Chapter 11 - KATHERINE IS ACTUALLY FIRED
Termination letter went out Tuesday.
Cause:
Undisclosed conflicts.
Violation of ethics policy.
Misuse of confidential transaction information.
Improper related-party dealings.
Failure to disclose outside compensation.
Workplace misconduct.
Physical conduct at Easter was referenced but not the sole basis.
Good.
Katherine sued.
Wrongful termination.
Retaliation.
Breach of family employment covenant.
Defamation.
Expected.
The company did not panic.
Insurance counsel appeared.
The old covenant mattered.
It protected family executives from arbitrary removal absent cause.
We had cause.
A judge would decide if challenged.
Then Katherine went public.
Not with major media.
Social media posts.
“Hostile takeover.”
“Family betrayal.”
“My sister used corporate power to punish a private disagreement.”
No mention of Clara.
Her lawyer advised deletion within hours.
Screenshots remained.
Then the police case.
Katherine was charged with misdemeanor child endangerment and assault based on the shove and cheek contact.
No felony.
No dramatic arrest.
She surrendered.
Protective order.
No Clara contact.
She claimed:
Clara slipped when Katherine moved the chair.
Witnesses contradicted.
Dad.
Mom eventually.
Robert.
Me.
Water pattern.
Chair movement.
Still a case.
Then Mom called.
“I told police the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That Katherine pushed her.”
I closed my eyes.
“Thank you.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am.”
That hurt her.
Good.
Then:
“Can I see Clara?”
“No.”
Silence.
“Why?”
“Because she’s afraid of your house.”
“I can come to yours.”
“Not yet.”
“You’re punishing me.”
“No.”
I had to check myself.
Was I?
Partly angry.
But Clara woke from nightmares about dinner.
Her therapist recommended no family contact until she felt safer.
“Her therapist says wait.”
Mom’s voice changed.
“Therapist?”
“Yes.”
“She’s four.”
“Yes.”
“That’s excessive.”
There.
Same family reflex.
Outside help equals insult.
“No visit.”
I ended call.
Then Dad requested one supervised visit in a neutral park.
I asked Clara.
“Do you want Grandpa?”
She thought.
“Will Aunt Katherine come?”
“No.”
“Grandma?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
We went.
Dad brought no gift.
Good.
He knelt.
“Clara.”
She hid behind me.
“I’m sorry I told you that you ruined dinner.”
She watched him.
“I didn’t.”
“No.”
“You said.”
“I was wrong.”
Four-year-old justice.
“Why?”
Dad swallowed.
“Because I was angry at your mommy.”
“Why?”
“She was doing something with my company I didn’t like.”
Clara frowned.
“So you got mad at me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s not nice.”
“No.”
Then:
“Can I hug you?”
She thought.
“No.”
Dad nodded.
“Okay.”
Ten minutes later she gave him a dandelion.
That was enough.
Then acquisition committee reconvened.
Meridian reduced its offer.
Why?
Diligence issues.
Potential liabilities.
Vendor overpricing.
Litigation.
Not catastrophic.
Price reduction:
About six percent.
Family furious.
Dad said:
“Fair.”
That surprised everyone.
Mom said:
“You’re letting them steal.”
Dad answered:
“No. We hid risk.”
There.
He had begun changing.
Katherine had not.
And the next cliffhanger came when her lawsuit attached one document Meridian had never seen.
May you like
A signed copy of Keller Continuity LLC’s trademark option.
Bearing Dad’s signature.
