Chapter 4 - THE DEAL THAT WASN'T ENTIRELY WRONG
Sarah spent the afternoon reviewing the Dalton redevelopment deal.
At six, she looked annoyed.
“That’s bad.”
Emily’s stomach tightened.
“The fee?”
“The deal.”
“What?”
“It may actually be financially good.”
Emily stared.
Sarah turned the screen.
Dalton would assume the debt.
Preserve four hundred jobs.
Fund pension shortfalls.
Commit to renovating two failing properties instead of demolishing them.
Grant had not invented the crisis.
He had negotiated a serious solution.
Emily hated that.
“I wanted him to be wrong.”
Sarah nodded.
“Life is rude.”
“And the six million?”
“Still a conflict.”
“Illegal?”
“Not automatically.”
Grant’s company had performed advisory work.
If properly disclosed and independently approved, a fee could be legitimate.
The problem was disclosure.
Grant argued that the fee appeared in the transaction schedule.
He was right.
He argued Emily had received the full package.
Right again.
He argued she had historically allowed him to manage complicated business terms.
Also true.
The guardianship hearing began the next morning by video from Emily’s hospital room.
Grant appeared from a law office.
Perfect suit.
Perfect posture.
He said:
“I am not asking to take my wife’s property. I am asking the court to preserve a transaction she supported until last night.”
Emily looked at Sarah.
“Supported?”
Sarah whispered:
“You attended two meetings where you said the deal sounded reasonable.”
Emily closed her eyes.
Grant continued.
“Emily’s father left her emotionally attached to assets that are now financially dangerous. I have spent years helping her manage them.”
He sounded caring.
Reasonable.
Then his attorney introduced emails from Emily.
Thank you for handling this.
I trust your judgment.
Do whatever keeps the company stable.
Real emails.
The judge asked Emily:
“Mrs. Mercer, did you write these?”
“Yes.”
“Did you often delegate financial matters to your husband?”
“Yes.”
Grant’s eyes met hers on the screen.
He almost looked sad.
Emily understood the strategy.
He did not need to prove she was incapable.
Only that her sudden refusal was irrational enough to justify temporary continuity.
Then Sarah asked one question:
“Mr. Mercer, when did you create GMM Strategic?”
Grant paused.
“Seven months ago.”
“And when did negotiations with Dalton begin?”
“Nine months ago.”
“So you created a company to receive a fee during negotiations?”
“For advisory work.”
“Did your wife approve that fee?”
“It was disclosed.”
“That was not my question.”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
“No.”
Emily sat straighter.
For the first time, the court saw the difference.
May you like
The deal could be good.
The process could still be wrong.
