Chapter 9 - Linda’s Secret
Linda Tran came to Thomas alone.
Sarah opened the door.
Linda looked exhausted.
“I need to speak with him.”
Thomas joined them.
Linda placed a flash drive on the table.
“David doesn't know I have this.”
Thomas did not touch it.
“What is it?”
“Emails.”
Sarah frowned.
“Did you steal them?”
“No. David forwarded them to our family account years ago. He forgot.”
The emails involved Redwood.
One executive wrote:
Once Walker is completely separated from operational influence, valuation improves because his secured claims can be negotiated from a weaker position.
Thomas’s jaw tightened.
David replied:
He doesn't know enough about the restaurant structure to interfere.
Thomas looked away.
Linda whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Because he's destroying himself.”
She began crying.
“David thinks if he becomes rich enough without you, he'll finally prove he deserved everything.”
Thomas stared.
“He already deserved half.”
Linda nodded.
“He couldn't see that.”
Then she revealed something Thomas didn't know.
David had tried twice to discuss restructuring ownership.
Once in 2018.
Once in 2020.
Thomas canceled both meetings.
One because of a Walker Meridian acquisition.
The other because his mother was hospitalized.
Thomas had forgotten.
David had not.
“He thought you were avoiding the conversation because you liked having control.”
Thomas sat silently.
Sarah watched him.
The betrayal remained real.
But the history was becoming uncomfortable.
Thomas had not caused David's fraud.
May you like
He had helped create resentment.
Both could be true.
