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last update Veröffentlichungsdatum: 11.07.2026 04:02:07

CHAPTER 13: THE FRAME

The following morning.

"IMANI SHAWN USES PROXY TECH TO BUILD HER EMPIRE"

The headline burned bright on every news screen in the city.

---

The sharp ring of Imani Shawn's phone shattered the silence of her office.

She glanced down. Twelve missed calls.

"Huh?"

Seven from her Public Relations Director. Three from Legal. Two from an unknown number.

A strange, cold knot tightened in her stomach.

She had been buried in code for 14 hours straight. She hadn't touched her office line all morning.

Before she could dial back, the phone rang again. Legal Counsel.

"Ma'am, you need to turn on the news. Right now!"

Imani reached for the remote. The financial channel flickered on.

And her blood ran cold.

IMANI TECH UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FOR ILLEGAL PROXY SCHEME.

CEO IMANI SHAWN ACCUSED OF MASSIVE CORPORATE FRAUD.

Her own face was plastered beside the headline — a photo edited to make her look guilty, cornered.

"What?" she whispered.

The anchor's voice was merciless. "Anonymous sources claim Shawn Tech has been secretly using proxy companies to acquire stolen research and bypass international tech regulations. Reports suggest CEO Imani Shawn personally authorized these illegal transactions..."

"This is impossible," Imani said, her voice turning to steel.

The door slammed open. Emily, her assistant, burst in without knocking, her face pale.

"Ma'am..."

"I've seen it."

"It's everywhere. It's gone viral. Investors are panicking — our stock is down twelve percent in twenty minutes!"

Another buzz. Head of Security this time.

"Federal investigators are in the lobby."

Imani inhaled slowly, steadying herself. "Let them up."

Within minutes, four officers entered her office. The lead stepped forward.

"Ms. Imani Shawn?"

"Yes."

"We have a warrant to bring you in for questioning regarding allegations of corporate fraud and financial misconduct."

Emily gasped. "This is ridiculous! You can't just—"

Imani raised a calm hand. "It's alright, Emily."

She picked up her bag, her expression unreadable.

"I'll cooperate."

As they escorted her through the lobby, the entire building froze. Hundreds of employees stared. Some whispered. Some cried. All in disbelief.

Outside, it was worse. Reporters had swarmed the building like bees.

"Ms. Shawn! Did you steal intellectual property?"

"Is Shawn Tech a criminal organization?"

"Did you hide assets through proxy firms?"

Flash after blinding flash. Imani said nothing. Now was not the time to argue. She simply slid into the police vehicle, her head held high.

AT THE POLICE STATION

The interrogation room was colder than she expected. They offered her coffee. She left it untouched, growing cold.

A thick folder slammed onto the metal table.

"These documents show several proxy corporations directly linked to Shawn Tech," the investigator said, opening it.

Imani studied them. For five seconds. Then she frowned and tossed the papers back at him.

"These signatures are forged."

The investigator raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. "Everyone says that, Ms. Shawn. Can you prove it? How sure are you?"

"I'm sure because this is my company."

She demanded access to her corporate records and her encrypted executive authorization system.

Hours later, her legal team arrived with laptops and secured drives. Her Chief Cybersecurity Officer connected directly to Shawn Tech's authentication servers.

One by one, every single document presented against her failed verification.

The digital signatures? Fake.

The executive approvals? Fabricated.

The transaction timestamps? Altered.

The alleged proxy companies? They had never even existed in their financial system.

The lead investigator leaned back in his chair.

"So someone manufactured all of this."

"Exactly," Imani answered, her voice ice. "My company records every executive approval using blockchain verification. Every authorization leaves an immutable fingerprint."

She tapped one document with her nail.

"This signature was created using an encryption software we retired three years ago. Whoever did this is sloppy."

Silence filled the room.

Another investigator rushed in carrying a tablet. "We confirmed it."

He looked at his colleagues. "The evidence against Ms. Shawn is 100% fabricated."

The lead investigator slowly closed the folder.

"Ms. Shawn... you are free to go."

BACK AT SHAWN TECH

The moment she returned, Emily was at her door.

"Ma'am, our investors are demanding withdrawals after hearing the news."

Imani remained surprisingly calm. She walked to her window, looking down at the reporters still gathered below.

"Recovering our reputation starts with facts. Tell Communications to release our verified financial records. Every single one. I want the world to see the truth."

Emily nodded and rushed into action.

Imani clenched her fist, her eyes dark.

Whoever did this just stepped on my tail. And I will show no mercy.

Later that evening, Emily returned holding a trace report. Her hand was shaking.

"We traced the first online publication."

Imani looked up slowly.

"Who?"

"It originated from a media consultant... who has been working closely with Sarah."

Imani's eyes narrowed to slits.

"Sarah..."

ACROSS TOWN

Velt Morgan stared nervously at his ringing phone. When he saw the caller ID — IMANI SHAWN — his face drained of color.

He breathed in and out before answering.

"Imani... I heard what happened. I'm terribly sorry—"

Her voice was calm. Almost too calm.

"Good evening, Mr. Morgan."

"Imani, I—"

"Don't insult my intelligence."

He swallowed hard. "What do you mean by that?"

"It seems you're so clueless about how your daughter ruined my day."

There was a pause, sharp as a blade.

"I've been good to you. Lenient, even. Because I respected the relationship you had with my father. But it seems your daughter is confusing my kindness for weakness."

"Imani, please, Sarah wouldn't—"

"Listen to me very carefully," Imani cut him off, her words carrying icy precision. "If Sarah ever puts my name in another false report again... I won't stop at destroying her."

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"I will make sure I touch you too."

And she ended the call.

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