Chapter 6 - MICAH WAS THE ONE PERSON BRETT COULD NOT SPIN
Audrey reached Micah’s school in seventeen minutes.
Brett was sitting outside the counselor’s office.
Alone.
He looked exhausted.
“What are you doing here?”
“Talking to my son.”
“Our son.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I’m still his father.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Before the argument could grow, the counselor opened the door.
“Micah asked for both of you.”
Inside, Micah sat on a blue chair holding a basketball against his stomach.
He looked twelve again.
Not the calm boy on stage.
Not the accidental truth-teller.
Just a child whose parents had become a public problem.
Audrey sat.
Brett sat across from her.
Micah looked at his father.
“Did you give Sierra Great-Grandma’s pin?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Brett’s eyes filled.
“I made a selfish choice.”
“Did you love her?”
Audrey almost intervened.
The counselor gently raised a hand.
Let him answer.
Brett swallowed.
“I thought I did.”
Micah frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I cared about her and I was also using the relationship to escape things I didn’t want to face.”
Too adult.
But honest.
Then Micah asked:
“Do you love Mom?”
Brett closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Audrey felt no comfort.
Children often believe love and safety are the same word.
Adults learn otherwise.
Micah looked frustrated.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“No,” Brett whispered. “It doesn’t.”
Then:
“Are you leaving us?”
Brett’s face broke.
“I’m leaving the marriage because of choices I made.”
Audrey looked at him.
He had not said she was throwing him out.
Good.
“But I am not leaving you.”
Micah stared.
“You already did.”
The room went silent.
Brett actually recoiled.
Micah continued.
“You stopped coming to my games when Sierra started doing the restaurant openings.”
“I missed three.”
“You missed seven.”
Brett opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Micah had counted.
Children always count the things adults call occasional.
Then he asked:
“Did you take Mom out of the company too?”
Brett whispered:
“I let that happen.”
Audrey looked at him sharply.
Interesting wording.
Micah said:
“You’re the boss.”
“Yes.”
“Then you did it.”
There was no answer.
After the session, Brett stood in the parking lot.
“That kid is terrifying.”
Audrey almost laughed.
“He’s twelve.”
“I know.”
Then Brett became serious.
“I didn’t go there to turn him against you.”
“I believe that.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“I don’t trust you as my husband. I’m not required to assume you’re evil in every other role.”
His eyes filled.
That distinction hurt him.
Good.
Then he said:
“I’m going to resign as CEO.”
Audrey stared.
“Because of Micah?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because Eleanor told me the board is considering suspension through the review anyway.”
At least honest.
Then:
“And because I can’t credibly review transactions I approved.”
That was the first responsible business sentence Audrey had heard from him all week.
“Resign from the board too?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I still own forty percent.”
Fair.
Audrey did not ask him to surrender what he legally owned.
Accountability was not confiscation.
Then Brett said:
“There’s something the board hasn’t found.”
Of course.
He had taken a personal loan against part of his economic interest in Holloway House.
Amount:
$2.2 million.
Audrey stared.
“Why?”
He looked away.
May you like
To fund a condominium in the Gold Coast.
Sierra believed it would become their home after the gala.
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