Medical journal under her arm.
Timestamped 8:17 a.m.
“This started before the affair,” Naomi said.
“Yes.”
“Months before.”
“Yes.”
“This was never just about embarrassing you after Ethan cheated.”
“No.”
Naomi looked at her.
“What was Charles doing?”
Lauren clicked through more files.
The answer remained just outside reach.
Then Naomi found the spreadsheet.
MERIDIAN RESOLUTION.
Names lined the left column.
Board members.
Executives.
Outside advisors.
Next to each were numbers and notes.
SUPPORT.
OPPOSE.
PRESSURE.
LEVERAGE.
Lauren found Ethan.
ETHAN COLE — OPPOSE — LEVERAGE: PERSONAL / L.V.
L.V.
Lauren Vale?
No.
Madison Vale was M.V.
Lauren moved down.
Then she found herself.
DR. LAUREN BENNETT COLE — OPPOSE — LEVERAGE: CREDIBILITY / FAMILY.
Next to FAMILY was a hyperlink.
Naomi clicked.
Password required.
They tried obvious combinations.
Nothing.
Lauren stared at the screen.
“June eighteenth.”
“What?”
“Madison told me that date.”
Naomi typed 06182026.
Access denied.
“Board dinner.”
Naomi tried BOARD0618.
Nothing.
