Chapter 7 - The Favor He Thought She Owed Him
Trevor waited near the corridor after the presentation.
Naomi found him there while Ruth took Lily to collect her coat.
“We need to talk,” he said.
“About Lily?”
“Among other things.”
“Then send a message. I’ll arrange a suitable time.”
He glanced toward the ballroom.
“This is important.”
“So is the evening I’m attending.”
His jaw tightened.
“I know Patterson is considering buying Meridian.”
Naomi went still.
She had reviewed several acquisition summaries. Meridian was among them, but the materials had been handled through their finance team and outside advisers.
Trevor’s name appeared in the ownership documents.
She had already disclosed their former marriage and stepped away from evaluating that transaction.
“Our team is reviewing several businesses,” she said.
“Come on, Naomi. It’s me.”
“Yes.”
Something in her answer made him look away.
He recovered quickly.
“Meridian has strong relationships. With your resources, we could do something significant.”
“We?”
“I could stay on. Run regional operations.”
“That would be a decision for the people reviewing the business.”
“You own the company.”
“I also respect the people doing their jobs.”
He lowered his voice.
“There are things in the books that need explaining.”
Naomi studied him.
“Then explain them.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
Behind him, Bianca appeared at the corridor entrance.
She had stopped smiling.
“Trevor,” she said. “Not here.”
Naomi looked between them.
“Send the information through your advisers.”
Trevor stepped closer.
“You know what I’m capable of when someone believes in me.”
For a moment, she remembered how often she had heard that sentence before.
Before the failed investments.
Before the secret credit card charges.
Before he accused her of making him feel unsuccessful whenever she asked a practical question.
“I believed in you for six years,” she said.
His face hardened.
“And now you get to punish me forever?”
“No. You have to answer questions about your company.”
He glanced toward the coatroom, where Lily was laughing at something Ruth had said.
“I have rights too, Naomi.”
She felt the old fear arrive.
Then she let it pass through her.
“If you want to discuss a consistent relationship with Lily, we can do that with appropriate support.”
“You can’t keep shutting me out.”
“I’ve kept the messages, Trevor. Please remember that before you repeat this story.”
He stared at her.
Bianca touched his sleeve.
“We should go.”
Instead, Trevor said the thing that finally stripped the evening of any remaining politeness.
“You wouldn’t have built any of this if I hadn’t left.”
Naomi looked at him for a long moment.
Behind her, someone opened the ballroom doors. Applause rose for another honoree, then faded as the doors closed again.
“You don’t get to take credit for what I did afterward,” she said.
She walked away.
Owen met her near the lobby.
“What do you need?”
“A minute.”
He nodded and stood beside her without speaking.
The following morning, Grace called before nine.
“We have a problem.”
Naomi sat up in bed.
“Which kind?”
“The kind with a public statement.”
Bianca had posted photographs from the gala on Meridian’s business page.
One showed Naomi and Trevor in the same frame, taken before Naomi noticed the camera.
The caption described a joyful reunion and announced that Meridian was exploring an exciting partnership with Patterson Event Group.
A second sentence called Naomi’s success “the next chapter in a family business journey.”
There was no agreement.
There was no reunion.
Under the post, people were already offering congratulations.
Naomi opened the photograph.
In the background, partly visible beside Ruth, stood Lily.
Her daughter’s silver shoes caught the light.
Naomi’s anger became very clear.
“Save everything,” she told Grace.
May you like
“Already done.”
“Then connect me with our attorney.”
