Chapter 7 - THE GALA
The gala celebrated the Mercer Foundation’s twentieth anniversary.
Not the city contract officially.
But everyone knew the bid was part of the night’s pride.
Renderings stood around the ballroom.
Donors.
City officials.
Corporate guests.
A short video praised:
inclusive design.
Naomi’s name appeared in the printed program as:
Accessibility Advisor.
She had asked for that removed too.
It was not.
She arrived anyway.
Why?
Because Adrian asked.
“Please. We’ll fix this tomorrow.”
Naomi answered:
“You always want tomorrow.”
Still, she came.
That was her mistake.
Not because she caused the violence.
Because she once again accepted postponement to preserve family peace.
During the reception, Blake cornered her near the fountain.
“You contacted the city?”
“Yes.”
“You humiliated us.”
“I corrected the record.”
“You could have waited.”
“No.”
Then Julian joined.
“You know how much money is riding on this?”
Naomi said:
“That is exactly why accuracy matters.”
Blake’s anger escalated.
The stick in his hand had been part of a decorative garden display.
Ordinary object.
Bad choice.
Then the fountain.
Julian’s cruelty at the fountain had its own motive beyond loyalty to Blake.
He disliked Naomi because she complicated Adrian.
Before Naomi, Adrian usually conceded family disputes.
After Naomi, he began saying:
Why?
Show me the contract.
Did she consent?
Julian experienced that as personality change.
He told Blake once:
“She’s making him suspicious of everyone.”
In reality, Naomi was teaching Adrian to distinguish trust from verification.
To a family that relied on implicit permission, verification felt hostile.
Julian also had a private financial concern.
Mercer had already spent nearly $2.6 million on predevelopment costs:
design,
engineering,
legal work,
community meetings,
and financing preparation.
Some would remain useful even if they lost.
Some would not.
A failed bid would hurt.
Not destroy the company.
But hurt.
Julian saw Naomi’s withdrawal letter and thought:
She is risking millions over wording.
Naomi saw the same letter and thought:
They are risking my professional integrity to protect millions.
May you like
Both understood the size of the stakes.
They valued different things.
