Chapter 9 - THE FEDERAL CASE ENDED WITHOUT A FAIRY-TALE VILLAIN
Ryan was indicted eighteen months after the gala.
Charges involved procurement fraud, false statements, conspiracy, and improper payments supported by financial records and witness testimony.
Not every allegation survived.
Several hospital administrators were cleared of criminal knowledge.
Some vendors had performed legitimate work.
Helix itself was not destroyed.
The board removed Ryan and cooperated with regulators.
A restructuring saved hundreds of jobs.
That mattered to Claire.
Punishing employees for an executive’s misconduct would have been another kind of injustice.
Amber ended the engagement before the indictment.
Ryan sued her over the Lake Geneva property documents.
He lost most of the claim because he had misrepresented the ownership structure.
Amber moved out of the city for six months.
When she returned, she asked Claire to meet.
They sat in a quiet café.
No microphones.
No champagne.
Amber said:
“I’m sorry.”
Claire waited.
“For sleeping with him?”
“Yes.”
“For humiliating me publicly?”
“Yes.”
“For telling people you couldn’t keep a man?”
Amber closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Claire nodded.
“Good.”
Amber looked confused.
“That’s it?”
“No.”
Claire leaned forward.
“I forgive you enough not to hate you every day.”
Amber’s eyes filled.
“But I don’t trust you.”
That was harder.
More honest.
May you like
Amber nodded.
“I’ll take that.”
