Chapter 17 - CLAUDIA WORKS ELSEWHERE
After the one-year restriction period, Claudia chose not to return to Growing Forward.
Good.
She joined the board of a regional arts nonprofit unrelated to the Ventrescas.
Not immediately.
After training.
No family influence.
She started at committee level.
Worked.
Listened.
Eventually chaired an exhibition fundraising committee.
No Evelyn branding.
No legacy language.
When I heard, I said nothing.
She deserved the chance to build outside my judgment.
Then three years after the greenhouse incident, we had coffee.
First time alone.
She said:
“I thought you’d enjoy watching me start at the bottom.”
“I don’t.”
“You should.”
“No.”
She looked surprised.
Then:
“I was jealous of Emilia.”
There.
Not Ruby.
Not originally.
Emilia.
“Why?”
“She did meaningful work and everyone loved her for it. I did event work and thought it counted less.”
“Did Emilia think that?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Claudia looked at her coffee.
“Me.”
May you like
There.
The deepest rival had been internal.
