Chapter 6 - THE GALA WAS SUPPOSED TO END THE ARGUMENT
The Kane Foundation gala happened every summer.
Four hundred guests.
Donors.
Business families.
Judges.
Doctors.
Hospital trustees.
People who knew how to wear expensive clothes without looking impressed by them.
The public purpose that year:
Raise money for pediatric rehabilitation.
The private purpose:
Show the Kane-Fiorentino alliance remained stable while Marcello recovered.
Raymond wanted me beside Travis during the chairman’s toast.
Then he wanted an announcement.
Not the entire continuity agreement.
Something simpler.
“The two families have formalized long-term governance alignment.”
No signatures shown.
No details.
Social ratification first.
Paper afterward.
I refused.
Three days before the gala, Travis said:
“If you stand beside me and support the announcement, Dad will stop pushing.”
“So I should publicly pretend I agreed?”
“It’s not pretending. It’s direction.”
“No.”
He stared.
“You always need your father’s permission.”
“My father told me not to sign.”
“There.”
He pointed.
“Exactly.”
I laughed.
“I asked for his opinion.”
“And obeyed.”
“No.”
“You can’t even see it.”
That part hurt because Dad could be controlling.
He was.
He had opinions about my first apartment.
My wedding flowers.
Our prenup.
My career.
He once sent an accountant to inspect a company I wanted to invest in without asking me.
I was furious.
Dad apologized badly.
Then paid the accountant himself and gave me the report.
He was difficult.
May you like
That did not mean Travis was entitled to replace him.
One controlling man does not make another controlling man liberation.
