Chapter 7 - I USE MY COMPANY LIKE A FIST
My mistake came the next morning.
Gavin’s company, Rusk Property Services, managed maintenance contracts at two Orsini commercial buildings.
Legitimate contracts.
Competitive bids from three years earlier.
Annual value:
approximately $1.2 million.
I called my COO.
“Terminate Rusk today.”
She asked:
“For cause?”
“Yes.”
“What cause?”
I almost said:
He drugged my daughter.
Not proven yet.
Instead:
“Conflict.”
“That is not the contract language.”
“Find something.”
Silence.
Then she said:
“Marcello.”
People rarely used my first name like that.
I stopped.
Still angry.
“Put all payments on hold.”
She refused.
Good.
“Work already performed is payable.”
“He coerced Bianca in a hospital.”
“That is personal conduct under investigation. If it creates a contractual morality or safety issue, counsel reviews it.”
“I own the buildings.”
“And the company has minority investors and governance.”
There.
I hated governance precisely when it worked.
So I called the bank instead.
Orsini Capital had a joint redevelopment loan with a Rusk-affiliated entity.
I told the lender:
“Do not advance another dollar until I review fraud exposure.”
That phrase was broader than the facts.
The lender paused a draw scheduled for that afternoon.
Subcontractors were notified.
Within twenty-four hours, Dana learned.
She entered my office without knocking.
“You used a domestic-violence investigation to imply corporate fraud.”
“He was trying to take Orsini assets.”
“Personal documents.”
“Through his company.”
“No evidence yet.”
“He owns the company.”
“Not the same.”
I knew.
I had ignored it.
The draw pause lasted thirty-one hours.
No payroll missed.
But one subcontractor incurred rush financing costs.
Total documented delay expense:
$38,600.
I authorized reimbursement from my personal funds.
Then corrected the lender in writing.
There is no present evidence that Rusk Property Services or the redevelopment entity participated in the conduct under investigation concerning Bianca Orsini. My prior request for a broad fraud hold exceeded the verified facts. Please limit any review to objectively documented authority and signing issues.
Humiliating.
Necessary.
Gavin’s lawyers later used my original call to argue the Orsini family was manufacturing a criminal case to destroy him.
They were wrong about the case.
May you like
Right about my retaliation.
Both could be true.
