Chapter 38 - The Settlement Nobody Expected
The investigation ended without a dramatic arrest.
Instead, federal regulators imposed structural restrictions.
Northstar was required to divest several strategic assets.
Certain acquisitions were reversed.
Supplier information obtained through improper channels had to be destroyed.
Vance Defense Systems remained independent.
The company also agreed to new transparency standards.
The board asked me to return.
Not as CEO.
Not as chairman.
As an independent legacy adviser.
I almost refused.
Then I thought about my father's letter.
If you discover something I built is wrong, change it.
I could do that without controlling it.
So I accepted.
My first recommendation was simple.
Create an employee ethics council.
Rachel became one of its members.
When I told her, she cried.
“I don't know why you trust me.”
I smiled.
“Because you proved you deserved it.”
That evening, I told Caleb.
He smiled.
“You finally found your place.”
I looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“You don't need the throne.”
I laughed.
“Never again.”
“You need a seat where you can tell the truth.”
I leaned against him.
May you like
“That sounds much better.”
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