Chapter 7: The Money Behind Her Doctorate
I read Naomi's message three times.
Ask Xavier why his father paid my tuition.
The words seemed to move across the screen.
I looked at Rachel.
"She says Robert Mitchell paid her tuition.""
Rachel stopped examining the archival documents.
"Robert Mitchell?""
"Xavier's father.""
Dr. Bennett slowly lowered the photograph.
"That would explain something.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
He removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Twenty years ago, Robert Mitchell was involved in several university-sponsored technology projects. He was a private investor who frequently funded research initiatives.""
"Was Elaine Porter connected to him?""
Dr. Bennett nodded.
"Very closely. She managed several projects through Northstar Industrial Research.""
I looked at the photograph of my father standing outside the Northstar building.
"Did my father know Robert was involved?""
"I believe he did.""
"Then why did he continue working with them?""
Dr. Bennett hesitated.
"Because he thought the project would help people. Your father wasn't interested in the money. He wanted to solve a mechanical problem that had caused accidents.""
I picked up the archival letter.
"Apparently, Robert wanted something else.""
Rachel closed the folder.
"We need to establish whether the tuition payments were connected to the intellectual property claims.""
I looked at my phone.
"Naomi knows something.""
"Then don't confront her without a plan," Rachel said.
"If she's willing to provide information, we need to document it properly.""
I called Naomi.
She answered immediately.
"Did you see my message?""
"Yes.""
"Can we meet?""
"Where?""
"Somewhere private.""
I glanced at Rachel.
"Tomorrow. Ten in the morning. At Rachel's office.""
Naomi went quiet.
"Why your lawyer?""
"Because I have questions.""
"You're making me feel like a criminal.""
I looked at the old photograph.
"Then you shouldn't have hidden things from me.""
She sighed.
"Fine. I'll come.""
Before ending the call, I asked one final question.
"How long has Xavier's family been paying your tuition?""
Her answer was almost a whisper.
"Since my second year.""
I closed my eyes.
Her second year.
That was the year my father's shop had begun struggling.
The year I started working double shifts.
The year I sold my father's business to keep Naomi from losing her place in the doctoral program.
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
"How much?""
She didn't answer.
"Naomi, how much did they pay?""
"About sixty thousand dollars.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Sixty thousand?""
"Over several semesters.""
"And you let me sell my father's shop?""
"Cedric, it wasn't like that.""
"Then what was it like?""
She started crying.
"I didn't know how to tell you.""
I stared at the phone.
"You had years to tell me.""
Then I ended the call.
The next morning, Naomi arrived at Rachel's office twelve minutes late.
She wore a cream-colored blouse, dark trousers, and the same gold necklace I had given her for her twenty-ninth birthday.
For a moment, seeing her brought back memories I didn't want.
She used to wear that necklace when we went grocery shopping on Sundays.
She would stand in front of the refrigerator, planning meals for the week, while I pretended to complain about her buying too much fruit.
Now she wouldn't look at me.
Rachel invited her to sit.
"Ms. Carter, thank you for coming. Before we begin, I want to make something clear. We're here to establish facts concerning the disputed intellectual property documents and any financial arrangements related to them.""
Naomi nodded.
"I understand.""
Rachel placed a recorder on the table.
"Do you consent to this conversation being recorded?""
Naomi hesitated.
Then she agreed.
Rachel opened her notebook.
"Let's start with Robert Mitchell. Did he pay any portion of your doctoral tuition?""
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"Approximately sixty thousand dollars.""
"Over what period?""
"From my second year through my final year.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
Naomi folded her hands.
"Xavier introduced me to his father. Robert was interested in supporting young researchers. He said he wanted to help students who had promising academic futures.""
"Did you know his family had a connection to my father?""
Her eyes dropped.
"Not at first.""
"When did you find out?""
"Last year.""
Rachel wrote something down.
"How did you find out?""
Naomi swallowed.
"Xavier showed me some old documents. He said his father had worked with Cedric's father on an early braking system.""
I leaned forward.
"And you didn't think that was something I should know?""
She looked at me.
"I was afraid you'd misunderstand.""
I laughed quietly.
"Understand what, Naomi? That your boyfriend's family had been involved in my father's research for twenty years?""
She flinched.
Rachel raised a hand.
"Let's stay focused. Ms. Carter, were the tuition payments conditional?""
Naomi hesitated.
"Robert said he hoped I'd eventually help with a commercial research project.""
"What kind of project?""
"Automotive safety technology.""
"Did he mention Cedric?""
She nodded.
"Eventually.""
I stared at her.
"What did he say?""
She looked uncomfortable.
"He said Cedric might have inherited some of his father's technical knowledge.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Did he ask you to monitor my work?""
"No.""
"Did he ask you to collect my prototype?""
She looked down.
"Xavier asked me to.""
Rachel stopped writing.
"When?""
"About three weeks before graduation.""
"Why?""
"He said his father wanted to compare it with the original Northstar research.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you know he intended to use it in a commercial proposal?""
Naomi didn't answer.
Rachel repeated the question.
Finally, Naomi nodded.
"Yes.""
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
"How long did you know?""
"Several months.""
"Several months?""
She began crying.
"I thought it was harmless.""
"You knew Xavier was trying to claim my invention.""
"I thought we could work something out.""
"With whose permission?""
She looked at me.
"Cedric, I believed you would eventually agree.""
I sat back.
There it was again.
She believed my consent was something she could obtain after the fact.
Rachel continued.
"Did Robert Mitchell offer you any additional compensation?""
Naomi nodded.
"An additional payment was discussed.""
"How much?""
"One hundred and fifty thousand dollars.""
My throat tightened.
Rachel looked up.
"What was that payment for?""
Naomi wiped her cheek.
"Helping Xavier secure the technology partnership.""
I stared at her.
"One hundred and fifty thousand dollars?""
She nodded.
"And what were you supposed to do?""
"Provide the documents. Help arrange access to the prototype. And convince Cedric to cooperate.""
I felt something inside me go quiet.
Seven years.
Seven years of believing we were building a life together.
She had been receiving money from the family trying to take my father's work.
Rachel closed her notebook.
"Do you have written evidence of these arrangements?""
Naomi reached into her handbag.
She removed a small envelope.
"Yes.""
She placed it on the table.
Inside were printed emails, bank transfer records, and a draft payment agreement.
Rachel examined them carefully.
Then she looked at Naomi.
"Why are you giving us this now?""
Naomi looked at me.
"Because Xavier lied to me.""
I frowned.
"About what?""
She swallowed.
"He told me the company would be mine too.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"He promised me thirty percent ownership. But yesterday, I discovered he had changed the company documents.""
Rachel examined the papers.
"Changed them how?""
Naomi's voice broke.
"He removed my name.""
I almost laughed.
"So now you want to help me because he betrayed you?""
She looked at me.
"I know how that sounds.""
"Do you?""
"I made a terrible mistake.""
"You made several.""
She covered her face.
"I thought Xavier loved me.""
I looked at her.
"And you thought I was worth less than the money he promised you.""
She began sobbing.
I didn't move.
Rachel quietly gathered the documents.
"Ms. Carter, these records may be important. We will need to verify their authenticity before making any decisions about how they can be used.""
Naomi nodded.
Then she looked at me.
"Cedric, I know you won't forgive me.""
I said nothing.
"But there's something else.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She took a deep breath.
"Xavier has a meeting scheduled with Robert tomorrow night. They're planning to transfer the prototype to another company.""
Rachel immediately looked up.
"Which company?""
Naomi hesitated.
"Northstar.""
After Naomi left, Rachel contacted Harrington's legal department.
Michael began preparing a formal preservation request.
But the most disturbing information came from a financial document Naomi had provided.
The $150,000 payment agreement contained a clause stating that the money would be released once Xavier obtained a signed ownership acknowledgment from me.
I read the clause twice.
Then I looked at Rachel.
"They wanted me to sign something.""
"Yes.""
"What?""
Rachel turned the page.
A document was attached.
It was a proposed acknowledgment stating that I recognized William Walls Safety Technologies as the exclusive commercial owner of the emergency braking design.
In exchange, I would receive a one-time payment.
The amount was $250,000.
I stared at the number.
"They were going to pay me a quarter of a million dollars to give up everything?""
Michael nodded.
"And the agreement contained a full release of future royalty claims.""
I pushed the paper away.
"That's insane.""
Rachel looked at me.
"To them, it may have seemed like an attractive settlement. They were betting that you would accept immediate money rather than challenge the ownership claims.""
I shook my head.
"They don't understand.""
"What?""
I looked at the photograph of my father.
"I didn't build this for a quick payout.""
Rachel nodded.
"Then we need to protect your ability to decide what happens to it.""
My phone vibrated.
An email from Daniel Price.
The subject line read:
*URGENT — UNAUTHORIZED TRANSFER ATTEMPT.*
I opened it.
The message contained a scanned shipping authorization.
The original prototype was scheduled to leave a private storage facility the following morning.
Destination:
*NORTHSTAR INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH — PRIVATE ARCHIVE.*
I looked at Rachel.
"They're moving it.""
She read the email.
Then she stood.
"Call Daniel. Tell him not to let anyone remove anything without legal clearance.""
I immediately dialed his number.
He answered.
"Cedric, I was just about to call you.""
"Have you stopped the shipment?""
"Our legal team has issued a preservation notice. But the storage facility says Xavier has already submitted a collection authorization.""
"Can they release it?""
"Not if the ownership dispute is properly documented. We're contacting them now.""
I looked at the shipping document.
Then I noticed the signature.
Xavier Mitchell.
And beneath it, another signature.
Robert Mitchell.
The same man who had written the instruction to locate my father after his death.
I whispered:
"He's still involved.""
Daniel heard me.
"Who?""
"Robert Mitchell.""
Daniel went quiet.
Then he said something that changed everything.
"Cedric, I don't think this is simply about your prototype anymore.""
"What do you mean?""
"Our compliance department found an older corporate filing connected to Northstar.""
"What filing?""
"A document indicating that Northstar has been preparing to claim ownership of several related safety technologies.""
I stared at the screen.
"Several?""
"Yes. And one of the listed contributors is your father.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"How many technologies?""
Daniel paused.
"Seventeen.""
I looked at Rachel.
She had heard him.
Seventeen.
My father had spent decades working on something bigger than one braking system.
And someone had apparently been trying to control the entire body of research.
Then Daniel added:
"There's one more name on the filing, Mr. Walls.""
May you like
"Whose?""
"Yours.""
