Chapter 7 - The ExecutorThe man who had been waiting nine years to speak
His name was Samuel Price.
Naomi remembered him.
Not well.
But enough.
He had been her father's lawyer for nearly twenty years.
He had attended birthdays.
Estate meetings.
One disastrous family Thanksgiving.
Then, after her father died, Samuel vanished from Naomi's life.
Or so she thought.
They met at a quiet hotel lounge in downtown Portland.
Samuel was seventy-one now.
White hair.
Silver glasses.
A cane resting beside his chair.
He stood when Naomi approached.
“You look like your father.”
Naomi sat down.
“You've been trying to reach me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was waiting for the right moment.”
“The right moment was eight years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come then?”
“Because your brother asked me not to.”
Naomi went still.
“Richard?”
Samuel nodded.
“He knew something.”
“What?”
“He knew someone was watching you.”
Naomi leaned forward.
“Who?”
“I never found out.”
“That isn't good enough.”
Samuel smiled sadly.
“You were always impatient when the answer wasn't available.”
Naomi crossed her arms.
“I was a science teacher.”
“I know.”
“You don't get to give me riddles.”
Samuel looked toward the window.
“Your father created a private trust.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Naomi frowned.
“You knew?”
“I was its executor.”
She stared.
“You said my father created one.”
“He created the trust for you.”
“What's in it?”
“Not money.”
Naomi's expression changed.
“Then what?”
“Instructions.”
Samuel reached into his briefcase.
He removed a sealed envelope.
“Your father left this for you.”
Naomi recognized the handwriting immediately.
Her name.
Only one word.
Naomi.
She did not open it.
“What did he know?”
Samuel took off his glasses.
“He knew your brother was trying to help you.”
Naomi's pulse jumped.
“He knew about my work?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Richard told him.”
“Did my father know Clear Path would become what it is?”
“No.”
“Then what did he know?”
Samuel leaned closer.
“He knew your family.”
Naomi stared.
“He believed money would change them.”
“That sounds cruel.”
“He had reasons.”
“What reasons?”
Samuel said quietly:
“Your father believed Scott would eventually be manipulated by his fear of losing what he thought belonged to him.”
Naomi's throat tightened.
“He knew my son?”
“He knew his grandchildren.”
“What about Arthur?”
Samuel's expression hardened.
“Your father didn't trust Arthur.”
“Why?”
“Because Arthur had approached him for money.”
“When?”
“Long before you met Lauren.”
Naomi froze.
“He wanted investment.”
“Was my father involved?”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
“Arthur borrowed money from Richard.”
Naomi blinked.
“How much?”
“Enough to matter.”
“For what?”
Samuel looked at her.
“Northstar.”
The room seemed to fall away.
Arthur had not merely become involved later.
He had been circling the industry long before Clear Path existed.
“And Richard?” Naomi asked.
Samuel lowered his voice.
“Richard believed Arthur was trying to build something using information that didn't belong to him.”
Naomi remembered the line.
Someone has already noticed what you're building.
Her hands tightened.
“Why didn't Richard tell me?”
“Because he thought he could handle it.”
“He couldn't.”
“No.”
“What happened?”
Samuel's eyes filled with sadness.
“Richard died before he could finish.”
Naomi looked at the envelope.
“What's inside?”
“Your father wanted you to know something.”
“What?”
Samuel said:
“Your value was never supposed to be measured by what you could give the family.”
Naomi looked down.
For a moment, she couldn't speak.
Then Samuel pushed another document across the table.
It was a trust schedule.
Naomi read the first line.
If Clear Path Learning is ever sold, 15 percent of the founder's personal proceeds shall be transferred to a permanent education trust.
She looked up.
“Why?”
“Your father believed that if you became wealthy, your first instinct would be to save everyone.”
Naomi laughed through tears.
“That sounds like him.”
Samuel nodded.
“And he wanted to stop you.”
“Stop me?”
“Yes.”
“From helping my family?”
“From being consumed by them.”
Naomi sat back.
The room grew quiet.
Then Samuel said:
“There is another provision.”
Naomi looked at him.
“What?”
“If any family member attempts to interfere with the sale for personal financial benefit, their claim to future distributions from the trust is suspended.”
Naomi's mouth went dry.
“Scott?”
“Potentially.”
“Lauren?”
“Yes.”
“Arthur?”
Samuel looked at her carefully.
“Arthur isn't a beneficiary.”
“Then why would he care?”
Samuel smiled without humor.
“Because his daughter is.”
Naomi suddenly understood.
Lauren.
Scott.
The family.
The trust.
The acquisition.
All of it connected.
Arthur wasn't trying to steal $184.7 million.
He was trying to make sure the family couldn't receive anything unless Naomi gave it to them directly.
He wanted Naomi angry enough to break the trust.
He wanted her to act emotionally.
Samuel reached for his briefcase again.
“There is one more thing.”
Naomi looked at him.
He handed her a photograph.
It showed Richard.
A younger Scott.
Arthur.
And another man.
The picture had been taken outside a Northstar office.
The date was eleven years ago.
Naomi looked at the fourth man.
She knew him.
May you like
Her heart stopped.
It was Mitchell Heart.
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