throbbing in his forehead as he realized where this was going.

"Mr. Zakhrov, you have recently reconnected with Aaron. Would it be fair to say that your proximity to him now makes you a target for these kinds of investigations?" Ruth asked.

"Objection, speculation," interjected Stefan.

"Sustained. Stick to the facts, Ms. Hirschfeld," said Judge Simmons.

"Mr. Zakhrov, what is your involvement with Sirius Software?" Ruth asked.

"I’m retained as a technical consultant," replied Ivan.

"In other words, you are not an employee of Sirius Software?" Ruth asked.

"Correct," replied Ivan.

"Your Honor, I ask that these news articles be introduced into evidence," said Ruth, handing the articles to the bailiff.

"Any objection?" asked Judge Simmons.

"No objection," replied Stefan.

"All right, they will be admitted," said Judge Simmons.

Ruth handed the articles to Ivan. "Mr. Zakhrov, do you recognize these articles?" she asked.

"Yes, I do," replied Ivan.

"Can you tell the court what they are about?" Ruth asked.

"They are about an attempt by worker unions to demolish a Sirius Software cell tower," said Ivan, through gritted teeth.

"Can you read what happens to the union workers?" Ruth asked.

"The electric fence around the cell tower disintegrated the wrecking ball and caused explosive damage to the crane that the union workers were using to demolish the tower. Several union workers were injured, and the crane was damaged beyond repair," Ivan read.

"Thank you, Mr. Zakhrov. No further questions," said Ruth.

She turned to the judge. "Your Honor, while Mr. Zakhrov is a competent father, I’m afraid his association with Aaron Zakhrov and Sirius Software makes him a poor choice for a custodial parent. I ask that the court award my client sole custody of Mikaela, and let Mr. Zakhrov use his position at Sirius Software to provide child support and alimony," concluded Ruth.

"Mr. Stanislaus?" asked Judge Simmons.

"I request a recess to confer with my client," replied Stefan.

"All right, we will take a fifteen-minute recess," said Judge Simmons, banging her gavel.

----

"Stefan. I withdraw my custody request. Annette can have full custody of Mikaela," said Ivan wearily.

"Hey, we can fight this," said Stefan.

"No. I’m not going to sit there and watch them drag my son’s name through the mud. I’ll not make the same mistake twice. All I can hope is Mikaela will understand why when she’s older, just like Aaron did," said Ivan.

"How about you ask Aaron himself? I’m sure he would understand if you want to cut ties again," suggested Stefan.

"No. I’m done trying to satisfy everyone else. Call me selfish, but I want what I’ve got with Aaron. If it means losing Mikaela, so be it," said Ivan.

"All right, we’ll do it your way," said Stefan.

----

Ruth tensed as Ivan and Stefan returned to the courtroom. She seized Annette’s hand.

"Whatever happens, shut your mouth until we’re out of here. You hear me? Or else we lose everything," she whispered fiercely.

Annette nodded, her eyes wide with fear.

"All rise. Court is now in session, the Honorable Judge Linda Simmons presiding," said the bailiff.

"Please be seated," said Judge Simmons.

"Mr. Stanislaus, do you have any questions for your client?" asked Judge Simmons

Stefan was about to rise, but Ivan waved him down.

"Your Honor, I withdraw All custody claims, and agree to the alimony and child support terms of $150,000 per year. Six years ago, I was forced to choose between standing by Aaron while his name was dragged through the mud, and being there for my wife and unborn child. Today, I refuse to make that same mistake. I will not throw Aaron under the bus again, even if it means losing my daughter," said Ivan, his voice steady.

"Mr. Stanislaus? Are you in agreement with your client’s decision?" asked Judge Simmons.

"Yes, Your Honor," replied Stefan.

"All right. The court herby rules that Annette Petra, previously Annette Zakhrov, is awarded sole custody of Mikaela Zakhrov. Mr. Zakhrov will pay $150,000 per year in alimony and child support, and is entitled to two supervised visits per week. This order is effective immediately. Court is adjourned," said Judge Simmons banging her gavel.

----

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I’m free! I won!" shouted Annette dancing in a small antechamber, as Ruth looked on in disbelief.

"You won? Is that what you call this?" asked Ruth incredulously.

"What? We won right?" asked Annette, confused.

"Oh honey. All you’ve won is a wad of cash that would have been yours anyway. Your ex-husband just proved without a doubt that he’s the better parent, and a husband my other clients would have killed for!" snarled Ruth.

"What are you talking about?" asked Annette.

Ruth whipped out her phone and played a recording.

Color drained from Annette’s face as she heard Mikaela’s muffled scream for Ivan to come home when she had called Ivan to ask him to tell Mikaela that he wasn’t going to see her anymore.

"Tell me, who is watching Mikaela right now?" asked Ruth, closing the recording.

"Um..." started Annette, before Ruth slammed a laptop down on a table, and flipped it open.

The laptop screen showed a live camera feed from Annette’s house, with Mikaela playing happily with Natasha and Olga.

"Those are the private investigators Ivan hired to monitor you. Do you know why they are there? And why Mikaela is so trusting with them?" asked Ruth.

Annette opened her mouth, but Ruth cut her off, and showed her a CCTV recording of Annette arguing with Mikaela in the school parking lot, before driving off, and leaving Mikaela behind, in tears.

"After you didn’t return for over an hour, the school called Ivan, and he came with them to take her home. And do you know what he found when he got there? You, passed out drunk over the dining room table!" snarled Ruth. Now showing Annette pictures of her slumped over the table, an empty bottle of wine dangling from her hand.

"I-I can explain..." stammered Annette.

"Shut up! And what about today? Did you even make arrangements for Mikaela knowing that you’ll be stuck in court all day? No. Ivan made those arrangements through me and Officer Vasquez." finished Ruth, tossing a sheaf of court documents on the table.

"Y-you don’t understand. I was under a lot of stress..." began Annette.

"Shut up! I told you not to slip up. Yet, you pulled more mistakes than I could ever cover up. Ivan has enough evidence to have you thrown in jail for child endangerment, and can challenge the custody ruling at any time, and win. The only thing that stopped him from doing that today, was his unwillingness to drag Aaron’s name through the mud again! If you want to keep Mikaela, you need to get your act together, and fast!" shouted Ruth, slamming the laptop shut.

She then pulled out the retainer agreement, and tore it up.

"Keep the cash! And don’t ever call me again!" she said, before storming out, as Annette broke down in tears.

----

"Do you really have to go away Daddy?" sniffled Mikaela, hugging Ivan tightly.

"I’m sorry princess, but yes. Mommy and I had a very big fight, and she doesn’t want to see me anymore. On the bright side, you can always call me, and I’ll come visit you every weekend," said Ivan, trying to comfort his daughter.

"Pinky promise?" asked Mikaela.

"Pinky promise," said Ivan, linking his pinky finger with Mikaela’s.

"Okay. Bye Daddy. I love you," said Mikaela, kissing Ivan on the cheek.

"I love you too, Mikaela. Be a good girl for Mommy, okay?" said Ivan, trying to hold back his tears, as he left with Natasha and Olga.

----

"You could have won you know," said Natasha as she drove them back to Sirius Software HQ.

"She went after Aaron’s reputation again, I’m done living in shame and guilt. I want to be able to associate freely with Aaron," said Ivan grimly.

"Well, I’m sure he appreciates that," said Natasha.

They passed through the security checkpoint and drove into the Sirius Software HQ underground parking lot.

Natasha and Olga changed out of their casual clothing, and into their Sirius Software security uniforms.

"Ah! I never thought I would miss the uniform," sighed Olga contentedly as she deeply sniffed her leather gloves.

"Margaret and Master Zakhrov have spoiled us. We can’t go back to boring clothes now," chuckled Natasha.

They exited the changing rooms, and walked with Ivan to the elevator alcove.

"What are you going to do now, Mr. Zakhrov?" asked Olga, as they rode the elevator to Aaron’s office.

"First, I’m seeing Aaron. Then, I’ll get my old house reopened, and move back in. We’ll see how things go from there," replied Ivan.

The elevator doors hissed open, and they stepped out into the anteroom outside Aaron’s office.

----

"Stefan had called ahead, I’m sorry that you couldn’t get Mikaela," said Aaron, rising to hug his father.

"I’ll be fine. And she’ll be fine with Annette. What I want now, is to have you back in my life," said Ivan.

"In that case, would you like to have a permanent role here at Sirius Software?" asked Aaron.

"Nah, I’m happy with my tenure at MIT, and I’d rather just be your dad, and not an employee as well," replied Ivan.

"That’s fine with me too. Though I’d still like your input on some of our projects from time to time," said Aaron.

"That’s fine, son. Now, I’d better be going, I need to get the old house back in shape, and I’ll be able to park the BMW there again," said Ivan.

"All right, Dad. See you later," said Aaron, as Ivan left the office.

"Natasha, Olga. Let’s get back to the main project, the police force," said Aaron.

"Yes, Master Zakhrov," replied Natasha and Olga in unison, they saluted and left.