Chapter 14 - Crestview’s Decision
Three weeks after the closing was suspended, Crestview made its decision.
The $3.2 billion investment would continue.
But not on Gavin’s original terms.
SwiftFreight’s valuation was reduced.
The board was restructured.
Independent compliance oversight became mandatory.
Mason was permanently removed.
Related-party entities were required to be unwound.
And Gavin would not return as CEO during the restructuring period.
He retained a significant ownership interest.
But control was gone.
The announcement devastated him.
It also saved the company.
Banks that had been threatening to tighten credit lines backed down after Crestview reaffirmed support.
Major customers stayed.
Payroll continued.
Warehouses remained open.
Eight thousand employees did not lose their jobs because three executives had confused a company with their private kingdom.
Elaine asked me to meet her after the board approval.
“You could come back.”
“To Crestview?”
“Not necessarily.”
She smiled.
“SwiftFreight needs an independent risk committee.”
I stared at her.
“No.”
“That was fast.”
“I spent six years being introduced as Gavin Pierce’s wife.”
“I’m not asking you to be his wife.”
“I know.”
Elaine leaned back.
“Then why no?”
“Because I need to learn who Sabrina Miller is when her life isn’t organized around Gavin Pierce.”
Elaine smiled.
“That may be the healthiest answer I’ve heard all month.”
She handed me another document.
“What’s this?”
“Consulting proposal.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“You just accepted my no.”
“To SwiftFreight.”
She tapped the proposal.
“This is Crestview.”
I laughed for the first time in weeks.
Not politely.
Actually laughed.
Elaine smiled too.
The offer allowed me to advise Crestview’s transportation portfolio independently.
No reporting to Gavin.
No involvement in my divorce.
No obligation to remain in Minneapolis after the initial six months.
I took the document home.
Home.
The word felt strange.
I was no longer in the hotel.
Nathan had helped me rent a furnished apartment overlooking the Mississippi River.
It was smaller than the house Gavin and I had shared.
Much smaller.
And I loved it.
Nobody else had chosen the furniture.
Nobody had told me which room should become a home office.
Nobody had complained that my books made the shelves look cluttered.
I placed Elaine’s proposal on my kitchen counter.
Then I opened a bottle of wine.
My wine.
My apartment.
My decision.
I signed the consulting agreement at 9:43 that night.
Not because someone threatened me.
May you like
Not because someone told me I should be grateful.
Because I wanted to.
