Chapter 10 - My mistake before the party
I made a mistake Friday morning.
I called Vanessa.
Not Ethan.
Why?
Pride.
Anger.
I wanted to hear her admit she had told him I declined.
I turned on my old phone recorder.
Then called.
“Telling Ethan I refused the party was a lie.”
Vanessa became cold instantly.
“You told me these events make you uncomfortable.”
“That is not declining.”
“I was protecting him from unnecessary stress.”
“By lying?”
“Margaret.”
“No. We are past that.”
Then I made the mistake.
I said:
“I have George’s paperwork too.”
Silence.
“What paperwork?”
“The minority consent.”
Another pause.
Longer.
“You shouldn’t be discussing corporate matters with me.”
“Your father sent it.”
“Then discuss it with him.”
“I will discuss it with Ethan.”
Her tone changed.
“Not at the party.”
“That depends.”
“No.”
“It depends on what your father explains.”
She whispered:
“Do not come there to ambush Ethan.”
“I’m not ambushing my son.”
Then:
“If you appear at that house without being invited, nobody will believe whatever story you tell afterward.”
I said:
“That sounds like a threat.”
“It’s reality.”
I ended the call.
Why was telling her about the paperwork a mistake?
Because it gave the Mitchell family twenty-four hours to prepare.
George knew I might arrive carrying documents.
That was why his eyes went to the tote.
Would events have been better if I stayed silent and called Ethan again?
Probably.
I wanted confrontation.
Not violence.
But confrontation.
I was tired of being managed.
That does not make Vanessa’s hose my responsibility.
May you like
It does mean I walked into a hostile situation knowing it was hostile.
I could have protected myself better.
