“I am saying I own the company your son works for and serve as its chief executive officer through a structure that does not require your approval,” I answered evenly.
Abigail covered her mouth, her shock filled with emotion rather than fear. She was not disturbed by my position, but by the truth her husband had just revealed about himself.
Scott leaned toward me, his voice low and urgent. “Kendra, I did not know, and if I had known I would have acted differently.”
“That is exactly the problem,” I said quietly, stopping him before he could continue.
“If you had known, you would have changed your behavior, hidden your attitude, and presented yourself as someone better,” I explained calmly. “Character is not shown in how you treat powerful people, but in how you treat those you believe have nothing to offer you.”
Abigail looked at him with tears in her eyes, refusing to look away. “Did you really think my mother was embarrassing,” she asked softly.
Scott reached for her hand, but she pulled it back immediately. Diane tried once more to regain control of the situation, though her voice now trembled under pressure.
“We were only trying to protect our family,” she said, her confidence gone.