16

CHAPTER 16 -

The silence in Imani's office was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Emily looked between Imani and Killian, clutching the stock chart like it might save her life. "Ma'am, I... I should go."

"No, stay," Imani said, her eyes never leaving Killian. "Mr. Morgan was just leaving."

Killian didn't move from the couch. He crossed one leg over the other, perfectly calm, perfectly arrogant in that expensive black suit.

"Four dates," he repeated. "That's all I'm asking. Not a partnership contract. Not your company shares. Four dates. In return, I give you the pitch that will make your shareholders get on their knees and beg to invest more."

Imani let out a short, humorless laugh.

"Who asks for dates as a business deal? Are you serious right now?"

"Dead serious," Killian whispered, and his eyes darkened. "You think I came here because Shawn Tech needs me? No. I came because you told me last night that I shouldn't worry about what your investors say. So I'm here to prove I can fix what they're saying. And I want you to stop running."

Emily's mouth fell open. "Ma'am, his idea — the Morgan Logistics integration — it actually... last quarter it saved three tech companies from—"

"I know what his idea did," Imani cut her off sharply.

She stood up, walked around her desk, and stood right in front of Killian.

"Listen to me, Killian Morgan. I appreciate you coming here. I do. But I don't need you to save me."

"Imani—"

"No," she snapped. "You think because my stock dropped 12% yesterday, I'm finished? You think because a bunch of old men in a boardroom are panicking, I can't handle it?"

She picked up the stock chart and tossed it on the couch next to him.

"My company has been through worse. I built this from nothing. Not with my father’s wealth, no family name, no Shawn fortune behind me. Just me and a laptop in a one-room apartment. So don't stand there and offer me a lifeline like I'm drowning."

Her voice was shaking, but not with fear. With pride.

She crossed her arms, "I can handle that much, Killian. I can handle my shareholders. I can handle my board. I can handle the press. I don't need four dates to seal a deal. If you want a partnership with Shawn Tech, bring a real proposal to my boardroom on Monday. Not this... this emotional blackmail."

Killian stared at her. For a long second, his smug smirk vanished. And what replaced it was something like respect. And something like hurt.

"You really know how to push a man away, don't you?" he murmured.

"It's what I'm best at," she shot back.

He stood up slowly. He was taller than her, even in her heels. He looked down at her, and for a moment Emily thought he was going to kiss her.

Instead, he picked up his phone which was buzzing non-stop.

He stepped aside and went to answer it, "Yes. Father, okay, I will be home,”

He ended the call and came back to where Imani stood.

"My father called to make sure I didn't embarrass the Morgan name," he said quietly. "I told him I defended my idea. That's what I came for. And I did." He picked his briefcase.

He walked to the door, then stopped.

"Your shareholders are meeting at 3 PM. If you change your mind before then, my idea is still on the table. No dates required this time. Just... don't let pride sink a good company, Imani."

And he left. Just like that. No drama. The door clicked.

Emily exhaled. "Ma'am, that man is—"

"Don't," Imani whispered, sinking back into her chair, her hands suddenly cold. "Just get me the shareholder report. Not some cheap shortcut to win my shareholders over,”

She didn't get to read a single line when the door burst open again. This time, there was no knock. No permission.

Luke.

Luke Anderson looked like he hadn't slept in days. His designer shirt was stained, his eyes sunken, his hair a mess. The golden boy of Anderson Holdings was gone. What stood there was a beggar.

"Imani!" He called like he’s about to lose his breathe.

Imani looked shocked, “what are you doing here?” She asked, shocked.

Emily jumped up. "Security!"

"No! Please! Don't call security!" Luke rushed forward and grabbed Imani's desk like his life depended on it. "Imani, please, you have to fix this! You have to rectify my case!"

Imani didn't even flinch. She just stared at him, her face blank.

"Please!" Luke's voice cracked. "My bank called me a fraud! My family's assets are frozen! My mother's on drugs for blood pressure! The house — your people threw us out like dogs! Imani, we have nowhere to go!"

"I told you to keep your girlfriend in place," Imani said, her voice ice. "You didn't listen."

“I’m sorry Imani. I have broken off the engagement with her….just wait a little longer till I pay off the debts…you can’t send us out like this?” He pleaded, his eyes doing the most.

He came around the desk, and before Emily could stop him, he dropped to his knees beside Imani's chair.

"Imani, I'm begging you. I will do anything. I will work for you for free. I will be your driver, your cleaner — just please, fix this case you filed against us. Say it was a mistake."

Imani finally looked down at him. No pity. No love left. Just disgust.

She felt satisfied that the man who she had once being hurt for loving him is kneeling.

"You embezzled your family’s money and used your family's house as collateral without telling your parents. That's not my case, Luke. That's your crime."

"But you transferred the debts to you! You can be patient, please.” He held Imani hand.

She yanked her hand away like he burned her. "I have no reason to help you, Luke. Get out of my office." She shouted.

"No! I won't!" Luke argued. “ I won’t go until you’ve changed your mind!”

She pressed the intercom, her finger hard on the button. "Security, my office. NOW. Drag him out."

She was still on the call when a message popped on her phone, Luke was able to see it. “Defend your position or we will revert our shares”. Luke smirked at the message before Imani could see it.

Two guards rushed in. They grabbed Luke under his shoulders and started pulling him towards the door. He struggled, his feet scraping the marble floor.

"IMANI! PLEASE! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! HAVE MERCY!"

They were at the doorway. Emily was holding the door open, Imani had already turned her back, looking out the window, done with him.

And then Luke screamed the one sentence that made her freeze.

"WAIT! I CAN MAKE YOUR SHAREHOLDERS BELIEVE IN YOU AGAIN!"

Imani's hand stopped mid-air stopping the guards which they did, Luke panted, hanging between them like a broken doll.

"Your shareholders... Do you remember how I was able to make the Anderson deal stand firm when it almost crash?” Luke added, looking up at Imani's back, his eyes wild with hope.

"Have a business deal with me, Imani and Give is our house back. Our debts paid off, what do you think?” He continued, the silence in the office made his hope high.

Imani slowly turned around.

She walked towards him, step by slow step, her red suit stunning. She crouched down until she was eye-level with the man on his knees, and she smiled.

It was not a kind smile.

"Now," she whispered, so only he could hear, "you finally have something worth trading."