Chapter 6 - The Freezing Wind
The fallout from the courtroom was immediate and catastrophic for the Hayes dynasty. By the next afternoon, news of the court-ordered asset freeze had reached the local business media. The Scottsdale Chronicle ran a front-page headline: Local Philanthropists Under Federal Investigation For Charity Fraud.
Naomi sat on the back patio of Ruth’s house, watching the late afternoon sun dip behind the Camelback Mountain. Leo was asleep in a bassinet nearby, safe from the storm raging across the city.
A black sedan pulled up to the curb, and Arthur Vance stepped out, carrying a bottle of sparkling apple cider and a fresh stack of legal notices.
"They're panicking, Naomi," Arthur said, taking a seat at the patio table with a wide, triumphant grin. "Trevor's corporate partners have already called an emergency board meeting to strip him of his executive vice-president title. They want to distance the company from him before the IRS issues formal subpoenas."
"And Diane?" Naomi asked, her voice calm.
"She’s currently trapped inside the estate," Arthur chuckled. "The luxury catering company they hired for their next charity gala canceled their contract this morning because the family's corporate credit cards bounced at the terminal. They are completely locked out of their own wealth."
Just then, Naomi’s phone—now using a secure, unlisted number that only a few people possessed—vibrated on the table. The screen showed an unknown number.
She answered it, placing it on speaker.
"Naomi... please," Trevor’s voice came through the line. The arrogance was completely gone, replaced by a raw, desperate panic. He sounded like a man who hadn't slept in forty-eight hours. "Naomi, you have to call off your lawyer. This is getting out of hand. The bank froze my personal accounts. I couldn't even pay the maintenance fee for Chloe’s building today. My mother is having a heart attack."
Naomi looked out at the mountains, her expression serene. "You should have thought about your mother's health before you signed a fraudulent financial affidavit under oath, Trevor."
"I’ll give you whatever you want!" Trevor begged, his voice cracking. "You want the house? Take the house. You want the full cash settlement? I’ll sign over three million right now if Vance drops the referral to the IRS. Please, Naomi. We raised a son together. Don't destroy my father’s legacy over a mistake."
"We didn't raise a son together, Trevor," Naomi said softly, her voice carrying an absolute, unyielding weight. "I raised Leo while you were financing a penthouse for your mistress with money stolen from a children's hospital. And as for your father's legacy... numbers never lie, Trevor. You didn't make a mistake. You simply forgot that the quiet wife cleaning your guest rooms was the only person keeping your secrets safe."
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"Naomi, I'm your husband!" he yelled, a flash of his old anger breaking through the panic.
"Not anymore," Naomi said. She ended the call and handed the phone to Arthur. "Let’s proceed with the full deposition. I want every single dollar they hid brought into the light."
