Chapter 21 - The commercial alliance survives
The Romano-Knox business relationship did not collapse.
That surprised everyone who treated personal engagement as corporate law.
Hudson Crescent Terminal continued.
Why?
Contracts.
Investors.
Employees.
Independent boards.
Economics.
Victor and I recused ourselves from several decisions during the immediate conflict.
Professional executives handled them.
The project experienced a six-month delay due permits and financing conditions.
Not family war.
Eventually construction moved.
Romano ownership remained fifty-five percent.
Knox twenty-five.
Infrastructure fund twenty.
No merger.
No marriage required.
One lender told me:
“Frankly, fewer family assumptions make the structure easier.”
I almost took offense.
Then realized that was the entire lesson.
Victor remained chairman for eighteen more months.
Then retired.
Not because Seraphine forced him.
A professional executive became CEO.
Victor’s nephew Thomas joined the board but did not become automatic successor.
Seraphine’s continuity package died.
May you like
The company survived her ambition.
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