“And partly?”
Conrad sighed.
“Maybe he finally wants to say something when nobody’s watching.”
That interested her.
She agreed.
Preston arrived at Carter Meridian headquarters alone.
No attorney.
No assistant.
No tie.
He looked older.
Naomi met him inside a small conference room rather than her office.
He sat across from her.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Preston said:
“I’m sorry.”
Naomi waited.
He almost smiled.
“You’re going to ask what for.”
“No.”
That surprised him.
Naomi continued.
“You decide.”
Preston looked toward his hands.
“I’m sorry I humiliated you.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry Mercer touched you.”
“Did you tell him to?”
“I told him to walk you out.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“No.”
Preston shook his head.
“I did not tell him to shove you.”
Naomi believed him.
He continued.
“I’m sorry about the folder.”
“You didn’t kick it.”
“No.”
“But everyone around me thought that was safe to do.”
Naomi looked at him.
He finally understood why that mattered.
Preston continued.
“I watched the security video about twenty times.”
“Why?”
“At first?”
“To prove to myself it looked worse than it was.”
“And later?”
“To figure out when I could have stopped.”
Naomi said nothing.
“There were about twelve chances.”
“That sounds low.”
He laughed softly.
“Probably.”
Then he looked at her.
“I did know your name.”
Naomi’s eyes sharpened.
“Explain.”
“I knew Naomi Carter was the CEO.”
“I had seen a photograph.”
“Years ago.”
“I didn’t connect you.”
“That part I understand.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I don’t think you do.”
He paused.
“I didn’t connect you because the Naomi Carter in my head was a concept.”
“A buyer.”
“A signature.”
“A balance sheet.”
“Probably somebody in a gray suit surrounded by bankers.”
“When you walked in…”
He stopped.
Naomi waited.
Preston forced himself to continue.
“I saw a beautiful Black woman in a dramatic coat.”
“And?”
“I assumed you were someone’s guest.”
Naomi’s expression did not change.
“I’m not proud of that.”
“You shouldn’t be.”
“I know.”
He breathed out slowly.
“Then when you challenged me, I needed you to be wrong.”
Naomi understood that sentence.
More than the apology.
Preston continued.
“Every time you gave me information that should have corrected me, I found another reason not to accept it.”
“The deal.”
“The folder.”