Chapter 14
The final board meeting took place on a Monday morning.
Bianca had been invited to attend with counsel.
Owen came as well.
The board already had enough evidence to remove them permanently.
The remaining question was how the foundation would pursue repayment and disclosure.
Independent counsel presented Bianca and Owen with one final option.
Cooperate fully.
Identify every affected transaction.
Return or secure repayment of funds they had received.
Waive any claim to foundation positions.
Correct false statements made about Claire.
The foundation would still make required disclosures and reserve all legal rights.
Nothing guaranteed that regulators or prosecutors would ignore the matter.
Bianca read the proposal.
“What happens if I refuse?”
Her attorney answered before anyone else.
“The board acts without your cooperation.”
She looked at Vittorio.
“You’re really going to let strangers decide what happens to your sister?”
Vittorio thought about Claire’s email.
Hear me as my husband, not as Bianca’s little brother.
“I already decided what happens between us.”
Bianca swallowed.
“And what’s that?”
“You don’t see Nico.”
Her face changed.
“He’s my nephew.”
“You pulled him out of his wheelchair because he gave you a present you didn’t like.”
“He embarrassed me after everything I’d done for that event.”
“He was three.”
Bianca looked toward the table.
Vittorio continued.
“You don’t come to my house. You don’t contact him through other family members. When he’s old enough to understand what happened, he can decide whether he wants anything from you.”
“That could be years.”
“Yes.”
For the first time, Bianca seemed to understand that family access was not something her surname guaranteed.
Owen signed the cooperation agreement first.
Bianca stared at him.
“You coward.”
Owen did not look at her.
“I’m tired.”
Bianca’s attorney slid the pen toward her.
She looked at Vittorio one last time.
“You chose Claire again.”
Vittorio shook his head.
“No.”
He glanced at the photograph of Nico attached to the Blue Room proposal.
“I chose my son.”
Bianca signed.
Independent counsel gathered the documents.
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Once the board approved the disclosures and transmitted them to the appropriate authorities and affected donors, there would be no family phone call capable of pulling them back.
The chair called for the vote.
