Chapter 12 - Bellarose walks away
Bellarose Jewelry suspended its proposed campaign immediately.
Their executives were furious.
Not at me.
At Valeria.
The campaign concept:
Continuity
A profile of women carrying family traditions through grief.
Valeria had pitched:
Celeste’s ring.
Foundation history.
Marnie’s future.
Had Bellarose planned to photograph Marnie?
Yes.
Did I consent?
No final consent had been obtained.
Their legal department required guardian approval before production.
So no exploitation had occurred yet.
Good controls.
But Valeria’s proposal deck described her as:
The woman entrusted by Celeste Drake to carry the family’s public legacy forward.
Bellarose asked for documentation.
Valeria supplied:
The one-event seating email.
A photograph of herself with Celeste.
Foundation event programs.
Nothing that actually supported the claim.
Bellarose canceled.
They demanded return of a:
$75,000 development advance
paid to Valeria’s company.
Some work had been performed.
Settlement later.
Then the Alden Crown Hotel reviewed its hospitality agreement.
They did not cancel the foundation contract.
That would hurt the charity.
They suspended Valeria’s personal benefits.
May you like
Good distinction.
The foundation had programs beyond one dishonest consultant.
