Chapter 23 - Claire and Me
Claire was furious with me too.
That surprised nobody except me.
“I warned you about her.”
“You said you didn’t like her.”
“I said she isolated you.”
“She didn’t.”
Claire stared.
“Dad, you changed your executive calendar because Vanessa didn’t like work calls at dinner.”
“That sounds healthy.”
“She started screening who came to the house.”
“Staff did that.”
“She directed staff.”
I stopped.
Claire continued:
“You think nobody can control you because nobody can order you around.”
That sounded like Samuel.
Apparently everyone had joined a committee.
She said:
“Vanessa didn’t need to control you directly. She controlled access.”
That hurt because it was true.
My arrogance had a specific form.
I believed manipulation happened to people who lacked strength.
I was strong.
Therefore:
Not me.
Wrong.
Manipulation often adapts to the person.
Vanessa never told me:
You may not speak to Claire.
She told me:
Claire is stressed. Give her space.
Never:
Fire Samuel.
Instead:
He makes every vacation about business.
Never:
Ignore treasury.
Instead:
You deserve three days offline.
May you like
Nothing sounded like control.
That was why it worked.
