Revenge On My Feet Chapter 21
Renata stared at him, incredulous.
“You’re just going to push all the responsibility onto me?”
Desmond kept his eyes on the table.
“I’m signing for the things I did.”
“I gave you the video. I helped you conceal the disciplinary action. And I repeatedly harassed Nadia. Those are facts.”
His signature went down, and even after the pen left the page, his hand was still trembling.
When Renata’s turn came, she shoved the document away from her.
“I’m not apologizing.”
“She used to be so timid. If I hadn’t pushed her, would she be standing on a stage today?”
At last I turned and looked at her.
“I got to where I am today because I left you.”
“The harm you caused me was not my tuition.”
“You don’t get to take credit for my life.”
Renata’s jaw tightened.
“Then sue me.”
I nodded.
“Fine.”
The mediation was over.
I walked out of that room without a trace of fear.
She had assumed that all she needed to do was raise her voice and I would fold, the way I always had before.
But this time, she wasn’t the one who got to decide the consequences.
…
Desmond’s settlement took effect not long after.
He issued a public correction, admitting that I had never consented to the distribution of my hospital images and that Bellini Capital’s decision had rested on a genuine disciplinary record.
But this time, she wasn’t the one who got to decide the consequences.
…
Desmond’s settlement took effect not long after.
He issued a public correction, admitting that I had never consented to the distribution of my hospital images and that Bellini Capital’s decision had rested on a genuine disciplinary record.
He guaranteed that he would no longer contact me, and that he would stay away from the offices of WU and the Renwick Group.
My lawyer also brought me a small box.
Inside lay the St. Christopher medal.
“Mr. Bellini said this is the last time he’ll ask anyone to pass something along to you.”
I looked at the medal and remembered the days right after I first got my prosthetic.
Back then I fell every single day.
Desmond used to sit outside the physical therapy room, this same medal clenched in his fist.
Once, he had truly prayed for my safety.
And later, just as truly, he had pushed me back into pain, over and over again.
Both of those things were true.