by D T Pollard
“Draw up the offer,” Brandon said as he left the conference room.
“Asshole, but that was an easy ten million in fees. Drinks on me tonight,” Allen said to his law partners.
Two weeks later Tara signed off on a settlement for one hundred million dollars for Brandon fraudulently enticing her to enter into marriage with him. Tara also would receive the payout on her prenuptial agreement including the ten million dollars for Brandon’s violation of the infidelity clause. Frazier divorced Ashley and she left with three million dollars which was half of her prenuptial payout if she hadn’t been caught cheating. Brandon broke off his relationship with Ashley because he blamed her carelessness with her electronic communications to him for the reason they were discovered to be cheating with each other.
“Brandon, you didn’t have to do this to me. If you never loved me, why didn’t you just leave me alone instead of dragging me through the mud like this?” Tara said as she was leaving the house for the final time.
“Tara, I’m sorry. I did love you. It’s just something in me to always want something else. I never seem to be satisfied with what another man would kill to have. You were the best wife I could have imagined. I just wasn’t a decent husband or man. I stabbed my friend in the back by sleeping with his wife. Ashley didn’t come after me. I enticed her just like I did with you, so I’ve ruined three lives, not counting my own,
“Bye Brandon,” Tara said as she walked out of the door for the last time.
Tara thought about what she would do next, but for the time being she went home to Texas so she could relax. While Tara never went public with the sordid details of what led up to her marriage falling apart, Frazier was not as discreet. Frazier was a wounded man, his pride and his heart were torn to shreds and he wanted Brandon to pay the ultimate price. With his money and connections Frazier made sure that the world knew what Brandon did to him and Tara. Every tabloid and gossip news outlet in the nation and worldwide picked up the story and Brandon became reviled as the symbol and very embodiment of the immoral rot of excessive wealth. The stench of Brandon’s battered reputation was casting a shadow over friendworld which was now a publicly traded company and large investors were considering divesting themselves of their holdings in the firm. In a bold move during a late night meeting of the board of directors a vote was taken to oust Brandon Larson, the founder of friendworld, from any operational role with the firm. Brandon was fired from the company he founded.
Tara flew to Dallas and moved into a hotel for a while until she found a more permanent residence. After a couple of days a car carrier arrived with Tara’s red Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible and she turned in the rental car she had been driving. Tara went to visit Shannon and learned that she was engaged to Gary. Gary just happened to stop by Shannon’s place while Tara was there.
“Shannon, can I ask you a big favor and this is going to sound strange. Could I talk to Gary along for a few minutes,” Tara said.
“Well, sure. I’ll go check on lunch,” Shannon said.
“Gary, I want to apologize to you for what I did after I met Brandon. The magnitude of what I did to you never really hit me until it happened to me with Brandon. I was blindsided and felt like I fell over a cliff. Now I understand that I did the same thing to you, I’m sorry that I was ever a person that could do that to someone that loved me. I was horrible and went behind your back with another man while I was still acting like nothing had changed. I’ve been running from something all my life trying to prove that I was a worthwhile person. I thought if a man like Brandon wanted me, a nobody, then I really would be somebody with him. You know what I completely missed was that I was still allowing another person to determine my value as an individual. It was no different than being called white trash when I was young, so why should it matter if that wealthy man said I was good enough to be his wife. I was still accepting someone else’s valuation of my importance instead of having that inside me where no one else could take it away. Anyway, I‘m happy for you and Shannon and think that you guys make a great couple,” Tara said.
“Tara, thank you. You didn’t deserve what Brandon did to you, that was so low, but thank you for understanding. I was in bad shape for a long time. I think I almost hated you, but I don’t anymore. Shannon helped put me back together,” Gary said.
“Can I come back in now?” Shannon called from the kitchen.
“Of course,” Tara said.
“What was that about?” Shannon asked.
“I just wanted to bury the hatchet from the past. We all know that I did something I’m not very proud of so I had to tell Gary personally how I felt about that and move on. Now, my next question is who are going to get to be the bridesmaids in your wedding? I’m not tied up or anything?” Tara asked.
“I think I can find an ugly bridesmaid dress that would fit you,” Shannon said laughing.
“Just let me know and I’ll be there. It was good to see you guys,” Tara said as she left.
Tara decided that there were two more people she needed to speak to. Through some investigation Tara found her old college boyfriend Adam on friendworld and that gave her his location. Adam had listed his workplace and the next day Tara called him. Adam was shocked to hear from Tara. Tara apologized for running out on him like she did. Adam said that he had made peace with what happened a long time ago, but was surprised to read about her on the gossip websites. Tara then decided to go home to east Texas and visit her parents.
11
“Tara, come here baby,” June said as she hugged her daughter.
“Hi, mama,” Tara said as they walked inside.
“Tara, I’m sorry. He didn’t seem like he was the kind of man that would do that to you. I guess you never really know someone,” Caitlin said as she hugged Tara.
“Well, I guess the first clue was that he was willing to break up my relationship with Gary when we were engaged to be married,” Tara said.
“Well, at least you got paid! You took a chuck out of his ass!” Caitlin said.
“I can’t complain about that, but a lot of women get left high and dry when something like this happens,” Tara said.
“What are you going to do now?” June asked.
“I started something when I was in New York to help girls that need role models and hopefully help change their lives for the better. I got a lot of support from sponsors in New York. There are girls all over the country that need to see that they can become successful women capable of supporting themselves, even if they made an early mistake like getting in trouble or got pregnant,” Tara said.
“That’s a good idea. That sounds like something I would like to be involved in. Look at what happened to me,” Caitlin said.
“Caitlin, would you go to school if I paid for it?” Tara asked.
“You mean college?” Caitlin said.
“Yeah, I know it wouldn’t be easy, but would you?” Tara asked.
“Yes, I would. I felt like I had just cut all of that off when I got pregnant. You would do that for me after the way I acted when Brandon came here?” Caitlin said.
“Of course, you’re my sister. I love you,” Tara said.
“Who’s calling me? Hello,” Tara said.
“Opal, is that you,” Tara said.
“You want me to come to Hawaii for an interview, really?” Uh, huh. Sure I can do that. Okay, I’ll look for your information. Thank you. Bye,” Tara said.
“Who was that?” June asked.
“Opal Jeffrey. She wants to interview me,” Tara said.
“Opal Jeffrey, from the Opal Jeffrey Show,” June asked.
“Yes,” Tara said still sounding stunned.
“I love her! I watch her every day. I can’t believe that Opal wants to talk to a Wilson. Oh my God. Wait until I tell that nose in the air Sally Ferguson that my daughter is going to be on Opal,” June said with a laugh.
“We’re all going to Hawaii, Caitlin, you and David too. I met Opal when I was there years ago at a par
ty. She gave me some advice that I followed. She told me to never use the same lawyer as my husband when it came to a prenuptial agreement or divorce. She wants to interview me to find out what it’s like to be in a high profile marriage that ends in scandal,” Tara said.
“You don’t mind talking about that?” Caitlin said.
“No, plus it will give me a chance to talk about my outreach to girls. I need to get busy and come up with a name and contact my sponsors. Hey, there’s an errand I need to run. I’ll be back,” Tara said.
“Where’s she going? What kind of errand could she have down here,” June said.
Fifteen minutes later Tara drove her Bentley into the driveway of a modest brick veneer exterior home and a man and boy came outside.
“Ma’am may I help you?” the man said.
“You don’t recognize me do you?” Tara said.
The man narrowed his eyes.
“Tara, is that you?” the man said.
“Yes Billy, it’s me. Is this your son?” Tara asked.
“Yes, this is BJ,” Billy said.
“Come on in,” Billy said.
“Tara, do you remember Becky, she my wife,” Billy said.
“Billy you married one of the cool girls, of course I remember Becky,” Tara said.
“Tara, how are you doing? I don’t know about being one of the cool girls,” Becky said.
That’s what Chad said. He said if I went with him then Becky Sadlin and the other cool girls would let me hang out with them,” Tara said.
“What, Chad was using me to try and get girls. That sounds about like him. You know they fell on hard times. The construction business went down and Chad is in prison for cooking meth,” Becky said.
“You’re kidding!” Tara said.
“Yeah, it was a sad deal,” Billy said.
“How have you been? That’s a fancy car you’re driving,” Billy said.
“I’m doing okay. I recently got divorced, so I needed something to drive,” Tara said.
“Everybody has been talking about that. I would have killed him. Don’t ever try that Billy,” Becky said.
“How did I get dragged into this? I don’t even know what’s going on,” Billy said.
“Well the reason I stopped by, old neighbor, is to apologize,” Tara said.
“What are you apologizing to me for?” Billy asked.
“I’m apologizing for dumping you for Chad in the eighth grade. It was a mean thing to do even if I didn’t know it was at the time,” Tara said.
“Girl, you are crazy,” Becky said.
“Apology accepted. Becky, I still remember that. Tara walked up to me and said, Chad asked me to be his girlfriend and I told him I would, and that was it. I was kicked to the curb,” Billy said.
“Oh my God, you just dropped him like a hot potato,” Becky said laughing.
“It was the eighth grade. I didn’t know anything about beating around the bush, so that’s how I said it. Hey, have you been back down by where we used to live lately?” Tara said.
“It’s been a while. It’s all grown up with weeds everywhere. I don’t like going down there. Those were some hard times,” Billy said.
“Well guys thanks for just letting me drop in on you like this. You have a cute little boy. He’s into that video game isn’t he?” Tara said.
“Yes he is. We played outside most of the time when we were his age, but not these young kids now,” Billy said.
“It was good seeing you guys. Ya’ll have a good day,” Tara said as she left the house.
Billy and Becky watched Tara drive off.
“She got one hundred million dollars out of that guy’s cheating ass,” Becky said.
“One hundred million dollars! Goddamn, that other woman he was with, that was the most expensive piece of ass he ever got. It had better been good,” Billy said.
“You got that right,” Becky replied.
12
“Mama, I want to go for a drive. I want to go to where that trailer was we used to live in,” Tara said.
“Why in the world do you want to go there?” June said.
“I just want to go see the place. Come on. We can go get something to eat on the way back,” Tara said.
Tara, June, Caitlin and David all got into her car. June directed Tara down the winding blacktop road that was barely wide enough for one car to be on the road at a time.
“There it is right there. Pull over,” June said.
“Billy was right, it’s all grown up. So the old trailer is gone, huh,” Tara said.
“Billy, when did you talk to him?” June asked.
“That’s where I went when I left. He has a cute little boy. I didn’t know he married Becky. They seem to be happy,” Tara said.
“Why did you go and see Billy?” June asked.
“I told him I was sorry for quitting going with him the way I did when I was in the eighth grade,” Tara said as she looked out over the field.
“You told somebody you were sorry for something you did it the eighth grade? I guess if that made you feel better. Are you going to apologize for having me in labor for ten hours when I had you?” June asked.
“No, mama that was your job, would you rather that I still be in there?” Tara said.
“Oh lord no, never mind on that one,” June said laughing
“I just wanted to see the place, let’s get back in the car. It’s cold out here,” Tara said.
“How much did this car cost?” Caitlin asked.
“I didn’t know at first. I picked it out and Brandon bought it for me. Then the window sticker was in the glove compartment and I looked at it. It cost two hundred thousand dollars,” Tara said.
“So my butt is sitting in a car that costs more than most of the houses in this area? That a lot of money for a car,” Caitlin said.
“That’s a lot of money for anything. So where you lived in New York, people just drove around in cars like this like we drive pickup trucks down here?” June asked.
“Last year, Brandon bought a new Bugatti sports car for over two million dollars and he hardly ever drove it,” Tara said.
“Those people just have all of the money in the world while others can’t even put food on the table. How does the world work like that?” Caitlin said.
“You know that’s what I thought before I got there, but a lot of those people got rich because they invented something that everybody wanted. There are old money people whose great grandparents made things like steel and railroads. Some of the newer rich people like Brandon invented computer programs that everyone uses. Now you do have some that made their fortunes by buying and trading stocks and things like that. Some of them I wonder about, because a number of them are just making money off money, but others help companies grow by getting them financing. It’s a complicated world that I didn’t know anything about until I got there,” Tara said.
“Tara some people are going to say that you got what you have because you just married some rich guy for money,” June said.
“Mama, I’ve already heard that stuff,” Tara said.
“I know, but here’s the reality, no one can make anyone marry them. He asked you to marry him. Brandon screwed up and cheated on you in the worst way possible and was doing it before you even got married. He wasted three years of your life and destroyed a relationship with a man you would probably still be with today. He owed you every penny you got, so don’t feel like you didn’t deserve it,” June said.
Two months later the Wilson family stepped off a flight in Hawaii for Tara’s big interview with Opal and Tara was ready for any question that came her way. Opal didn’t go easy on Tara and even asked her if she was a gold digger. Tara gave Opal her mother’s answer.
“Brandon was a very wealthy man, but here’s the reality. No one can make anyone marry them. Brandon asked me to marry him and he was breaking our marriage vows before we even took them. That’s what the lawsuit was all about, because there was no way I would have married him if
I had known that he was carrying on an affair with one of my bridesmaids that happened to be his good friend’s wife. That friend, by the way was one of Brandon’s groomsmen,” Tara said.
“What are you doing now?” Opal asked.
“I have expanded my outreach program for young American women that need positive mentoring and a helping hand in becoming productive, independent people. It’s called Tara’s Girls. I started it as an outreach program a couple of years ago when I was in New York and have some great sponsors, one of which is Nelson Security Software. Just go to Tarasgirls.org for more information,” Tara said.
“What has this experience taught you,” Opal said.
“This experience has taught me that what really matters is how we treat each other. I found out that we can’t understand the pain that we inflict on others, unless we have witnessed or felt that pain in our own hearts, and then we can say we’re sorry and really mean it,” Tara said.
Opal then ended the interview and then Tara introduced her excited family to Opal. Opal gave everyone a tour of the property and ended with all of them standing at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
“Mama, I told you I would bring you here, didn’t I? I just didn’t expect it to be like this,” Tara said.
“We are a long way from that old trailer house, aren’t we,” June said.
“Yeah, this is a long way from there,” Tara said as she pointed to a whale breaching in the ocean.
Tara Wilson became a world renowned figure in fighting for the future and dignity of young women across the United States and other chapters opened up internationally. Tara was the Chief Executive officer of the organization and she helped girls from the hills of Kentucky to the inner city of Los Angeles and around the world. One day in her office Tara opened a letter and inside there was a donation pledge for one hundred million dollars from reclusive billionaire Brandon Larson. The signature line on the letter had a smiley face drawn on it. Tara smiled and felt that things had come full circle. Tara got up from her chair and left the office to go home to her husband and three children, two of which were adopted. As Tara left her office she stopped at the office next door.