Chapter 12 - BRETT’S SIGNATURE
North Meridian asked for eight million dollars.
Not ownership.
Settlement.
Eight million for a full release of every disputed legacy claim.
Naomi read the number twice.
Then said:
“They expect negotiation.”
Audrey stared.
“They can expect disappointment.”
Charles Levin, still a Holloway House board member, joined the call.
“The company can contribute if some claims touch corporate IP.”
“No.”
“Audrey—”
“No.”
She leaned toward the conference speaker.
“I am not asking employees to subsidize Brett’s private side deal.”
Charles sighed.
“The company benefited from some of those assets.”
“Then we separate them.”
Naomi nodded.
“That is exactly what we should do.”
Three categories emerged.
One:
Holloway House corporate materials.
Two:
Audrey’s independently documented preexisting work.
Three:
Ambiguous material developed during the marriage and company operations.
Complicated.
Good.
Audrey had learned to respect complicated.
It meant nobody could win with a dramatic sentence.
They needed records.
Records she had.
---
Then came the signature page.
Naomi placed it in front of Audrey.
Brett Holloway.
Dated seven weeks before resignation.
Beneath his name:
A certification that no transferred asset was known to be subject to an unresolved third-party ownership dispute.
Audrey stared.
“That’s false.”
“Potentially.”
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“The board review was already happening.”
“Yes.”
“And my attorney had already asserted claims.”
“Yes.”
“So he certified no dispute.”
Naomi’s mouth tightened.
“Yes.”
Audrey leaned back.
“What happens to him?”
“That depends.”
“On?”
“Whether North Meridian alleges fraud in the sale.”
That sentence changed the room.
Audrey did not feel satisfaction.
Micah.
Always Micah.
Brett could face serious financial consequences.
Potential litigation.
Maybe worse depending on representations and intent.
Her former husband had made another reckless choice during the period when he was desperately trying to preserve money and control.
But he was still Micah’s father.
Both could be true.
---
Brett requested a meeting.
This time Audrey agreed.
Naomi present.
Brett’s lawyer present.
No Micah.
Good.
Brett entered with a gray folder.
He looked tired.
“Before we start, I want to say something.”
Audrey folded her hands.
“This should be interesting.”
“I waived the earn-out.”
Naomi looked up.
“When?”
“This morning.”
His lawyer placed a signed waiver on the table.
Audrey stared.
Three million dollars.
Gone.
Brett continued:
“I also offered North Meridian rescission of the sale.”
“And?”
“They refused.”
Of course.
Why sell back a lottery ticket after discovering the jackpot might be litigated?
Audrey asked:
“Why are you doing this?”
Brett looked at her.
“Because you were right.”
She waited.
“I left traps.”
That surprised her.
No argument.
No excuse.
“I told myself the sale was just cleaning up a useless entity before I left.”
He looked down.
“But part of me liked knowing it might become valuable.”
“Because of me.”
“Yes.”
The word hurt.
Brett swallowed.
“I was still angry.”
“At me?”
“At losing.”
There.
More honest.
“I lost the company. The marriage. The story I told about myself.”
He looked at Audrey.
“And I made one last bet that maybe something from the old plan would still pay me.”
Silence.
Naomi spoke.
“Mr. Holloway, are you prepared to testify to that?”
Brett’s lawyer immediately stiffened.
“Naomi.”
Brett answered first.
“Yes.”
His attorney turned.
“Brett.”
“I said yes.”
Audrey stared at him.
“Do you understand what that could cost you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He smiled sadly.
“Micah asked me a question two years ago.”
Audrey knew.
Why didn’t you just leave before you started acting like Mom was already gone?
Brett continued:
“I didn’t answer him then.”
He looked at Audrey.
May you like
“I think this is part of the answer.”
---
