And he remembered Darla's contemptuous smile aboard the aircraft.
The connections were difficult to ignore.
But Evan refused to let them turn the acquisition into a personal revenge campaign.
His mother had taught him something more valuable than resentment.
She'd taught him to recognize the dignity of work.
He intended to honor that lesson through the decisions he made next.
Naomi Brooks attended one of the independent workplace review interviews three weeks later.
She arrived carrying a carefully organized folder.
The investigator, an experienced employment-law specialist retained through an independent process, explained the scope of the review and the protections available to employees.
Naomi listened.
Then she began describing her experiences.
She explained that she'd contributed substantially to a successful accessories collection but had not received appropriate recognition in internal presentations.
She described meetings where Darla interrupted her repeatedly.
She provided emails showing her design contributions.
And she explained that certain assignments had been redirected to less experienced employees with closer personal relationships to senior executives.
The investigator asked whether Naomi believed every decision had been discriminatory.
Naomi shook her head.
“No.”
The answer seemed to surprise the investigator.
Naomi continued.
“Sometimes the work genuinely needed improvement. Sometimes another designer had a better idea.”
She paused.
“But there were occasions when my work was accepted, used, and then presented as though somebody else created it.”
The investigator examined the documents.
“Did you raise those concerns at the time?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“My manager said he'd look into it.”
“And did he?”
“Sometimes.”
Naomi looked down.
“Usually, I was told to be patient.”
The investigator nodded.
Naomi continued.
“I don't want anybody punished just because I didn't get a promotion.”
She looked directly at the investigator.
“I want the company to understand how decisions are being made.”
The interview lasted nearly two hours.
When Naomi left, she felt exhausted.
She had spent years protecting herself by remaining quiet.
Now she'd spoken honestly.
She didn't know what would happen.
But she'd finally stopped pretending that silence was the only safe option.
Darla's formal interview occurred the following week.
She arrived wearing a conservative black suit.
Her platinum-blonde hair was tied back.
There were no oversized sunglasses.
No dramatic jewelry.
No clothing designed to attract attention.
She looked like someone preparing for a serious professional meeting.
Two lawyers accompanied her.
The investigator began by reviewing the purpose of the interview.