Chapter 8
Genevieve postponed every joint Callahan project indefinitely.
Then she went further.
She notified Bellomo’s lenders and independent directors that unauthorized representations had been made about the company’s willingness to guarantee Callahan obligations.
Claire warned her what that meant.
“You are voluntarily creating a record of a governance dispute involving your husband less than twenty-four hours after your wedding.”
“He is not my husband in any meaningful sense.”
“Legally, he currently is.”
“Then fix that too.”
Genevieve instructed Claire to begin annulment and divorce analysis immediately.
She also authorized an independent audit of every Bellomo transaction involving a Callahan entity during the previous eighteen months.
That was the irreversible decision.
Bellomo family members protested.
Adelaide did not.
One uncle told Genevieve she was exposing family business because of a personal argument.
Genevieve answered:
“My personal argument began when a forty-year-old man kicked a chair away from a sixty-seven-year-old woman.”
The uncle looked away.
She continued.
“The financial review began when I discovered that same man promised our assets to lenders without permission.”
Nobody challenged her after that.
Derek’s attorney sent a settlement proposal that evening.
Derek would agree to an immediate private separation.
No public statements.
No claims against Bellomo property.
In exchange, Genevieve would allow the pending cross-guarantee to proceed for six months while Callahan refinanced.
Genevieve read it twice.
Then handed it back to Claire.
“He wants my mother’s vote after I leave him.”
“Yes.”
“That tells us the marriage and the financing are separate problems.”
“Exactly.”
Genevieve rejected the offer.
Within forty-eight hours, Callahan’s primary lender contacted Bellomo directly.
They had relied on the expectation of a Bellomo guarantee when granting the latest waiver.
Genevieve asked the banker one question.
“Who gave you that expectation?”
The answer was not Derek.
Lucille Callahan had personally attended the lender presentation.
Genevieve sat back.
That explained Derek’s comment.
Lucille had been managing the rescue strategy from the beginning.
But it still did not explain why she believed Adelaide would eventually cooperate.
The answer was somewhere earlier.
May you like
Before the wedding.
Possibly before Genevieve and Derek ever met.
