Chapter 19 - VERONICA’S COMPANY
Veridian House almost failed three years after Bellafonte.
Not because I retaliated.
A recession hit luxury hospitality.
Two clients canceled.
Debt tightened.
Veronica considered bankruptcy.
She did not ask me for money.
Good.
Her partners proposed selling.
She chose restructuring.
Closed one office.
Laid off staff.
Painful.
No villain satisfaction.
Then an independent Fiorelli hotel procurement process needed design services.
Veridian bid.
Conflict?
I was no longer directly involved in procurement and Veronica was my ex-wife.
Still related-party history.
Disclosure.
Independent committee.
Veridian ranked first on design quality, second on price.
Would awarding look improper?
Maybe.
Could refusing solely because of history be improper too?
Committee negotiated lower price and awarded one limited project.
I recused entirely.
Mother heard.
“You gave her a contract?”
“No.”
“Company did.”
“Same.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“Good answer.”
Then Veridian completed successfully.
No household access.
No governance.
Work.
May you like
That was the role Veronica had always wanted recognized.
Now it stood without controlling anyone’s cane.
