Free Reilly 04 - Breach of Promise by Perri O'Shaughnessy Page A

Markov has lived there just as long as Mr. Markov. She, too, pursues her life and business interests from the house.”
    Riesner broke in. “Saying it doesn’t make it so, Your Honor. She hasn’t produced a speck of written evidence that her client had some kind of partnership agreement with Mr. Markov. And, again, I hate to be so blunt, but exactly what business interests does this lady have? Since she no longer works at Markov Enterprises . . .”
    “That remains to be seen,” Nina said.
    “Since she’s unemployed at the moment,” Riesner said, raising his voice and drowning her out, “exactly what business interests are we talking about, besides the obvious one of soaking Mr. Markov through the good offices of Counsel here—”
    “At least I’m not trying to destroy the woman who helped and supported me and made me what I am,” Nina said loudly.
    “Oh, please. Your Honor, are we going to have some sort of emotional outburst now? Is Counsel going to cry until she gets her way?”
    Nina held on to the counsel table so tightly that her knuckles hurt, so choked with anger that she couldn’t dislodge a word.
    It didn’t matter. Milne had already made up his mind. “Counsel,” he said in an unusually kind voice to Nina, “all I have in front of me in the way of evidence of ownership is a deed to the real property. A deed has to be accorded great weight. It has to be given precedence over mere words. That’s one of the basic tenets of real property law. Clearly, the parties cannot continue to live together. At least until there is a final resolution of the claims you have made in this cross-complaint, one of them must go. The one that stays has to be the one with the deed to the house.
    “The Court will grant the petition based on the Order to Show Cause. I’ll also grant the restraining orders to keep the peace in what seems to be a rather volatile situation. Now, let’s move on. What else have we got?”
    Without fanfare, Lindy worked a gold band off of her finger and dropped it into her purse. From the table across the way, Mike Markov watched. Nina said, “We’re asking that Mrs. Markov be permitted to continue working at Markov Enterprises pending final resolution of the litigation.”
    Milne raised a hand to stop her and said, “I don’t think we need to spend much time arguing that here, Counsel. I’ve read your arguments and I find them unpersuasive. If Mrs. Markov was wrongfully terminated, she will have her remedy at law in due course, up to and including back pay.”
    “Actually, she is not an employee, Your Honor. She’s an owner.”
    “Mr. Riesner? What do you say to that?”
    “It’s just another appeal to sympathy, Your Honor. The stock certificates are right there in your file. She doesn’t own a single share.”
    “But we’re contending that is because Mr. Markov has defrauded her, Your Honor!”
    “Well. I understand the contention,” Milne said. “Unfortunately, the contention is in dispute. From what I have in front of me today I don’t see a clear probability that your client will prevail on this issue. With regard to Respondent’s request to continue working or to continue receiving her usual salary
pendente lite,
the request is denied.
    “I believe that disposes of the interim matters raised in the Petition, Mr. Riesner. Now, Ms. Reilly. You had requested another set of orders, I believe. Connected with the claim that a partnership exists between the parties. Proceed. Time is running short.”
    Riesner offered the judge his familiar sycophantic smile. Markov sat back in his seat observing the proceedings, glancing now and then at Lindy as if to read her true purpose. All Nina had left now was the long shot. She took a moment to compose her mind, acutely aware of the round beacons beaming sickly yellow light into the cavelike room with its panels and green-tinged walls and its shifting, silent crowd of watchers.
    “All right,” she said. “The Court has a deed and