Chapter 6 - THE SETUP
Naomi stood perfectly still.
She looked at Bianca, noting the expensive tailoring of the suit, the diamond tennis bracelet on her wrist, and the absolute arrogance radiating from her posture. She hadn't aged a day, preserved by wealth and cruelty.
“Bianca,” Naomi said smoothly, showing zero surprise. “You crashed my gala. I’m flattered, but you’re a little underdressed.”
Bianca’s smile tightened. She glanced at Trevor with sheer disgust. “I see you found the stray dog. I told him to stay in Chicago, but he always was pathetic when he panicked.”
Trevor pressed himself against the wall, visibly terrified of the woman he had once left his wife for. “Bianca, please, I didn’t tell her anything—”
“Shut up, Trevor,” Bianca snapped. She turned her focus entirely to Naomi. “Let’s skip the reunion, Naomi. I know you have the key. Trevor’s little pawn shop receipt was just half the puzzle. The key opens a box at a private vault downtown. Inside is a hard drive.”
“A hard drive containing what?” Naomi asked, feigning ignorance while her mind raced.
“Evidence,” Bianca said coolly. “Evidence of the firm’s missing money. Trevor was stupid enough to steal it, but he was smart enough to make a backup of the original ledgers before I altered them. If that hard drive sees the light of day, my husband’s venture capital firm will face a federal investigation.”
Naomi’s eyes widened slightly.
Her husband.
“You married Richard Vance,” Naomi realized aloud. Richard Vance was the billionaire investor who had just offered to buy a 40% stake in Naomi’s catering empire. He was the key to taking her business national.
“Bingo,” Bianca smirked. “Richard is a powerful man, Naomi. If you hand over the key, your little catering deal goes through tomorrow, and you become a very rich woman. If you don’t, Richard pulls the funding, blacklists you in Columbus, and I ruin your life. Again.”
Naomi looked at Bianca, then at Trevor, who was staring at the floor in shame.
Eight years ago, this threat would have broken her. Eight years ago, she would have cried on a cheap mattress and begged for mercy.
But Naomi wasn’t that woman anymore.
“You think you hold all the cards, Bianca,” Naomi said, her voice eerily calm. She reached into the bodice of her gown, retrieving a small, velvet pouch. She uncinched the string and pulled out the tarnished silver key.
Trevor gasped. Bianca’s eyes lit up with pure greed.
“Give it to me,” Bianca demanded, stepping forward, holding out her hand.
“No,” Naomi said. She held the key up to the light. “You want this hard drive so badly? Fine. But we do this my way. Tomorrow morning. 9:00 AM. At the vault. You bring the paperwork finalizing Richard’s investment in my company—without your husband’s restrictive clauses. You sign away any control over my business. In exchange, I give you the key.”
Bianca laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. “You’re in no position to make demands, the baker.”
“Actually, I am,” Naomi said, stepping directly into Bianca’s personal space. The height difference allowed Naomi to look down at the woman who had tormented her. “Because if I don't show up tomorrow, this key gets mailed to the FBI along with a sworn statement from Trevor.”
Bianca shot a venomous glare at Trevor. “He wouldn’t dare. He’d go to prison too.”
“I don’t care anymore!” Trevor suddenly shouted, pushing himself off the wall. His voice cracked with years of repressed guilt. “I lost my family! I lost everything! I’ll go to prison, Bianca! I don't care!”
Bianca’s confident facade cracked for a fraction of a second. She looked between the broken man and the unbreakable woman.
“Fine,” Bianca hissed. “Tomorrow. 9:00 AM. First City Vault. Don’t be late, Naomi. Or I’ll make sure your little daughter grows up as poor as you did.”
Bianca turned and stormed out of the hallway, the service doors swinging violently behind her.
Naomi let out a slow, controlled breath. She looked at the key in her hand, then looked at Trevor.
“You’re going to help me destroy her,” Naomi said.
May you like
Trevor swallowed hard. “How?”
Naomi smiled, but it was devoid of any warmth. “By doing exactly what you do best, Trevor. You’re going to betray someone.”
