Chapter 22 - Vanessa’s Apology
Vanessa’s first letter was polished enough to be useless.
“I regret that our disagreement escalated.”
Margaret returned it through counsel.
No comment.
Months later, after treatment, a second letter arrived.
Margaret read it alone.
Then let me read it.
Margaret,
At the gala, I deliberately moved your cane with my foot.
Direct.
“I did it because I did not want you approaching the VIP table.”
Direct.
“I knew bank representatives were seated there.”
Important.
“I had spent months trying to reduce your role in refinancing discussions because I believed your lease position threatened Bellafonte and my work.”
There.
Then:
“I described you as confused when I had no medical basis to do so.”
There.
“I told staff to move you upstairs and away from meetings.”
There.
“I used your age and mobility to make a business disagreement look like incapacity.”
That sentence mattered most.
Then:
“I did not intend you to fall. I did intend to interfere with where you went.”
No hiding.
“I am sorry.”
No demand for forgiveness.
No request to return as manager.
No:
after all I did for the family.
Margaret folded it.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“She finally wrote about what she did instead of why she was entitled to do it.”
That was praise from my mother.
May you like
High praise.
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