Chapter 8 - The Decision She Couldn’t Undo
Amelia could have paid for silence.
That was the ugly truth.
Carrington Coastal had enough liquidity to complete the transaction.
Richard’s investment fund would survive.
The questionable transfers could potentially be repaid.
Robert’s reputation would remain largely intact.
Eight hundred employees would never know how close their company had come to buying Richard’s losses.
For one afternoon, Robert wanted her to consider it.
“Not to protect Richard,” he said. “To protect everyone else.”
“That’s how this keeps happening.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
“It is now.”
Amelia called Julia.
Then she made three decisions.
She filed for legal separation in Santa Barbara County.
She asked her attorney to seek temporary protective orders based on the helicopter incident.
And, in her capacity as a director and major shareholder, she formally notified the board’s audit committee of undisclosed related-party transactions.
Each action could be reversed eventually.
The consequences could not.
By evening, outside counsel had instructed directors not to destroy records.
The proposed acquisition was suspended.
Richard’s access to Carrington systems was temporarily limited pending review.
Two lenders requested information.
Robert’s name appeared in the preservation notice.
He read it at the kitchen counter.
“You included me.”
“I included everyone who approved something.”
“I’m your father.”
“That’s why this took me so long.”
He left without answering.
At 9:14 p.m., Richard called.
Amelia let it ring.
He called again.
On the fourth attempt, she answered with Julia listening from another line.
Richard didn’t shout.
“You just killed Vale Meridian.”
“No. I refused to buy it.”
“You think those are different things?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
Then his voice changed.
“You have no idea what your father did.”
Amelia glanced toward the dark windows of the main house.
“What did he do?”
Richard laughed once.
Not pleasantly.
“Ask him why I had access to your approvals before you ever gave it to me.”
Amelia’s stomach tightened.
“He told me.”
“No. He told you the version he can survive.”
Then Richard said something that made her sit down.
May you like
“I didn’t marry into a clean family, Amelia.”
The line went dead.
