Chapter 11 - Derek Lost His Job Without My Help
Peterson terminated Derek the following Monday.
Not for being mean to my son.
Not for embarrassing the Dawson family.
Not because I requested it.
The termination letter cited findings involving:
Misrepresentation of customer approval status.
Retaliation against employees who raised compliance concerns.
Inappropriate use of another employee’s name and reputation.
Interference with an internal investigation.
And conduct intended to discredit a potential witness.
Dad called me within an hour.
“You happy?”
“No.”
“You got what you wanted.”
“I never asked Peterson to fire him.”
“Don’t hide behind HR language.”
“I told the truth when they asked me questions.”
“You could’ve helped.”
“How?”
“Tell them Derek isn’t some monster.”
I sat at my desk.
“Would that have changed his CRM edits?”
Silence.
“Would it change what he did to Aaron?”
Nothing.
“Priya?”
Nothing.
“The messages?”
His voice became low.
“You chose strangers over your brother.”
There was the family equation again.
Truth belonged to strangers.
Loyalty belonged to family.
As if both could not occupy the same room.
“No.”
I said it carefully.
“Derek chose his behavior over his job.”
Dad hung up.
Derek did not call.
He sent one message.
YOU’RE DEAD TO ME.
I preserved it because Peterson’s counsel had asked me to save related communications.
Then I muted the thread.
No dramatic reply.
No revenge.
Nothing.
That evening I told Lucas only what he needed.
“Uncle Derek won’t be working at my company anymore.”
“Because of Bamboo?”
“No.”
He looked confused.
“Then why?”
“Because he made bad choices at work too.”
“Did you make them fire him?”
“No.”
Lucas thought about that.
“Then who did?”
“His bosses.”
“Because he broke rules?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
Children like clean logic.
Adults often ruin it.
Then he asked:
“Is Grandpa mad?”
“Yes.”
“At me?”
“No.”
This time Lucas rolled his eyes.
“You always say that.”
“Because you keep thinking adults’ feelings are your job.”
“Are they?”
“Nope.”
He smiled.
May you like
“Good.”
It was becoming one of his favorite words.
