Chapter 10 - Thomas Tells the Truth
Thomas did not run.
When Adrian confronted him, he simply removed his glasses and placed them on the desk.
“I knew you'd find out.”
Adrian stared.
“Why?”
Thomas looked toward Frank.
“Because your grandfather asked me to handle certain foundation matters quietly.”
Frank frowned.
“I never asked you to forge approvals.”
“I didn't.”
Thomas turned to Adrian.
“Vanessa did.”
“How?”
“She had access to your old authorization token.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because she threatened to expose something.”
“What?”
Thomas looked at Emily.
“She knew about a payment I made three years ago.”
Frank's expression changed.
Thomas continued.
“It was legal. But embarrassing.”
Emily waited.
Thomas had once used foundation money to pay for emergency surgery for a staff member's child before the paperwork was completed.
“He saved a life,” Frank said quietly.
Thomas nodded.
“But the records were messy. Vanessa found them.”
“So she blackmailed you.”
“Yes.”
Emily understood.
Vanessa had not built the scheme alone.
She had found people's weaknesses and turned them against each other.
Thomas lowered his head.
“I helped her process payments because I was afraid she would destroy my career.”
Adrian stared at him for a long moment.
“You should have come to me.”
“I know.”
Thomas looked broken.
“I was ashamed.”
Frank closed his eyes.
The truth was uglier than a simple betrayal.
May you like
People had been making small compromises.
And Vanessa had learned how to connect them into something powerful.
