Chapter 7 - The Job Derek Invented for Himself
Two percent sounded small.
On $36 million of residential and commercial real estate, it was not.
The proposed management agreement would have paid CSD:
Up to $720,000 annually depending asset base.
For ten years.
Before expenses.
Derek’s company had no track record managing a portfolio that size.
No competitive bid.
No fiduciary review.
He wrote the agreement.
Then presented it as part of a “family settlement.”
Eleanor said:
“Northbridge did not seriously consider it.”
“Did they tell him?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Three days before your shove.”
I sat very still.
Timeline.
Three days before:
Northbridge rejects proposed $3.5 million distribution and management agreement.
Two days before:
Derek pressures Allison to reinforce capacity concerns.
One day before:
I tell Allison I plan to return to Asheville.
Day of:
Age seventy disclosure arrives by courier.
Derek may not know it arrived.
But he knew his plan was failing.
Then burned risotto.
A shove.
Was the shove calculated?
No evidence.
Maybe he snapped.
But financial pressure created the room.
That mattered without turning every action into conspiracy.
Then his assault lawyer offered plea:
Misdemeanor assault.
Counseling.
No jail beyond time? He had no custody. Prosecutor wanted short sentence due age/vulnerability and lack remorse.
Derek refused.
He said:
I tripped.
Allison now witness.
No interior camera.
Physical injury consistent with fall but not cause.
Trial possible.
Then CSD investigation.
Granite Peak.
Northbridge.
Three different lanes.
Civil trust claims.
Commercial loan fraud.
Assault.
Do not combine emotionally into one giant super-case.
Eleanor emphasized.
Then Allison.
She moved into a furnished rental after Caroline advised separation from Unit 14B while legal issues played out.
Why leave trust condo if Derek excluded?
Because she needed distance.
Northbridge continued paying ordinary property expenses, but Allison voluntarily stopped living there and paid her own rent from employment income/savings.
“What employment?” I asked.
I realized I didn’t know.
She had left a communications job two years earlier to “help Derek.”
Of course.
She had worked unpaid for CSD.
No salary.
No retirement.
I saw pattern.
Not identical to my situation.
But familiar.
“Do you have money?”
“Some.”
“How much?”
“Twenty nine thousand.”
“Anything separate?”
“My beneficiary distributions.”
Trust had paid Allison modest discretionary amounts over years:
Education.
Medical.
Housing assistance.
No large cash.
Her separate inheritance from Henry? The remainder not yet. She had about $110k from prior gifts maybe.
Then joint bank line:
$320,000 guarantee.
The bank had collateral in CSD receivables and Derek’s business assets.
Allison’s personal guarantee remained enforceable unless fraud/defenses.
Caroline and commercial counsel negotiated.
She might lose money.
Actions have consequences.
Then I said:
“I can pay your debt.”
She looked up.
“No.”
“I can.”
“No.”
“I have—”
“Mom.”
First firm voice.
“I signed that guarantee.”
“Yes.”
“I need to deal with what I signed.”
That was growth.
Then:
“If I end up needing help with lawyer fees, I may ask.”
Good.
Ask.
Not assume.
Then Allison asked:
“Are you cutting me out?”
“No.”
She cried.
“Why?”
“Because I can’t.”
She looked surprised.
“Henry fixed the remainder terms.”
Eleanor had explained:
I held limited appointment powers over certain discretionary portions, but sixty percent remainder for Allison’s protective trust was essentially fixed subject trustee administration.
“I couldn’t erase you because I’m angry even if I wanted.”
“Do you want?”
I thought.
“No.”
Then:
“I also won’t use trust money to protect you from every consequence.”
She nodded.
Fair.
Then Henry’s letter.
I finally read.
Margaret, if you are reading this at seventy, congratulations on ignoring my advice about slowing down for at least another twenty years.
I laughed.
Then:
The trust is larger than I expected when I first wrote this. If it becomes much larger, remember that size makes money feel like authority. It is not.
I stopped.
More:
Allison should benefit after us, but I have deliberately kept independent trustees between family members and large pools of money. Not because I distrust her. Because I distrust what money makes other people ask of those they love.
My eyes filled.
Henry had not predicted Derek.
He had predicted pressure.
Then:
Do not use the trust to reward obedience. Do not use it to punish disagreement. Protect yourself. Protect Allison if she asks. But let consequences remain consequences.
I closed the letter.
That night, Allison called.
“Mom.”
“Yes.”
“Derek emailed me.”
“What?”
“He says if I don’t withdraw my statement about the shove, he’ll release recordings proving you’re confused.”
My hand tightened.
“What recordings?”
“He says he recorded you during pneumonia recovery.”
When I was sick.
Medicated.
Weak.
May you like
Possibly delirious.
If those recordings existed, Derek was about to turn my worst twelve hospital days into evidence that I should not control my own life.
