Naomi’s POV
The applause from the crowd wasn't fake, it was really obvious that it was genuine. I felt really fulfilled.
The day after the Sanborn Summit, silence returned with sharper edges.
Our inboxes were flooded—not with praise, but questions. There were demands for clarification, Legal disclaimers, Statements “under review.”
Three donors pulled out even before lunch.
Two more froze their pledges “pending further transparency.”
And at 3:07 p.m., I received the first cease-and-desist letter—thinly veiled as a “friendly suggestion” to withdraw accusations against Valeska Industries.
Raymond read it twice and muttered, “Friendly my ass.”
I didn’t answer, I couldn’t.
I was already growing and I'd make sure to get to the end of this, I promise.
…….
By that evening, I’d run throu
