Chapter 11 - The Question
Christopher could have lied.
Everyone in the room knew it.
He could have said absolutely not.
He could have blamed stress.
Security.
Crowds.
Instinct.
He had used all those words already.
Instead, Christopher sat down.
“I don’t know.”
Nia’s expression hardened.
Malik frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Christopher looked at his hands.
“It means I’ve spent a lot of time telling myself I treat everyone the same.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Christopher looked up.
Malik’s voice was small, but steady.
“Did you push me because I’m Black?”
Christopher swallowed.
“I saw you differently.”
Nia inhaled.
Martin shifted in his seat.
Christopher continued before anyone interrupted.
“I didn’t think, ‘He’s Black, push him.’”
Malik stared.
“But I think I decided you were a threat faster than I would have decided that about someone else.”
The room remained silent.
Christopher’s voice lowered.
“That’s the truth I’m starting to understand.”
Nia wanted to hate the answer.
Part of her did.
But it was the first thing Christopher had said that did not sound polished.
Malik asked, “Why?”
“I don’t have a good answer.”
“Did I scare you?”
Christopher looked ashamed.
“No.”
“Then why?”
Christopher’s eyes became wet.
He looked away.
“I think I learned things about people without admitting I learned them.”
Malik did not understand completely.
Nia did.
Christopher continued.
“And because people around me let me believe my instincts were always right.”
Nia spoke for the first time.
“People around you didn’t move your hand.”
“No.”
“They didn’t lie about Malik rushing you.”
“No.”
“They didn’t send people after us.”
Christopher’s eyes moved toward Martin.
Nia noticed.
“What?”
Christopher said nothing.
Rachel leaned forward.
“What is she referring to?”
“The smear stories,” Nia said.
Christopher looked uncomfortable.
Martin intervened.
“We are not here to discuss disputed legal matters.”
Nia laughed.
“There it is.”
Christopher looked at Martin.
“No.”
“Christopher.”
“I contacted a reputation consultant.”
Martin closed his eyes.
Rachel became completely still.
Nia stared at Christopher.
“You did what?”
“I told him people were attacking me online.”
“You mean holding you accountable.”
“I was angry.”
“And?”
“I told him to fix it.”
“Fix what?”
Christopher did not answer.
Nia stood.
“You paid people to lie about my child.”
“I didn’t tell him to lie.”
“But you hired him.”
“Yes.”
“Did you stop him?”
“No.”
The meeting changed.
Malik looked between the adults.
Nia fought to control her voice.
“You asked to apologize while your people were attacking us?”
“I stopped the contract yesterday.”
“That isn’t the same as never starting it.”
“No.”
Rachel stood.
“We’re done.”
Malik remained seated.
“Wait.”
Everyone looked at him.
He stared at Christopher.
“Did you like me before you met me?”
Christopher seemed confused.
“I didn’t know you.”
“I watched all your movies.”
Christopher nodded slowly.
“I know.”
“I had your poster.”
Christopher’s face tightened.
Malik continued.
“I thought you were brave.”
Nia’s eyes filled.
Malik looked directly at Christopher.
“But you were scared of me.”
Christopher’s mouth opened.
No words came.
Malik stood.
“That’s weird.”
Then he walked toward the door.
Nia followed.
Before leaving, she turned.
Christopher remained seated.
She said, “You wanted him to understand you’re complicated.”
Christopher looked up.
“No.”
“Good. Because he’s ten. He shouldn’t have to understand you.”
The door closed.
In the hallway, Malik took Nia’s hand.
He had not done that in public for almost two years.
“I don’t hate him anymore,” he said.
Nia looked down.
“You don’t?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Malik shrugged.
“He’s kind of pathetic.”
Despite everything, Nia laughed.
Inside the conference room, Martin turned on Christopher.
“You just admitted retaining Northstar.”
“I was going to have to eventually.”
“Not in an informal apology meeting.”
“It wasn’t informal.”
“You know what I mean.”
Christopher stood.
“No, Martin. I’m starting to think that’s the whole problem.”
“What?”
“Everything is always phrased like it’s something else.”
Martin stared at him.
Christopher walked toward the window.
“I shoved a kid.”
“Yes.”
“We called it contact.”
“Yes.”
“I lied.”
“Yes.”
“We called it perception.”
Martin’s face changed.
Christopher continued.
“I hired Preston to destroy them online.”
“You authorized reputation services.”
Christopher laughed.
“There. That.”
Martin said nothing.
Christopher turned.
“I’m tired of sentences that exist only to make guilty people sleep.”
Martin looked at him for a long moment.
“Then you should prepare yourself.”
“For what?”
“For what honest sentences cost.”
That afternoon, Christopher instructed Martin to notify Meridian that he would cooperate fully.
No privilege games concerning Northstar communications unless legally necessary.
No attacks on Nia.
No attacks on Emily.
No anonymous sources.
It sounded noble.
Until Meridian investigators opened the first batch of Northstar emails.
One message from Preston Vale to Christopher read:
Mother has financial vulnerabilities. Working angle.
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Christopher’s reply consisted of three words.
Whatever it takes.
