Chapter 7 - Thomas Vale Said the Relationship Was Real
Thomas did not deny the photographs.
When the trust’s counsel interviewed him, he answered directly.
He and Margaret had been romantically involved for eighteen months.
He believed the relationship was serious.
Margaret had asked him not to disclose it to Evan.
Why?
“Family complications.”
Thomas agreed.
That was his mistake.
Then the proposed lease.
Did Margaret receive money from Vale Harbor Development?
“No.”
Did she own part of Thomas’s company?
“No.”
Did he promise her a percentage of the deal?
“No.”
Bank review later supported those answers.
No secret millions.
Then something more subtle emerged.
Thomas had discussed Margaret joining a new cultural and community advisory board Vale planned to establish after development began.
Compensation discussed:
$150,000 annually.
Not yet paid.
No final employment contract.
But a signed nonbinding letter of intent existed.
Start date depended on:
project closing.
Margaret had signed it four months before Evan suspended her from the trust transaction.
She disclosed it to:
nobody.
That was a significant conflict.
Maybe not criminal.
Definitely material.
Then Margaret tried to explain.
The advisory role was about arts programming.
She had decades of nonprofit experience.
True.
Thomas said he would have recruited her regardless of the Dawson property.
Possible.
But compensation would begin only if Vale established the resort operation.
And that depended on the trust approving:
the lease.
Margaret had advocated aggressively for a transaction that could create a well-paid future role for herself.
Without disclosure.
Jonathan Pierce asked:
“Did you understand that the advisory agreement should have been disclosed?”
Margaret answered:
“I didn’t consider it final.”
“Did you understand it could affect how others evaluated your recommendation?”
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.”
There.
That was enough.
Not to prove bribery.
To prove the process had been compromised.
Then Claire looked again at the courier photographs.
The affair was not the scandal by itself.
The hidden relationship combined with undisclosed future compensation.
Personal interest.
Financial interest.
Decision-making access.
Each manageable if disclosed.
Dangerous when hidden together.
May you like
And Evan had recognized it before anyone else.
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