Chapter 17 - The Deal
Martin asked to meet in a café with cameras and witnesses. I told him any proposal would go through our lawyers. He looked relieved, which worried me.
The next day, Maya and Gabriel sat with me while Martin's counsel presented an offer. Richard would withdraw the defamation claims, acknowledge my ownership of the designs, and pledge private funds to restore the shelter. In exchange, I would sign a statement that my father's disputed decisions had been made in good faith, based on faulty advice from outside professionals.
"So I lie for money," I said.
"You characterize a complicated business disagreement in a constructive manner," Martin's lawyer answered.
"That's a long way to say lie."
Maya slid the paper back across the table. "We're not signing."
Martin's gaze moved to Gabriel. "You know how many employees will lose their jobs if the foundation collapses?"
"Then the board should cooperate and separate legitimate programs from the disputed ones," Gabriel said.
Martin exhaled. "Richard won't do that."
"Why not?" I asked.
For the first time he looked directly at me. "Because he doesn't know how to be wrong."
Outside, Martin caught up before I reached the car. He was alone.
"There's another reason he used your signature," he said.
"Tell my attorney."
"I will. But you deserve to know first. He thought Eleanor left you the power to remove him from the family company. He didn't read the trust carefully."
"She didn't give me that power."
"I know. I found out after the deed recorded. Richard had already turned the whole city against you."
He rubbed his forehead. "He asked me to blame Claire next. That was when I knew there'd never be an end."
He walked away before I could answer.
A week later, Martin entered a cooperation agreement with investigators. The government announced charges relating to the diversion of charitable funds and false filings. Richard denied wrongdoing. The court process would take months; there was no instant victory, no magical sentence that repaired the houses.
But there was one immediate consequence. The foundation board called an emergency meeting to remove Richard as chair.
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That night Dad knocked on Talia's apartment door. He was holding Grandma's blue cardigan.
"Your grandmother would be ashamed of what you've done," he said.
