“I didn’t.”
“I know that now.”
Courtney said she had seen Charles practicing my signature on discarded
printouts.
That was an allegation, not proof.
I told her to speak to the investigator or her own lawyer.
She asked whether I hated her.
“Yes,” I said.
The honesty surprised both of us.
Then I added, “But that doesn’t mean I want you to lie for me. Tell the
truth. Whatever it is.”
She began crying.
I ended the call.
I had a premature newborn in the NICU.
I was finished managing other adults’ emotions.
PART 9 — THE COMPANY
Baldwin Logistics became the next battlefield.
Charles had worked there for six years as vice president of strategic
development.
I had assumed Mom promoted him because she trusted him.
Samantha corrected me.
“She tolerated him because you loved him.”
That hurt.
Mom’s trust held controlling shares, but governance did not mean I could
simply walk into the company and fire anyone I disliked.
The board had duties.
Employment agreements existed.
Company counsel had to separate corporate issues from my divorce.
Still, Charles’s attempt to present himself as authorized to direct my
inherited interests raised serious concerns.
The board placed him on administrative leave while outside counsel
