Chapter 10 - The Clawback
The clawback became ugly.
Julian’s lawyer argued his misconduct, if any, did not materially affect financial statements.
Meridian invoices totaled around one point two six million over eighteen months.
Aurelia revenue exceeded three hundred million.
Materiality small.
But policy did not require public company style materiality only.
It covered intentional misconduct and policy violations contributing to incentive metrics.
Some vendor expenses had been allocated across strategic launch budgets, affecting departmental performance.
Special committee hired compensation counsel.
No Audrey input.
They concluded board could claw back $410,000 of prior cash incentives attributable years with misconduct, not full $620,000.
They demanded.
Julian refused.
Added to civil suit.
Then criminal prosecutors filed charges.
Not at gala.
Not instantly.
Nine months later after grand jury.
Julian faced:
Conspiracy to defraud Aurelia Systems through undisclosed vendor arrangement.
Commercial bribery related to personal benefits from Meridian.
Falsification of business records tied conflict certifications and invoices.
The exact legal labels varied, but facts were simple.
He knowingly approved a vendor connected financially to Camilla.
He falsely certified no conflict.
He received hidden personal benefits.
Camilla faced conspiracy and falsification counts, plus conflict and fraudulent invoice allegations.
Adrian Price too.
Patrick Lane faced charges related pass through.
No one charged for all one point two six million as stolen because work existed.
Good.
Then Julian surrendered through attorney.
No dramatic handcuffs at office.
He had already been fired.
He pleaded not guilty.
Camilla entered cooperation plea talks.
Adrian too.
Patrick agreed cooperate.
The case became documentary.
Emails.
Payments.
Messages.
No need Audrey testimony on corporate facts except perhaps earrings/assault separate.
Then Julian’s misdemeanor assault case from gala.
He entered diversion:
Anger management.
Community service.
No direct contact with me.
If completed without new offense, charge eligible dismissal under local procedure.
His later felony case might complicate but diversion could remain on conduct. Fine.
I did not oppose.
I did not need jail for shove.
Then earrings theft allegation.
Prosecutor declined separate charge after return and marital property complexity, though prenup favored me.
I was fine.
They were back.
Then divorce hearing final.
Prenup upheld.
Penthouse sale split.
Joint accounts split.
Each kept separate property.
No spousal support.
Julian’s legal fees his.
Mine mine.
Judge did not moralize affair.
Marriage dissolved.
Seven years ended in fifteen minute hearing.
“Is marriage insupportable?”
“Yes.”
Julian looked toward me.
I did not.
Then judge signed.
Audrey Mercer Vance? Did I keep Vance? I could restore Mercer. User character name Audrey Vance. Maybe she keeps Vance professionally? Northstar founder maybe Audrey Mercer? Hmm. Let's decide she returns to Audrey Mercer? But user supplied Audrey Vance. Better keep Audrey Vance perhaps because she had built identity with surname and didn't want man own name? Yet Vance is Julian's surname. Could revert to Mercer. But user calls Audrey Vance in prompt. Story can show later she chooses "Audrey Mercer Vance"? Let's not change to avoid confusion. Keep Audrey Vance legally because she used professionally and did not want paperwork? But emotional maybe she says name is mine now. Fine.
Outside court Julian approached despite no direct contact? Counsel stops. Better no.
Claire said:
“That’s it.”
I expected relief.
Instead grief.
I had loved him.
This story should not erase.
When Julian and I met, he was funny.
Curious? Ironically maybe at first he asked. Ambitious.
He once drove three hours in snow to pick up my mother’s old files after office flood.
He was not villain every day.
Then success sharpened what was already there.
And I had stayed after noticing contempt.
Why?
Because quiet marriages can hide failures.
He did not hit me before gala.
He minimized.
Dismissed.
Cheated.
I told myself adults drift.
Then he shoved.
Then evidence.
No one event created whole truth.
Then Northstar.
Aurelia improved slowly.
Debt refinanced.
No layoffs.
European office sold.
Two product lines closed, affecting 46 jobs, but company offered severance/redeployment. Not mass.
Sophie stabilized.
Then board permanent president search.
She applied.
Two external candidates.
Northstar independent nominees voted.
Malcolm recused partly? He could vote.
Sophie won.
Not Audrey.
At announcement, employees applauded.
No champagne drama.
Then Malcolm announced retirement as chair after six months.
Independent chair appointed: Elena? General counsel can't be chair. Maybe David Ross, Northstar nominee? Independent from operations but Northstar nominee not fully independent. Board chose Helen Castillo, retired tech CEO unaffiliated. Good.
Malcolm remained director emeritus? No need.
Then he told me:
“I spent years thinking succession meant finding next charismatic man.”
I laughed.
“Specific.”
He smiled.
Then:
“I was wrong.”
Then civil suit mediation date.
Julian had lost job, marriage, promotion.
But he still insisted he had done nothing criminal.
His defense would be:
Camilla deceived him about profit share.
He approved invoices in good faith.
The $60,000 was loan repayment.
The watch and Cabo were personal gifts unrelated.
Conflict certification signed based on belief Adrian was independent vendor.
Messages looked bad but were jokes.
And Audrey’s secret ownership poisoned everything.
A jury would decide.
May you like
Unless Camilla’s next piece of evidence changed his calculation.
It did.
