Chapter 9 - The first terrible idea
My first idea was childish.
Leave everything to Thomas.
All of it.
Evelyn listened without interrupting.
Then said:
“No.”
Again.
“Why?”
“Because you barely know him.”
“He saved my life.”
“That earns gratitude, not automatic stewardship of six hundred million dollars.”
“I trust him more than my sons.”
“The bar is low today.”
“Evelyn.”
“Arthur.”
I stared.
She continued:
“Thomas has never managed a portfolio of this scale. He has no experience with your company governance. Giving him unrestricted personal ownership could destroy him, trigger litigation, produce tax problems, and make every claim of undue influence look plausible.”
“So what do you suggest?”
“I suggest separating the questions.”
She wrote them.
Who should receive economic benefit?
Who should control voting shares?
Who should protect grandchildren?
What charitable goals matter?
What role, if any, has Thomas earned beyond gratitude?
What consequences should Daniel and Marcus face?
Then:
“Those are five questions, not one.”
May you like
I hated when professionals reduce rage to numbered categories.
It works too well.
