Chapter 14 - Julian finds a witness
Mark Ellison, Julian’s former supervisor, testified in employment discovery.
He helped Julian.
Mark said:
“Julian never hid that his mother worked in events.”
That surprised Apex.
Did Mark know Vale was Evelyn’s company?
“Yes.”
“Did he tell compliance?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I assumed procurement knew.”
Important.
If Julian’s supervisor knew, the company’s claim that relationship was entirely concealed weakened.
Then:
“Did Julian ever call Vale unrelated?”
Mark had seen certification?
“No.”
Only systems did.
Then score changes.
Mark said:
“I told Julian North Vale deserved reconsideration.”
“Did you tell him to alter scores himself?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize corrections?”
“I said get the record accurate.”
Gray.
Then an old email:
Mark:
Graham’s team better than system shows. Fix before final.
Julian:
Working it.
That helped.
But another:
Julian to Mark:
Need 8 points. I can justify staffing/safety if no one wants to reopen committee.
Mark:
Do not game it. Reopen if needed.
Julian:
That’ll kill timing.
There.
He chose shortcut.
Not secret mother conspiracy necessarily.
Policy violation.
Then Mark admitted he approved one Vale dinner while knowing Evelyn was Julian’s mother.
Apex disciplined Mark.
Final warning and bonus reduction.
Julian’s lawyer:
“Why not fire him?”
Apex:
Mark did not falsify disclosure forms or edit procurement scores.
Comparator fight continued.
Then criminal prosecutors declined charges against Mark.
No surprise.
Against Graham?
None at that time.
Against Evelyn?
Still review.
Against Julian?
Grand jury? Not yet.
The longer it took, the more some people assumed case weak.
Maybe.
Corporate violations can be serious without becoming crimes.
Then my divorce.
Julian proposed global settlement:
He waives challenge to prenup.
House confirmed mine.
He receives $1.35 million from division/equalization.
I receive credit for condo transfer.
Each keeps separate trusts/inheritances.
Temporary support ends upon settlement.
No mutual disparagement clause preventing truthful legal statements.
Reasonable range?
My accountant calculated likely trial outcomes between $1.1 and $1.6 million depending reimbursement decisions.
So yes.
I wanted to reject because “You’ll leave with nothing” echoed in my head.
Rebecca asked:
“Are you negotiating against his sentence in a hospital room or against the marital estate?”
I hated her.
Then:
“Take a day.”
I did.
I countered $1.22 million.
Julian came to $1.3.
We were close.
Then he added a condition:
I would ask Apex to change his termination classification.
No.
Immediately.
Marriage settlement could not buy corporate outcome from me.
Rebecca sent:
“Employment matter is outside Lydia’s unilateral authority and will not be included.”
Good.
Julian walked away from the divorce deal.
That decision prolonged everything.
May you like
And for the first time, I suspected his real priority was no longer money.
It was getting Apex to say he had not failed.
