Chapter 14 - The mistake I almost made
Devereux Hospitality’s procurement committee met to review the Vane services agreement.
I wanted termination.
Immediately.
Legal grounds existed unrelated to the gala?
Maybe.
Performance had slipped in two venues.
Insurance certificates late.
Staffing shortages.
A vendor dispute.
None individually justified killing a major contract.
I entered the meeting anyway.
Independent director Ruth Lang looked at me.
“You’re recused.”
“I’m shareholder.”
“You’re conflicted.”
“It’s my company.”
Celine would have thrown something at me.
Ruth continued:
“You publicly threatened economic consequences and your daughter was harmed by the owner’s daughter.”
“Marcella isn’t the owner.”
“She’s president of brand strategy and a shareholder.”
“Minority.”
“Still.”
I knew.
But anger wanted governance to become revenge with minutes.
Ruth said:
“If Vane’s contract ends, it must end because the contract warrants it, not because Marcella Vane is cruel.”
I stood.
Left.
Then did something harder.
I gave the committee written authority to negotiate without me.
No side calls.
No pressure.
No hints.
Victor later learned.
He called.
“I appreciate it.”
“I’m not doing it for you.”
“I know.”
That was true.
I was doing it because I did not want Elowen growing up inside a business where Daddy’s anger changed who got paid.
My father ran companies that way.
May you like
People called it power.
It was fragility.
