“It belonged to his father.”
She touched the metal.
“Your grandfather worked as an electrician. He gave Samuel that watch when he graduated from college.”
Naomi turned it over.
The back contained a short inscription.
Know what your work is for.
For several seconds, she remained quiet.
Then she returned the watch to its pouch.
She opened the brown envelope.
The first document was a copy of a trust agreement titled The Brooks Founder's Stewardship Trust.
It contained provisions concerning certain founder-class shares and special approval rights related to designated Northstar technology.
Naomi read the opening pages.
Then stopped.
Her name appeared in the section identifying successor fiduciaries.
Naomi Elise Carter.
She stared.
For a moment, she couldn't breathe.
Elena leaned closer.
“What is it?”
Naomi pointed.
“Mom, he named me.”
Elena nodded.
“I know.”
Naomi shook her head.
“No. I mean he named me as a successor trustee.”
She turned another page.
The agreement contained a framework for how specified powers were to be exercised after Samuel's death, including qualifications, notices, and succession requirements. It did not automatically give Naomi unrestricted control of Northstar, and the documents needed legal verification.
But it suggested her father had intended her to play a role in protecting some of the company's original commitments.
Naomi looked toward her mother.
“Why would he do this?”
Elena's eyes filled.
“Because he trusted you.”
Naomi laughed bitterly.
“He barely knew me.”
Her mother shook her head.
“He knew more than you think.”
Naomi turned another page.
There was a letter addressed directly to her.
She recognized the handwriting immediately.
My dear Naomi,
If you're reading this, then time has accomplished what I spent too many years pretending it couldn't. I have lost the chance to explain these things in person.
Naomi stopped.
Her throat tightened.
Elena reached toward her hand.
She continued reading.
Samuel acknowledged his failures as a father.
He wrote that his success had made him arrogant enough to believe he could postpone difficult conversations indefinitely. He convinced himself that providing financial support was the same as being present, and that protecting Naomi from public attention justified allowing other people to control their relationship.
He admitted that none of those explanations excused the pain he caused.
Then the letter changed.
Samuel wrote about Northstar's original purpose.
About hospitals.
Emergency power.
And the danger that investors might one day treat the company's most important technology as an opportunity to extract revenue from institutions that could least afford it.