Chapter 15 - GEORGE FIGHTS BACK
George Mitchell did not cooperate.
He attacked.
His attorneys released a statement accusing Carter Meridian of orchestrating a hostile campaign against his family.
He claimed I had infiltrated a private event under false pretenses.
He called the financial investigation “corporate retaliation.”
Then he made his biggest mistake.
He accused Ethan publicly of manipulating Vanessa.
Ethan read the statement in my office.
His face remained calm.
Too calm.
“I want to respond.”
“Then respond with facts.”
“I want to bury him.”
“That is emotion.”
“He’s lying.”
“Yes.”
“He’s blaming Vanessa for documents he created.”
“Yes.”
“He’s blaming you.”
“Yes.”
Ethan looked at me.
“How are you this calm?”
“I am not calm.”
I pointed to the antique clock on my shelf.
“I have simply had seventy years to learn that anger makes expensive decisions.”
He sat down.
That evening, Carter Meridian released three pages.
No insults.
No speculation.
Just dates.
Documents.
Authorization records.
And confirmation that Ethan had never agreed to sponsor or guarantee Mitchell Foundation projects.
Vanessa released her own statement an hour later.
It shocked everyone.
“My father’s public claims concerning Ethan Carter are false.”
She confirmed she had provided documents to investigators.
She admitted using Ethan’s device in connection with the attempted transfer.
She apologized to Daniel.
She apologized to me.
And she ended with one sentence.
“My fear of losing status became an excuse for treating people without dignity, and that failure belongs to me.”
Ethan read the statement silently.
“What do you think?” I asked.
He handed back my tablet.
“I think she finally wrote something that wasn’t designed to impress me.”
The next morning, Daniel called my office.
He had received Vanessa’s apology.
He had accepted it.
Not because he forgot.
Because he wanted to move on.
Then he told me something else.
“I applied for that training program.”
I smiled.
“I heard.”
“I have an interview Monday.”
“Then prepare.”
He laughed.
“No special treatment?”
“Absolutely not.”
“I figured.”
For the first time since the engagement party, something felt normal.
Then Martin walked into my office.
May you like
He closed the door.
“George disappeared.”
