Chapter 12 - LUCA'S BEST ARGUMENT
Luca’s business argument remained rational in parts.
Harper Storage had equity.
Romano Commercial Interiors had a temporary liquidity problem.
Additional collateral could reduce borrowing cost and buy time.
If the company stabilized, the family might be better off.
Wendy’s guarantee risk might fall.
Employees might keep jobs.
All true.
Jessi’s lawyer asked Luca during mediation:
“Does any of that give you authority to transfer Jessi’s property?”
“No.”
“Did she agree?”
“No.”
“Then why tell the bank she was aligned?”
Luca looked exhausted.
“Because I thought she would come around.”
There.
He had treated expected consent as present consent.
Then treated resistance as betrayal.
Then treated fear as leverage.
The logic deteriorated in stages.
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The final kitchen threat was not hidden inside the first conversation.
It grew because Luca kept escalating when reality refused to match the outcome he believed he needed.
