The Capo’s Daughter Needs No Permission Chapter 34
When the project entered its second testing phase, the company published a team introduction on its official website.
Next to my photo, it said:
“Romy Vitale, Data Security Engineer for Education and Healthcare.”
That same night, the video Ava had deleted four years ago resurfaced.
Someone had clipped the part where she cried and claimed screenshots could be faked, conveniently cutting out Marco’s screen recording and my mother’s admission of guilt.
Under the video, a new wave of comments appeared:
“Is someone who publicly airs her family’s dirty laundry really suited to handle confidential student records?”
Others started attacking Ms. Albright again, saying she had encouraged me to abandon my parents.
The next day, HR compliance asked me into a conference room.
There was no written reprimand on the table.
Only a printed screenshot from the old, edited video.
“We need to hear your side of this.”
I looked at the officer. “Do you want my feelings, or do you want to see the records?”
“Records.”
I opened the folder I had saved four years ago.
The list of fifty-eight calls, the hospital records, the photos of the five hundred and seventy-six permission slips, the group chat without me, the official education fund investigation email—everything arranged by date.
I didn’t include any irrelevant Family material.
I showed them only the evidence that directly corresponded to the public accusations.
At the end, I played the complete, unedited screen recording Marco had posted.
“This was all publicly verified four years ago.”
“The submission date of the original documents and the fund’s final conclusion also line up.”
The compliance officer asked, “Have you concealed any potential conflict of interest involving our clients?”
“No.”
“If a client from the Ferraro Family organization were to come in, I would recuse myself from all personal-data access and work only on system architecture. All my decisions could go through independent review.”
“Would you be willing to step down from this project?”
I looked her straight in the eye.
“If the company believes my technical work is inadequate, then replace me.”
“But if this is only because someone re-edited a video that was already disproven by evidence, then I am not stepping aside just because they want me gone.”
Before the meeting ended, the compliance officer collected the screenshot from the table.
“The project will continue as planned.”
“And the company will address the issue of malicious complaints filed against its staff.”
I went back to my desk without engaging in the online drama.
Four years ago, I had already provided the right evidence to the people who needed to see it.
This time was no different.