Chapter 10 - Richard Pays for Waiting
Richard Sloan did not escape because he eventually produced envelope.
State bar reviewed:
His role as counsel to Henry estate.
His communications with Evan.
Failure to timely notify Harbor State of nonprivileged evidence.
Conflict between loyalty to Thomas and fiduciary-related responsibilities.
Retention of client papers.
He cooperated.
No evidence he stole money.
No evidence he falsified.
No bribe.
But professional judgment failed.
Outcome:
Public censure and six-month suspension from practice, stayed partly subject ethics conditions? Better concrete. Let's say six-month actual suspension, followed by probation/ethics monitoring.
He resigned from Whitmore representation permanently.
At hearing he said:
“I told myself delay was neutrality.”
Then:
“It favored the party already in control.”
Good.
Marissa did not testify against him beyond documents.
She had no need.
Before suspension, Richard asked to meet her.
Laura attended.
He apologized.
“I should have given you envelope after Evan died.”
“Yes.”
“I was afraid Thomas would accuse me of violating duties.”
“Were you?”
“Some.”
“Then you should have gone to court.”
“Yes.”
Simple.
Then he said:
“Evan asked me to make sure you weren’t pressured.”
Marissa looked at him.
“You protected me by not telling me I had rights?”
Richard closed eyes.
“No.”
He accepted.
Then:
“Do you forgive me?”
She did not answer.
Later maybe.
Then Adrian/Marissa dynamic.
I was becoming too involved.
Elena warned:
“She is employee. You are wealthy family member. Do not turn yourself into private case manager.”
Good.
I stepped back.
Marissa’s legal team communicated through counsel.
I no longer asked updates unless company-impact.
At home, we discussed work.
Owen.
House schedule.
Normal.
Then one day Marissa said:
“You’ve become weird.”
“What?”
“You used to ask what happened.”
“I was told not to.”
She smiled.
“That was probably smart.”
Then she told me voluntarily:
“Estate distribution cleared.”
I smiled.
“Good.”
After taxes/reserves/fees, she received $548,000.
First purchase?
A new car seat.
Not house.
Then paid:
Mother $28? Already paid.
Credit cards $6,200.
Medical debt $3,800.
Emergency savings.
No extravagance.
She met financial planner unaffiliated Whitmore.
Good.
Then she gave notice.
Two months.
“I’m leaving.”
I expected.
“What next?”
“I want to finish bookkeeping certification.”
She had taken community-college accounting courses before Owen.
Evan died, life stopped.
Now options.
“I’m glad.”
Then:
“Not working for Whitmore.”
“Probably wise.”
She smiled.
Then household staff threw small farewell.
No giant check.
No Cinderella.
I gave her reference letter.
Only work quality.
Nothing about family.
Then Owen threw cake at chair.
Tradition.
She left.
For the first time, Marissa was no longer my employee.
May you like
That made later friendship more equal.
But not yet.
