Amani Rhodes just didn't believe in chaos. Chaos was something for guys who took over family businesses and drove them right into the dirt. Chaos was for making choices with your feelings.

Amani crafted the strategy.

He was thirty-two, standing tall at the head of a twenty-four-foot black boardroom table. Right behind him, through the huge glass, you could see all of Lagos Island. The traffic shining down there reminded me of a bunch of stars moving around. The city was buzzing. His empire was really connected to that pulse.

Rhodes Empire does a few things: cybersecurity, infrastructure, and private tech defense contracts. That's a lot of money, a multi-billion naira valuation is something to be proud of.

"We built this; it wasn't just handed to us". He smoothed down the cuff of his charcoal Tom Ford suit.

“Run it again,” he said calmly."

The executives all got really tense when they sat around the table.

Nathan Reed, his COO, was the only one who didn't walk on eggshells around him, and he just leaned back in his chair.

“We ran it three times.”

“Do it again.”

Just silence.

The sales figures displayed on the screen. Chairman Okonkwo was two seats away to Amani's left, his fingers pressed together and his face giving nothing away.

It's really hard to read.

Amani saw it all.

Something just didn't feel right.

"We're looking at bigger losses than expected, and it doesn't add up with those Q3 defense deals,"

Amani stated, keeping his voice steady.

"Someone is messing with how much risk we're exposed to.”

A flicker. Quick. Chairman Okonkwo's jaw got tight for a brief moment.

There it is.

Nathan caught it, too. Their eyes met briefly. The doors to the boardroom swung open. Everyone looked.

"Sorry to disturb," a woman's voice cut in. Calm, cool, not a single bit rattled.

Amani slowly turned. And that was when things shifted, just a tiny bit, out of our hands.

She walked in like she belonged there.

A cream suit, made to fit just right. Keep the jewelry simple. Her braided hair was neatly pulled back. The tablet was right there, tucked under her arm. Just chill, no need to be jittery. That's right, no hesitation.

“Bloom Lawson. I work as a corporate attorney.” She introduced herself.

Six months back, this woman had picked apart one of Amani’s smaller contract clauses during a public arbitration hearing. And you know what? He actually ended up respecting her for it.

"I didn't realize we had outside legal help joining us," Amani said, in a calm voice.

Bloom looked him right in the eye. No flinching.

“I'm here representing the minority shareholders, and we're really worried about how clear things are with this acquisition. It is exciting to think about what is next for everyone. The future looks bright.” She spoke, and her voice was like smooth steel.

Chairman Okonkwo cleared his throat.

“This is just how things are done.”

Bloom didn't even glance his way.

She looked at Amani.

And in that look was a quiet challenge. “Prove you have nothing to hide.”

Amani felt something unfamiliar stirred, not attraction. Not yet.

Interest.

He pointed to the empty chair way down at the end. “By all means.”

She didn't sit at the back. She picked the seat facing him.

Nathan nearly smiled.

Forty Minutes Later…

Bloom stood there, tapping on her tablet.

“Given these issues, moving forward with this acquisition would just leave Rhodes Empire open to problems we don't need. You really should hit pause on that.”

It was really quiet, like a heavy weight pressing down.

She was right. This meant that someone on the inside was really pushing for this to happen quickly.

Amani dropped her voice.

"Thanks, Ms. Lawson."

They held eye contact for just a split second longer than felt normal.

She picked up her tablet and left, just as calm as when she came in.

The door closed.

Nathan let out a breath.

"You're staring."

"I didn't stare.”

“You were”

Amani straightened.

“Hold off on buying that.”

Chairman Okonkwo shifted.

"Seriously, that's a bit much."

Amani’s eyes got really hard.

“What's drastic is assuming I don't notice when someone attempts to weaken my company.”

The message was clear.

“Alright, everyone, we're done here.” Nathan said.

Later that night,

Bloom stood in the hallway of St. Catherine’s Hospital, with those fluorescent lights just humming above.

Her dad's door was cracked open a bit.

Daniel Lawson slept soundly, his chest gently going up and down.

He was still a bit delicate, but he was getting better.

She looked at her phone.

The Hospital billing office had called three times.

She clenched her jaw.

Being independent was always how she protected herself.

Independence had always been her armor. It was her personal way of coping. She worked harder than everyone else. Studied longer, pushed for a better deal.

But medical bills didn’t care about pride.

Her phone buzzed again.

"Unknown number." She hesitated, then answered.

“Yes?" she said, her voice thin, as if she hadn’t used it in a while.

"Ms. Lawson "

The voice was deep.

Hearing the familiar voice.

She straightened her back. “Mr. Rhodes. I'm sorry”

“I’d like to schedule a meeting.”

"It’s 9:47 p.m.”

“We need to talk”

She walked away from her dad’s door.

"About what?"

A pause.

“A mutually beneficial arrangement.”

Her instincts flared.

“I’m not interested in workplace bullying”

“This isn’t bully.”

His tone shifted lower, more deliberate.

“It’s an offer.”

She hated that her pulse reacted.

“I don’t negotiate blind, Mr. Rhodes.”

“You won’t be blind.”

Another pause.

Then, the line that changed everything.

“I’m prepared to solve your hospital problem.”

Silence.

Bloom’s grip tightened around her phone.

“How do you know about that?”

“I make it my business to know things.”

There it was. The billionaire. The strategist. The man who is always five moves ahead.

“What would you want in return?” she asked carefully.

His answer came without hesitation.

“A wife.”

The fluorescent light flickered above her.

Bloom blinked.

“I’m sorry?”

“A contract marriage. One year. Public. Legal. Structured.”

Her heart sank hard.

“You’re insane.”

“On the contrary,” he said smoothly, “I’m very calculated.”

And for the first time in a long time…

Bloom felt something dangerously close to uncertainty.