Chapter 23 - Arturo’s apology
Arturo’s first apology was useless.
“I’m sorry the prank went too far.”
No.
Second:
“I’m sorry Sofia misunderstood my intention.”
No.
Third, after losing the board chair:
“I’m sorry you’ve turned this into a war.”
Not remotely.
Then silence.
Nearly two years after the birthday, a letter arrived.
Handwritten.
Arturo hated handwriting.
That got my attention.
Elena,
I paid Sofia $200 to dump muddy water on Noah’s cake.
Good.
I wanted to embarrass you.
There.
I also believed Noah needed to learn not to fall apart when people laughed at him.
There.
That belief was arrogant and cruel.
Good.
I used a child to punish his mother.
There.
I stopped.
Then continued.
The financial section:
I authorized the AV Strategic advance without following the approvals I knew were required.
Yes.
I allowed your signature image to be placed on the consent and submitted it knowing you had not personally executed that document.
There.
No:
administrative misunderstanding.
I believed I had earned the right to use company money because I built the company.
Good.
That belief ignored shareholders, employees, lenders, and you.
Good.
Then:
I treated family support the same way. If money came from me, I believed gratitude entitled me to control. If money came from you, I resented that control moving to you.
That one hurt differently.
He had seen it.
Finally.
He finished:
Noah did not do anything to deserve what happened.
I did not answer for three weeks.
Then:
I received your letter. Thank you for stating your actions accurately.
May you like
The family standard.
Accuracy before intimacy.
