Chapter 17 - The corporate hearing
The special committee held a formal evidentiary hearing before deciding Vivian’s employment.
Not a court.
Company process.
Her contract required opportunity to respond.
Evidence:
Madeline’s messages.
Board memo timestamps.
Investor communications.
Repurchase model.
Photographer footage.
Audio.
Vivian testified.
“I wanted Everett confronted with the consequences of his behavior.”
“What behavior?”
“Autocratic control.”
“Why involve Isla?”
“I did not involve Isla. It was her birthday.”
That answer made several directors look at each other.
Maya Chen asked:
“Did you instruct Madeline to make Isla leave a chair?”
“Yes.”
“Did you offer dance tuition if she followed through?”
“Yes.”
“Did you want Everett to witness a conflict?”
“Yes.”
“Did you expect him to become angry?”
“Yes.”
“Did you intend to use that anger in a board process?”
Vivian paused.
“Yes.”
There.
Then:
“Did you intend Madeline to smash cake into Isla’s face?”
“No.”
“Did you intend Isla to be physically injured?”
“No.”
“Did you intend Everett to strike anyone?”
“I thought he might.”
“Did you want him to?”
Vivian looked at me.
Then:
“I wanted him to show people what I had seen.”
“What had you seen?”
“His temper.”
Then my record.
No physical violence.
No threats.
Raised voice.
Door slammed once at home.
Folder slammed at work.
Sharp language.
Vivian said:
“You don’t need to hit someone to make a room afraid.”
True.
That sentence landed.
Then Maya asked:
“Did you believe a staged confrontation was a legitimate way to prove that?”
Vivian’s answer:
“At the time.”
May you like
There.
No denial left.
