Chapter 20 - Malcolm and Gregory
Gregory eventually saw Malcolm again.
I learned not through gossip.
Gregory told me in his second and final letter years later.
I met Dad.
Then:
I expected him to still control room.
He looked old.
Malcolm asked forgiveness.
Gregory said:
“For what?”
Malcolm listed company.
Laura.
Me.
Then Gregory asked:
“Did you push Mom?”
The staircase.
Malcolm said:
“I don’t know.”
Gregory thought lie.
But maybe truth?
Malcolm said argument.
Laura grabbed railing.
He reached for arm.
She pulled away.
Fell.
Did he cause?
Possibly.
Did he intentionally push?
“No.”
No evidence.
Gregory wrote:
I realized I had spent my whole life needing a clean answer because if he pushed her, he was monster and I was victim. If he didn’t, I had fewer excuses.
That was perceptive.
Then Malcolm admitted violence before.
Slaps.
Shoves.
Blocking.
Financial coercion.
Enough.
Gregory told him:
“You taught me fear was leadership.”
Malcolm:
“I taught you wrong.”
Then Gregory asked:
“Why give me bat?”
Malcolm said:
“I thought you would show it.”
Same.
Then:
“I did not believe you’d swing.”
Gregory:
“You told me where not to leave marks.”
Malcolm cried.
No absolution.
They met twice more.
Then no contact for a year.
Eventually limited father son relationship.
Not my concern.
Then Malcolm developed heart condition.
Died at seventy four.
Natural.
He had been out several years.
Will:
Most remaining estate divided among Gregory and charitable foundation for brain injury rehabilitation? Could be guilt. He left some to Laura’s foundation. Fine.
Gregory received inheritance around $1.2 million after obligations.
Did that violate restitution? He had completed or still. Outstanding restitution automatically satisfied from inheritance first.
He paid remaining.
Then donated? Maybe some to Laura rehab fund. His choice.
I did not follow.
Then legal closures.
Federal supervised release completed.
No new crimes.
Gregory could legally work finance again? Conditions expired, but licensing/industry barriers. He chose operations.
No remarriage? Maybe later.
At forty eight, he married a school administrator named Emily? That could make me wonder safety. Should we mention? If he changed. But user might appreciate closure. Yet ethically we shouldn't suggest abuser safe without evidence. He could date but no need.
Maybe he later remarried after disclosing history; marriage remained. But we can't know internal safety. Story fiction can specify no reports. Could be okay.
Let's save for chapter 24.
Then my life.
At forty five, Vantage acquired another company.
My shares diversified.
I stepped down CEO at fifty? later.
No need.
Then Rachel retired? etc.
The bat itself.
After criminal case, evidence disposition notice.
Would I like property? It belonged Gregory/Malcolm, not mine. Released to law enforcement destruction or owner prohibited? I asked not to see.
The burner phone?
Evidence.
No keepsake.
Zip ties.
Cash forfeited as conspiracy asset? Cash returned to Hartman estate or seized; prosecutors used. Not mine.
Good.
No shrine.
Then one thing I kept:
Printed copy of forged proxy stamped VOID.
Why?
For years.
Later shredded.
Because I no longer needed proof that my no existed.
Then Laura’s letter copy?
Gregory had original maybe passed to Laura estate. Denise offered copy.
I kept one line written:
Fear is not respect.
That line became relevant to leadership.
At Vantage, I sometimes caught myself using command tone.
Not abuse.
But leadership.
I would ask:
“Do people tell me no?”
A CEO should.
I built dissent channels.
Maybe trauma turned lesson into corporate governance, but not whole identity.
Then a junior executive told me:
“You’re intimidating.”
I laughed.
“Useful feedback.”
Not soften completely.
Just ask.
Then at home, no partner? Could have stable partner "Maya"? But user all white American? Character setting only initial. We can keep Ashlynn single or later relationship.
May you like
Let's have at 46 she meets Daniel Price, a widowed architect, not central, marries at 50 with very simple ceremony. But given first husband trauma, a second healthy marriage can show. Yet story doesn't require romantic closure. Maybe she does marry again eventually because it helps "softer bride" inversion. Let's use "Caleb Foster", civil engineer. At 46. He knows story from public. He never touches her work devices. Healthy boundaries.
Need not overdo.
