Chapter 10 - Molly Reed
Molly was not just a server.
She was a former Mercer employee who knew Red Fern existed.
Why hide it?
Because the last time she mentioned it, Victor destroyed her career.
Four years earlier, Molly found unusual beneficiary references while reconciling old trust payments.
She opened a restricted file.
Inside:
Red Fern Holdings.
Instructions from Charles Mercer.
Beneficiaries listed only by initials.
One was M.R.
Molly thought it meant her.
She panicked.
Why would Grant’s father leave anything to her?
She contacted Victor.
He accused her of theft.
She was fired.
Blacklisted from corporate accounting jobs through informal references.
She ended up serving tables.
Grant felt sick again.
His company had hurt another person while he remained upstairs.
“Why didn't you sue?”
“With what money?”
Fair.
Then Thomas asked:
“Why did Charles know you?”
Molly hesitated.
“My mother worked for him.”
As what?
Executive assistant.
Twenty-five years.
Name:
Laura Reed.
Grant remembered her.
Barely.
His father’s assistant.
Efficient.
Quiet.
Died five years earlier.
Then Grant noticed Caroline staring.
“What?”
She whispered:
“Laura Reed.”
“Yes.”
“Luke mentioned her.”
Why?
Luke found evidence Charles transferred Red Fern shares to Laura shortly before his death.
Then Laura transferred them again.
To whom?
Unknown.
Molly shook her head.
“My mother never told me.”
Then Thomas asked:
“Was Charles your father?”
Molly looked horrified.
“No.”
Good.
No cheap secret-child twist.
DNA would later confirm no relation.
The connection was business.
Laura Reed had helped Charles build Red Fern.
Not to steal Mercer Hospitality.
To protect it from Grant.
That hurt more.
Charles apparently feared his eldest son’s aggressive expansion would eventually overleverage the company.
So he created a hidden debt vehicle capable of taking control if financial ratios became dangerous.
A corporate emergency brake.
Luke discovered it.
Initially thought it was fraud.
Then realized their father had built a shadow mechanism to remove Grant if Grant became reckless.
Grant laughed bitterly.
“My father built a trap for me.”
Caroline said:
“Maybe he built a seat belt.”
Grant looked at her.
She was right.
He hated that too.
Then Molly produced one thing she had hidden for four years.
A copy of Charles’s instruction letter.
IF GRANT PRESERVES THE COMPANY, RED FERN REMAINS DORMANT.
IF HE ATTEMPTS A SALE THAT ENDANGERS CORE EMPLOYEES OR TENANTS, ACTIVATE.
Grant’s hotel redevelopment triggered the condition.
Who could activate it?
Laura Reed originally.
After her death:
Her designated successor.
Molly.
Molly stared at the page.
“I never knew.”
Grant looked at the woman he had slapped.
The server he thought beneath him.
She unknowingly held power over the company carrying his name.
Then Derek’s phone rang.
Victor.
Molly answered.
May you like
He said only:
“If Grant learns what Red Fern really owns, someone else dies.”
