Chapter 7 - Camille’s First Demand
Camille hired excellent counsel.
Her attorney, Sarah Klein, did everything a good lawyer should.
Advised no direct contact.
Preserved evidence.
Separated her complaint against me from the case involving Livia.
Attempted to keep business disputes out.
Camille ignored part of that advice.
Six nights after the party, she sent me a voice message from an unlisted number.
I did not answer.
I listened with Elena beside me.
Camille’s voice was controlled.
“Massimo, this is still fixable.”
Elena held up one finger.
Do not respond.
The message continued.
“I know you’re angry about Livia. I lost my temper. So did you.”
False equivalence, but not legally interesting by itself.
Then:
“You know the Arden property deal has been sitting in your investment committee for two months.”
My expression changed.
The Arden property.
Camille’s late father had owned a forty-acre estate in Westchester.
Large stone residence.
Gardens.
Carriage house.
Camille wanted to convert it into an ultra-luxury event hotel.
Her financing plan required Vale Hospitality to invest approximately $8 million and guarantee part of a construction facility.
My investment committee had declined.
Too much debt.
Weak projected weekday occupancy.
Expensive preservation restrictions.
Camille took the rejection personally.
Her message continued.
“Tell your committee to reopen the proposal. I’m not asking for a gift. I’m asking you to stop pretending they make decisions you don’t control.”
Elena leaned closer.
Then came the sentence.
“Your mother’s file stays private if my family’s project gets a fair hearing.”
A pause.
“And if you stop pushing the police case like I attacked that child with a weapon.”
The message ended.
I stared at the phone.
Elena said:
“Do not call her.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Do not send anyone.”
“I know.”
“Do not forward this to relatives.”
“What do we do?”
“Preserve the original and call the prosecutor handling the child-assault investigation.”
“Extortion?”
“Possibly coercion or attempted extortion depending the statute, intent, and what she seeks. We do not label it for them.”
That was difficult.
Old family culture teaches powerful men to define a threat, then answer it.
Lawful culture requires you to preserve the threat and let somebody else define it.
I saved the recording.
Made copies through counsel.
Did nothing else.
Camille had crossed from:
I know something embarrassing
to:
Give my project financial consideration and I keep quiet.
Her lawyer had probably begged her not to do exactly that.
Fear makes intelligent people believe their case is unique enough to escape ordinary rules.
May you like
Camille was wrong.
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