Chapter 14 - The Foundation
With my family permanently removed from my life and the company, I took full control of Vance & Brooks Innovations. The board, terrified of my ruthless efficiency, backed my every move. Within six months, we had restructured, cutting the dead weight and doubling our profits.
But I didn't want the money for myself. It felt heavy. It felt like blood.
On a bright Tuesday morning, David and I stood in front of the press at the city's largest children's hospital.
"Today," I announced to the cameras, "I am officially transferring fifty million dollars of reclaimed corporate assets to establish the Leo and Thomas Brooks Memorial Foundation. This foundation will fully fund pediatric trauma care and provide free legal advocacy for victims of financial abuse."
The cameras flashed. The crowd applauded.
May you like
David squeezed my shoulder. "Thomas would be so damn proud of you, Elena."
"He gave me the sword," I replied, a genuine smile touching my lips for the first time in nearly a year. "I just made sure it swung true."
