Chapter 9 - VANESSA'S REAL ANGER
Vanessa agreed to a recorded deposition.
She was excellent.
Calm.
Prepared.
Never raised her voice.
She admitted creating the online campaign.
Why?
“Claire had an undisclosed personal conflict while leading review of my company.”
Claire’s relationship with Ethan was disclosed to the board.
Vanessa replied:
“After they were involved.”
Then:
“She benefited from my marriage ending.”
Claire’s attorney asked:
“How?”
“She married my husband.”
“Former husband.”
“He was not former when it started.”
Again:
kernel of truth.
Then the financial contracts.
Vanessa said:
Verity House saved Morgan Meridian during two product recalls and one executive scandal.
The company renewed her contracts knowingly.
Blue Iris’s pricing was market-competitive.
Her profit participation was compensation for bringing the account.
All arguable.
Then counsel asked:
“Why launch the smear the day of the audit meeting?”
Vanessa paused.
“To make sure the committee understood who was accusing me.”
There.
Not denial.
Character attack as defense strategy.
Then:
“Did you want Claire unable to attend?”
Vanessa smiled.
May you like
“I wanted her credibility tested.”
That sentence became the moral center of her defense.
