Chapter 15 - The Conditions
My father's email was three pages long.
By the second paragraph, I understood what he wanted.
He and Mom would arrange financing to cover the $42,500 charge, but only if I signed a statement saying the payment had been an authorized family loan.
They also wanted me to withdraw my allegation that Sloan had deliberately injured me.
Finally, they wanted me to promise not to discuss the wedding incident publicly or cooperate voluntarily with anyone investigating it.
I called Ruth.
“Can they seriously ask for this?”
“They can propose a settlement of claims they control. They can't make you misrepresent a corporate transaction or prevent you from complying with lawful requests.”
“Dad says he'll repay everything.”
“That's a separate matter. Your employer owns the corporate claim. You don't have authority to settle it for them.”
I looked at the proposed agreement again.
At the bottom, Dad had added a handwritten note.
Please remember that we're still your parents.
I almost cried.
Not because it was kind.
Because it was the first time he'd mentioned being my father without making a direct demand in the same sentence.
Then I remembered the money he'd taken from my savings account.
The dress Sloan had destroyed.
The way Mom had grabbed my injured arm.
And the letter they'd written to my employer suggesting I was confused by medication.
I forwarded the proposal to Elena and Forge & Harbor's legal department.
Later that afternoon, Elena called.
“The card issuer has applied a provisional credit while the dispute is investigated,” she said.
“Does that mean it's over?”
“No. The merchant can submit additional documentation, and the adjustment isn't necessarily final.”
“Understood.”
“The good news is that our internal records support your report. We still have procedures to complete, but you're not being treated as responsible simply because the card was issued in your name.”
I thanked her.
Then she asked how my recovery was going.
I told her the truth.
“Slow.”
“Do you need anything from work?”
I almost said no.
Then I stopped.
“Actually, yes. I'd like copies of my project materials. Even if Daniel is running the rollout, I want to help him avoid the problems we identified during testing.”
Elena sounded pleased.
“I can arrange limited access through the team, consistent with your leave restrictions.”
After the call, I sat quietly.
For the first time since the fall, I'd asked for something I wanted instead of apologizing for needing it.
That evening, my father called.
I answered.
“Did you read the proposal?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Then you'll sign?”
“No.”
Silence.
“Merritt, we're trying to keep this family together.”
“You're trying to get me to lie.”
“We could lose the house over this.”
“Then you need to talk to your financial adviser.”
His breathing changed.
“You'd let your own parents lose their home?”
I looked at the scar beneath my brace.
“You were willing to let me lose the ability to walk without asking whether I needed help.”
“Merritt—”
“I'm not signing.”
He hung up.
A minute later, Ruth sent me a message.
May you like
Your parents' attorney has requested a formal meeting.
They say they have a revised offer.
