Chapter 15 - RICHARD’S COMPANY
Richard worked for Vance Meridian Development.
Despite the name, he did not own it fully.
His father founded the regional commercial-development firm.
After his death, Olivia held forty percent.
Richard held twenty.
Two partners held the rest.
The company was seeking $60 million in growth capital.
That was why Julian Sterling had been at Lily’s party.
His business partner, Thomas Hale, was considering a minority investment through a fund Julian advised.
Richard had no idea Julian would attend.
The viral assault created a compliance problem.
Not because Julian wanted revenge for me.
Because Richard was a senior officer seeking capital while publicly involved in domestic-violence proceedings and financial-disclosure disputes.
Sterling Ridge paused diligence.
Richard blamed me.
His partners did not.
They hired independent counsel.
The review found no massive fraud.
It found governance problems.
Richard had charged some personal entertainment and Vanessa travel to business-development accounts.
About $31,000.
He repaid part after being questioned.
He had also represented the birthday event as a “client-family hospitality function” to expense rentals.
Some guests were business contacts.
Most were not.
Embarrassing.
Not company-ending.
The investment was ultimately rejected because leverage was high, reporting was weak, and projected returns were aggressive.
Richard’s conduct contributed.
It was not the only reason.
That distinction mattered.
He told reporters:
Sterling killed my company because Maya slept her way into a family fortune.
Defamation.
Helen sent a demand for correction.
He deleted it.
No lawsuit then.
Too much noise.
Vance Meridian found another smaller investor on worse terms.
Olivia mortgaged a vacation property to contribute capital.
Richard remained employed but lost his managing-partner title temporarily.
May you like
Consequences.
Not magical destruction.
