Chapter 10 - The Donor Who Wanted His TableTrouble returned when Harrison Aerospace learned why Margaret had been displaced.
The company's vice president, Charles Mercer, feared public embarrassment.
He called Daniel.
"We donated three quarters of a million dollars."
Daniel replied calmly.
"And?"
"We expect appropriate recognition."
"You received it."
"Our chairman was seated at Table Two."
"Yes."
"And now people are suggesting we stole an old woman's seat."
Daniel's voice hardened.
"Nobody said that."
"Not yet."
Mercer demanded that the foundation issue a statement calling the incident a misunderstanding.
Margaret refused.
Vanessa expected Margaret to attack the company publicly.
Instead Margaret said:
"They didn't move me."
Vanessa frowned.
"I did."
Margaret looked directly at her.
"If we're going to tell the truth, tell all of it."
Vanessa realized Margaret was protecting the very people who had benefited from her humiliation.
Not because they deserved protection.
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Because accountability meant refusing convenient villains.
That lesson hurt more than the reprimand.
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